James watson, a molecular biologist pivotal in unraveling the structure of DNA, has died at the age of 97. The American scientist passed away in a hospice following a hospital admission for an infection,according to The New York times.
In 1953, at the age of 24, Watson and colleagues steadfast the double helix structure of DNA, a discovery that revolutionized the understanding of heredity and life itself. Watson, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, were jointly awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work. Rosalind Franklin, whose contributions were also crucial, had died in 1958 and was not eligible for the prize.
“We have discovered the secret of life,” the researchers declared upon receiving the Nobel Prize. Their work revealed that deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) stores hereditary facts in a double-stranded, helical structure. This breakthrough is widely considered one of the most significant scientific achievements of the 20th century.
Watson later authored the controversial memoir The Double Helix in 1968, which offered a candid, yet criticized, account of the discovery process.While lauded for its insight into the scientific endeavor, the book drew criticism for allegedly exaggerating Watson’s role and diminishing the contributions of his colleagues.Despite the controversy, The Double Helix was included on lists of important American literary works.
Later in his career, watson directed the human genome project from 1988 to 1992, an ambitious effort to map the complete structure of human DNA.However, his legacy was also marked by controversy stemming from publicly expressed racist views, including statements questioning the intelligence of Black people, which led to his dismissal from several positions.