James Watson, Co-Discoverer Of DNA Double Helix, Dies At 97

James Watson, the American scientist who helped unlock the structure of DNA and forever changed the course of biology, has died at the age of 97. Watson, along with British physicist Francis Crick, identified the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953, a breakthrough that became one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the 20th century. Their model revealed how genetic information is stored and transmitted, laying the foundation for modern genetics and biotechnology.

Born in Chicago in April 1928, Watson showed early brilliance, earning a scholarship to the University of Chicago at just 15. His fascination with molecular biology eventually led him to Cambridge University, where he met Crick. The two collaborated to build large-scale models of DNA, drawing crucial insights from X-ray diffraction images produced by Rosalind Franklin at King’s College London — though she was not fully credited during her lifetime. Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins were later jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962.

Despite his towering contributions to science, Watson’s later years were marred by controversy. His repeated comments linking race and intelligence drew widespread condemnation and led to his removal from leadership and honorary roles at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he had long worked.