James Watson, DNA Pioneer, Dies at 97

James Watson, Co-Discoverer of DNA, Passes Away at 97

Nobel Laureate James Dewey Watson, the American biologist who co-discovered the double-helix structure of DNA with Francis Crick in 1953, has passed away at the age of 97. Their groundbreaking discovery, based on Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray images, transformed genetics by explaining how hereditary information is stored and transmitted.

Born in Chicago in 1928, Watson earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University and later worked at Cambridge University, where he met Crick. In 1962, Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of the molecular structure of DNA.

He served as a Professor at Harvard University and later directed the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which he developed into a world-class research centre. Watson also played a key role in the early planning of the Human Genome Project, which mapped the entire human genetic code.

In 1968, he published the famous book The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA — one of the most widely read scientific memoirs, known for its candid portrayal of scientific rivalry and discovery.

His later years were clouded by controversial remarks on race and intelligence, leading to the loss of honorary positions. In 2014, he sold his Nobel Prize medal for $4.8 million.

Despite controversies, Watson’s double-helix discovery remains one of the greatest milestones in science, laying the foundation for modern genetics, biotechnology, and DNA forensics.