However, it's important to note that their work built upon the crucial contributions of many others, including:
* Rosalind Franklin: Her X-ray diffraction images of DNA (specifically Photo 51) were instrumental in providing the vital structural information that Watson and Crick used.
* Maurice Wilkins: He worked with Rosalind Franklin and helped in the development of X-ray diffraction techniques.
* Erwin Chargaff: His research on the composition of DNA helped establish the base pairing rules (A with T, and C with G).
* Linus Pauling: His work on protein structure helped inform the understanding of DNA structure.
While Watson and Crick are credited with the final model, it was a collaborative effort that involved many brilliant minds.
