* DNA is a helix: The diffraction patterns showed a repeating helical structure. This was evident in the X-shaped patterns, indicating a double helix with two strands intertwined.
* The helix is 20 angstroms wide: This measurement was derived from the spacing between the repeating units in the diffraction pattern.
* The helix has a repeating unit every 3.4 angstroms: This indicated the distance between base pairs along the helix.
* The helix is 36 angstroms long per turn: This revealed the pitch of the helix, meaning how many base pairs were contained in one complete turn.
These findings were vital to Watson and Crick in their development of the double helix model of DNA. The X-ray diffraction images provided key clues about the physical structure of DNA, helping them to build a model that accurately reflected its shape and dimensions.
It's important to note that while Rosalind Franklin's work was instrumental, she was not fully credited for her contributions at the time, a fact that has only recently been widely acknowledged.
