Nobel laureate James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA structure, dies at 97

Guwahati: Nobel Prize-winning American scientist James Watson, one of the pioneers behind the discovery of DNA’s structure, has passed away at the age of 97.

Watson, along with British scientist Francis Crick, identified the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953, a revolutionary discovery that transformed molecular biology and became one of the most important scientific achievements of the 20th century.

Despite his remarkable contribution to science, Watson’s later years were marked by controversy over his comments on race and gender.

His reputation suffered greatly after he made remarks suggesting genetic differences in intelligence between black and white people, which drew widespread criticism.

His death was confirmed by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in New York, where he worked and conducted research for many years.

Watson shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for discovering the DNA double helix. Reflecting on their discovery, they famously said, “We have discovered the secret of life.”

However, Watson’s later public comments led to his isolation from the scientific community.

In a 2007 interview with The Times, he made controversial remarks about Africa and intelligence, which resulted in his suspension from his position as chancellor at CSHL.

In 2019, his remarks sparked criticism, prompting the institution to withdraw his remaining honorary titles, including chancellor emeritus and honorary trustee.

The laboratory condemned his views as “reprehensible and unsupported by science.”

Although DNA had been discovered in 1869, scientists did not understand its structure until Watson and Crick’s breakthrough.

Using X-ray diffraction images captured by Rosalind Franklin, reportedly without her knowledge, they built a model revealing the molecule’s double-helix shape. Wilkins, who also worked with Franklin, shared in the Nobel recognition for the discovery.

Watson’s legacy remains deeply complex, as he was both a scientist who helped unlock the blueprint of life and a figure whose later views overshadowed his historic achievements.