Final answer:
Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins used X-ray crystallography to produce images vital for discovering DNA's structure, leading to Crick and Watson's double helix model.
Step-by-step explanation:
Technique Used by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins in DNA Structure Discovery
Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins contributed significantly to the discovery of the structure of DNA using X-ray crystallography. This technique involves directing X-rays at crystallized molecules and interpreting the diffraction patterns to elucidate molecular structure. Franklin, working in Wilkins’ lab, captured X-ray diffraction images, including the famous "Photo 51", which were crucial for understanding the DNA structure.
These images helped Francis Crick and James Watson to build their model of the DNA double helix. The shape and dimensions of the helix were determined, as well as how the nucleotides are paired within it. This revolutionary insight was central to deciphering the molecular basis of heredity, although Franklin did not receive the Nobel Prize as she had unfortunately passed away before the prize was awarded.