Dorothy Hodgkin: What is she known for?

Answered in Dorothy Hodgkin's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

My work is known for the determination of the three-dimensional structures of complex biomolecules. Using X-ray crystallography, I elucidated the structures of penicillin, vitamin B12, and insulin. This was not simply an exercise in mapping atoms; understanding the precise arrangement of atoms within these molecules revealed crucial insights into their biological activity. For instance, unraveling the intricate cage-like structure of vitamin B12 demonstrated how such complexity could be held together and function within living systems. It's a matter of meticulous work and precise measurement, building a picture atom by atom from the diffraction patterns observed.

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