What key finding did Franklin and Wilkins' X-ray diffraction provide evidence for?

Franklin and Wilkins' X-ray diffraction studies were pivotal in revealing the helical structure of DNA. Their work utilized the technique of X-ray crystallography to analyze DNA fibers. The diffraction pattern they produced showed a distinctive X-shaped pattern, which indicated that DNA is structured as a helix.

This finding was significant because it provided empirical evidence to support the notion that the DNA molecule is not just a linear structure but has a three-dimensional helical form. This helical configuration is crucial for understanding how DNA carries genetic information, how it can replicate itself, and how it fits inside the nucleus of a cell. The implications of this helical structure have profound effects on molecular biology and genetics, shaping our understanding of DNA functions and interactions.