Answer:

X-ray crystallography was the technique used by Maurice Wilkins, James Watson, and Francis Crick to determine the structure of DNA. X-ray crystallography is a powerful method used to determine the arrangement of atoms within a crystal by analyzing the diffraction pattern produced by X-rays passing through the crystal.

Explanation:

1. Introduction:
The determination of the structure of DNA was a significant breakthrough in understanding the molecular basis of life. It was crucial in elucidating the mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription, and translation.

2. X-ray Crystallography:
X-ray crystallography is a technique used to determine the arrangement of atoms within a crystal. It relies on the principle that X-rays are diffracted when they pass through a crystal lattice, creating a unique diffraction pattern.

3. Process:
- In the case of DNA, a pure sample of the molecule was crystallized to form a regular, repeating lattice structure.
- The crystal was then exposed to X-rays, and the resulting diffraction pattern was recorded on photographic film.
- The diffraction pattern is a series of spots, which correspond to the interference of X-rays scattered by the atoms in the crystal.
- By analyzing the diffraction pattern, the positions of the atoms within the crystal can be determined.

4. Determination of DNA Structure:
- Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin at King's College London used X-ray crystallography to obtain high-resolution diffraction images of DNA fibers.
- They discovered that DNA fibers had a regular helical structure with a repeating pattern.
- James Watson and Francis Crick at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge used the X-ray diffraction data and additional biochemical and biophysical information to build a model of the DNA structure.
- They proposed the famous double helix structure of DNA, with two complementary strands held together by hydrogen bonds between the bases.

5. Significance:
The determination of the structure of DNA by X-ray crystallography was a groundbreaking discovery and earned James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. It paved the way for further research in molecular biology and genetics.

In conclusion, X-ray crystallography was the technique used by Wilkins, Watson, and Crick to determine the structure of DNA. This method allowed them to obtain crucial diffraction data, which led to the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.