James Dewey Watson, who helped reveal DNA’s double-helix structure, kicked off the Human Genome Project, and became infamous for his racist, sexist, and otherwise offensive statements, has died. He was 97.
His death was confirmed to The New York Times by his son Duncan, who said Watson died on Thursday in a hospice in East Northport, New York, on Long Island. He had previously been hospitalized with an infection. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory also confirmed his passing.
Watson was born in Chicago in 1928 and attained scientific fame in 1953 at 25 years old for solving the molecular structure of DNA—the genetic blueprints for life—with his colleague Francis Crick at England’s Cavendish laboratory. Their discovery heavily relied on the work of chemist and crystallographer Rosalind Franklin at King’s College in London, whose X-ray images of DNA provided critical clues to the molecule’s twisted-ladderlike architecture. One image in particular from Franklin’s lab, Photo 51, made Watson and Crick’s discovery possible. But, she was not fully credited for her contribution. The image was given to Watson and Crick without Franklin’s knowledge or consent by Maurice Wilkins, a biophysicist and colleague of Franklin.
It’s a significant moment in science with the passing of James Watson. His contributions to our understanding of DNA have had a lasting impact on genetics and medicine. He will be remembered for his groundbreaking work and its influence on future research.
Absolutely, his work on the double helix was groundbreaking and paved the way for so many advancements in genetics. It’s fascinating to think about how his discoveries have influenced everything from medicine to biotechnology. His legacy will definitely continue to shape the future of science.
I completely agree! His contributions not only revolutionized genetics but also laid the foundation for modern biotechnology and medicine. It’s incredible to think about how much progress we’ve made since then, thanks to his pioneering work.