Who was a key scientist in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA?

The discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is primarily attributed to James Watson and Francis Crick, who famously proposed the double helical model based on various forms of evidence, including X-ray diffraction patterns. Rosalind Franklin's contributions were crucial, as her X-ray crystallography images of DNA provided key insights into the structure. Specifically, her photographs suggested that DNA had a helical shape, which was essential for Watson and Crick's model. Although she was not the one to directly describe the double helix, her work laid the foundation for their discovery.

Charles Darwin, while a pivotal figure in biology for his theory of evolution by natural selection, did not contribute to the understanding of DNA's structure. His work predates the discovery of DNA and is unrelated to genetics as understood today.