In this episode of pplpod, we unravel the complex life of Francis Crick, the English physicist-turned-biologist who famously co-discovered the structure of DNA. Join us as we trace Crick’s journey from designing mines for the Admiralty during World War II to his pivot into biology, driven by a desire to bridge the gap between the non-living and the living,.

We discuss the race against Linus Pauling to discover the structure of DNA and how Crick’s partnership with James Watson at Cambridge led to the famous double helix model in 1953,. We also dive into the enduring controversy regarding their use of Rosalind Franklin’s unpublished data—specifically "Photo 51"—without her knowledge, a decision that remains a subject of debate today,.

Beyond the double helix, this episode covers:

• The "Central Dogma":