James Watson, Co-Discoverer of DNA Structure, Dies at 97

James Watson, famous for co-discovering the double helix structure of DNA in 1953, has passed away at the age of 97. His son confirmed that Watson died in hospice care after a brief illness.

Born in Chicago in 1928, Watson made his significant discovery with British physicist Francis Crick when he was just 24 years old. This finding, crucial to life sciences, was heavily informed by the work of Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, and others at King’s College London. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where Watson conducted much of his research, acknowledged the impact of this discovery in a recent statement.

Watson’s death reportedly occurred earlier this week on Long Island. He, along with Crick and Wilkins, received the Nobel Prize in 1962 for unveiling the DNA structure, which resembles a twisted ladder.

“Francis Crick and I made the discovery of the century, that’s clear,” Watson once reflected.

The revelation of DNA’s structure has transformed our understanding of genetic information, enabling advancements in genetic engineering, gene-based treatments, and DNA identification techniques. Following his groundbreaking work, Watson authored several influential books, including “The Double Helix” in 1968.

Nonetheless, his later years were marred by controversy due to his remarks on race and intelligence, which led to a significant backlash. In 2008, Watson was removed from management positions at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory after similar comments resurfaced in 2020, resulting in the termination of his honorary status.

Crick and Wilkins both passed away in 2004.