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Quizzes > Entertainment & Pop Culture > Movies

The Race for the Double Helix Movie Quiz: Think You Can Ace It?

Take on The Race for the Double Helix Movie Quiz - Relive Every Double Helix Movie Moment!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art DNA double helix strands and quiz icons on coral background

Ready to dive into the thrilling world of scientific drama? Our race for the double helix movie quiz puts your memory to the test, challenging fans of the race for the double helix movie to recall every pivotal twist. Whether you're a casual viewer or a biology buff, you'll sharpen your recall of key experiments while uncovering fun facts about DNA. You'll learn to spot crucial lab sequences, memorable quotes, and the breakthroughs that shaped molecular biology. Plus, explore our detailed DNA structure quiz to reinforce your grasp of the molecule's architecture, and take a fun movie puzzle challenge for a change of pace. Think you can ace this double helix movie showdown? Click start now and prove it!

What is the main subject of the movie?
Function of ribosomal RNA
Mechanism of protein synthesis
Structure of the cell membrane
Discovery of the DNA double helix
The film centers on the scientists' quest to uncover the DNA double helix structure and the events leading up to that breakthrough. It dramatizes key meetings, lab work, and the competitive rush among researchers. The title itself highlights the race to map DNA's structure. Learn more about the DNA double helix.
Which actor portrays Francis Crick in the movie?
Tim Pigott-Smith
Jeff Goldblum
Kenneth Branagh
Alan Rickman
Tim Pigott-Smith stars as Francis Crick in the BBC production. His performance captures Crick's playful intellect and determination. Jeff Goldblum did not appear in this film. See the cast list on Wikipedia.
What experimental technique does Rosalind Franklin use to study DNA in the film?
Electron microscopy
NMR spectroscopy
Mass spectrometry
X-ray crystallography
Franklin's key role in the story was her use of X-ray crystallography to image DNA fibers. This technique produced the famous Photo 51, which revealed the helical pattern. The film shows her capturing diffraction patterns in her London lab. Learn more about X-ray crystallography.
Which year did the movie first air on television?
1989
1987
1985
1990
The BBC drama first aired in 1987 under the title 'Life Story.' It was part of a series of scientific biographies produced by the company. The broadcast highlighted the dramatic interplay among researchers. BBC archives confirm the 1987 air date.
At which institution do Watson and Crick work on their DNA model?
University of Oxford
Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge
Harvard University
King's College London
Watson and Crick conducted their model?building at the Cavendish Laboratory, part of Cambridge University. The film shows their basement lab scenes where they assembled the helical structure. King's College is where Franklin worked separately. Read about the Cavendish Laboratory.
What nickname is given to Franklin's famous X-ray image of DNA?
Pattern X
Image 42
Crystal A
Photo 51
Franklin's most important data was labeled Photo 51, which provided the clear helical diffraction pattern. This image became a pivotal piece of evidence for Watson and Crick. The film highlights the moment Photo 51 is shared. Explore details about Photo 51.
Which base-pairing rule did Watson and Crick propose?
A - T and G - C
A - G and C - T
G - T and A - C
A - C and G - T
Chargaff's rules showed that adenine equals thymine and guanine equals cytosine in DNA. Watson and Crick used this information to propose the specific A - T and G - C hydrogen bonding. Their model hinged on complementary base pairing. Learn more about Chargaff's rules.
Which colleague first showed Watson Franklin's Photo 51 without her permission?
Raymond Gosling
Dorothy Hodgkin
John Randall
Maurice Wilkins
Maurice Wilkins shared Franklin's Photo 51 with Watson without Franklin's consent. This act is depicted as a major ethical conflict in the film. Gosling worked under Franklin, and Randall headed the lab. Read about Maurice Wilkins.
Where did Watson and Crick build their physical DNA model?
Harvard lecture hall
Cavendish Laboratory basement
University of London library
King's College conference room
The Cavendish Laboratory basement served as the workshop for their three-dimensional models. Scenes emphasize the dimly lit space and scattered model pieces. The film contrasts this with Franklin's X-ray lab at King's. Details on the Cavendish Lab.
What field of science does the movie primarily portray?
Molecular biology
Genetics
Biochemistry
Microbiology
While genetics and biochemistry overlap, the film focuses on molecular biology, specifically DNA's molecular structure. It dramatizes lab work at the atomic level rather than genetic inheritance or metabolic pathways. Explore molecular biology.
What was the main source of tension between Franklin and Wilkins?
Allocation of bench space
Dispute over lab funding
Use of Franklin's Photo 51 data
Competition for the Nobel Prize
The film highlights Franklin's frustration when Wilkins showed her diffraction image to Watson and Crick without her authorization. This breach of trust strained their professional relationship. Funding and bench space are background details but not core to the plot. Nature article on the controversy.
How is Rosalind Franklin's scientific approach depicted?
Reckless and impulsive
Meticulous and cautious
Lighthearted and casual
Primarily theoretical
The film portrays Franklin as highly rigorous, painstakingly analyzing X-ray patterns and documenting every detail. Her cautious methodology contrasts with Watson and Crick's more model-driven approach. She was not shown as theoretical or whimsical. Read about Franklin's research style.
Which scientist's earlier DNA model did Watson and Crick discard after finding it flawed?
Rosalind Franklin's zigzag model
Linus Pauling's triple helix
Erwin Chargaff's ladder model
Maurice Wilkins's single-chain hypothesis
Linus Pauling had proposed a triple helix structure for DNA, which was incorrect due to charge repulsion in the backbone. Watson and Crick evaluated and rejected this geometry. The film shows a discussion about Pauling's influence. Pauling's DNA model explained.
What crucial data from Chargaff did Watson and Crick employ?
DNA melting temperature curves
Equimolar ratios of A - T and G - C
Viscosity changes in solution
Ultraviolet absorbance patterns
Chargaff's analyses demonstrated that DNA contained equal amounts of adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine. Watson and Crick recognized that this base equality implied specific pairing. Other data like melting curves were less directly structural. Details on Chargaff's findings.
Who was Rosalind Franklin's laboratory partner on Photo 51?
Maurice Wilkins
Raymond Gosling
John Randall
Alexander Todd
Raymond Gosling assisted Franklin in preparing DNA fibers and capturing X-ray diffraction images. Wilkins worked in the same building but not directly on Franklin's Photo 51 project. Randall headed the department, and Todd was a separate chemist. Learn about Gosling's role.
In which city was Rosalind Franklin's lab located?
Oxford
New York
London
Cambridge
Franklin conducted her DNA research at King's College in London. The film shows her working in the London lab, separate from the Cambridge-based Cavendish group. Watson only visited London briefly before returning to Cambridge. About King's College London.
Which scientist proposed that DNA strands run in opposite directions (antiparallel)?
James Watson
Francis Crick
Maurice Wilkins
Rosalind Franklin
Crick's contribution included recognizing that the two sugar-phosphate backbones run antiparallel. This orientation allowed proper hydrogen bonding between complementary bases. Watson supported the idea but credited Crick with its clear articulation. Nature's account of antiparallel strands.
In what year was the Nobel Prize awarded for the DNA double helix discovery?
1953
1962
1965
1960
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded in 1962 to Watson, Crick, and Wilkins for their discoveries concerning DNA's molecular structure. Franklin had died earlier in 1958 and was not eligible for posthumous awards. The film ends well before the prize announcement. Official Nobel summary.
What did Franklin's X-ray data reveal about the phosphate groups in DNA?
They lie on the exterior of the helix
They form internal cross-links
They intercalate between bases
They project into the helix core
Photo 51's diffraction pattern indicated a hollow core with density at the periphery, consistent with phosphates on the outside. This contradicted earlier models that placed phosphates internally. The film shows the moment they realize the backbone placement. See phosphate backbone details.
Which specific flaw in Linus Pauling's triple helix model did Franklin's data expose?
Misidentified base pairing
Incorrect sugar pucker conformation
Wrong helical handedness
Phosphate groups placed in the helix interior
Pauling's model placed negatively charged phosphates inside the helix, leading to electrostatic repulsion. Franklin's X-ray data showed clear density on the exterior, disproving that arrangement. The film emphasizes the importance of phosphate location. Details on Pauling's DNA model.
What axial rise per base pair did Photo 51 indicate in the DNA helix?
3.4 Å
2.0 Å
1.7 Å
5.6 Å
Franklin's diffraction image revealed a repeat of 3.4 Å per nucleotide along the helix axis, corresponding to about 10 bases per turn. This consistent spacing was crucial for accurate modeling. The film depicts Franklin measuring this distance. See base pair spacing in DNA.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Key Scenes -

    Readers will be able to recall the pivotal moments from the race for the double helix movie, ensuring they remember each turning point in the scientific drama.

  2. Identify Main Characters -

    Readers can identify and distinguish the major figures featured in The Race for the Double Helix movie, including their roles and contributions to the story.

  3. Describe Scientific Breakthroughs -

    Readers will explain the critical discoveries portrayed in the double helix movie and how these breakthroughs advanced our understanding of DNA.

  4. Analyze Character Motivations -

    Readers will analyze the personal and professional motivations driving each character's actions during the race to uncover the double helix structure.

  5. Evaluate Historical Accuracy -

    Readers will assess how faithfully the race for the double helix movie represents real events and where artistic license shapes the narrative.

  6. Appreciate Narrative Impact -

    Readers will appreciate how the film's storytelling techniques and dramatic tension combine to bring the story of DNA's discovery to life.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Historical Context in the Race for Discovery -

    The race for the double helix movie captures the 1951 - 53 competition between teams at the Cavendish Laboratory and King's College London, highlighting how post-war scientific urgency accelerated the hunt for DNA's structure. According to Nature (1953) and Cambridge archives, strategic rivalries and resource-sharing dilemmas underscored every breakthrough leading to Watson and Crick's model.

  2. Molecular Model Building Techniques -

    The double helix movie accurately depicts the use of ball-and-stick models to visualize base pairing and backbone geometry, a method still taught in molecular biology courses at MIT and UCSF. Remember the mnemonic "Purines Pair with Pyrimidines" to recall that A (adenine) always bonds with T (thymine) via two hydrogen bonds, and G (guanine) pairs with C (cytosine) via three.

  3. Role of X-Ray Crystallography and Photo 51 -

    Central to the double helix movie is Rosalind Franklin's Photo 51, which revealed the B-form helix pattern; King's College London records confirm this diffraction image provided the critical dimensions used by Watson and Crick. Reviewing basic Bragg's Law (nλ = 2d sin θ) can help you understand how inter-atomic spacings translate into clear helical patterns.

  4. Ethical Debates and Data Sharing -

    The race for the double helix movie highlights controversies around Franklin's data being shared without explicit consent, illustrating the importance of research ethics in modern scientific practice. Case studies from the NIH and the American Philosophical Society stress clear authorship credit and transparent collaboration as lessons drawn from this saga.

  5. Impact on Genetics and Central Dogma -

    By depicting the aftermath of the discovery, the race for the double helix movie shows how DNA's structure paved the way for the central dogma - DNA → RNA → Protein - a concept formalized by Francis Crick in 1958. A helpful memory phrase is "Do Re Mi" (DNA, RNA, Message, Enzyme/Protein) to recall each step in gene expression.

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