James Dewey Watson, a pivotal figure in molecular biology celebrated for unraveling the double-helix structure of DNA and spearheading the Human Genome Project, has died at the age of 97. His son, Duncan, confirmed to The New York Times that Watson passed away on Thursday in a hospice in East Northport, New York, following a hospitalization for an infection. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory also affirmed his passing.
Born in 1928 in Chicago, Watson gained notoriety in the scientific community in 1953, at just 25 years old, for his work with Francis Crick at England’s Cavendish Laboratory. Together, they discovered DNA's molecular structure, an achievement that relied significantly on the contributions of Rosalind Franklin, a chemist and crystallographer at King’s College in London. Her critical X-ray images of DNA, particularly one known as Photo 51, played a key role in unveiling the twisted ladder-like form of DNA. However, controversy persists over Franklin's lack of recognition, as Maurice Wilkins, her colleague, shared this image with Watson and Crick without her knowledge or consent.
In 1962, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery. Unfortunately, Franklin, who passed away in 1958 due to ovarian cancer, was not eligible for the award since the Nobel Prize is not given posthumously. Watson and Crick's dismissive attitude toward Franklin and their failure to properly acknowledge her contributions have sparked enduring criticism within the scientific community. Despite his scientific renown, Watson courted controversy throughout his career and in his memoir by belittling Franklin's intelligence and appearance, fostering a contentious legacy.