Final answer:
Rosalind Franklin was excluded from Nobel recognition for her contributions to the discovery of the DNA structure because she had died before the Nobel Prize was awarded, and the Nobel Committee does not confer awards posthumously.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exclusion of Rosalind Franklin from DNA Discovery Recognition
The discovery of the structure of DNA is a pivotal moment in science, credited to James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins, who received the Nobel Prize in 1962. A key figure in this discovery was Rosalind Franklin, whose X-ray diffraction images of DNA, notably Photo 51, were crucial in determining the double helix structure. However, Franklin was excluded from the Nobel recognition because she had passed away in 1958, and the Nobel Committee does not award prizes posthumously. There is ongoing controversy regarding the lack of credit given to her during her life and immediately after her death, but over time, Franklin's substantial contributions have gained recognition, including the naming of a university in her honor.