DNA Pioneer James Watson Passes Away at 97
James Watson, the Nobel Prize-winning American scientist who helped unlock the structure of DNA, has passed away at the age of 97. His death was confirmed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the New York-based research institution where he spent much of his career.
Watson’s name has been synonymous with one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century — the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. Alongside Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, Watson’s work fundamentally changed our understanding of genetics and life itself. Their discovery, made in 1953, revealed how DNA replicates and transmits genetic information, paving the way for major advances in medicine, biotechnology, and evolutionary biology.
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In 1962, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this groundbreaking discovery. At the time, their announcement captured the imagination of the world. Watson famously declared, “We have discovered the secret of life,” a statement that reflected both the magnitude and the excitement of the moment.
However, despite his scientific legacy, Watson’s later years were overshadowed by controversy. His career took a sharp turn when he made a series of racially charged remarks suggesting that intelligence could vary between races based on genetics. In 2007, he told The Times newspaper that he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa,” implying differences in intelligence between Black and white populations. The comments drew swift condemnation, leading to his suspension and eventual resignation as chancellor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
In 2019, Watson again repeated similar remarks during a television interview, prompting the laboratory to strip him of all remaining honorary titles — including chancellor emeritus, Oliver R. Grace professor emeritus, and honorary trustee. In a statement, the institution firmly rejected his views, calling them “reprehensible” and “unsupported by science,” emphasizing that they contradicted the inclusive and evidence-based principles of modern genetics.
For many, Watson remains a deeply complex figure — a man whose early brilliance reshaped biology, yet whose later remarks cast a long shadow over his reputation. His discovery of the DNA double helix remains a cornerstone of modern science, influencing everything from genetic engineering to forensic analysis. But his controversial opinions served as a reminder that even great scientific minds can be deeply flawed.
James Watson’s passing closes a monumental, if turbulent, chapter in the story of modern science — one marked by both extraordinary discovery and enduring debate.
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