James Watson, who helped discover the structure of DNA, dies at the age of 97

James Watson, Co-Discoverer of DNA Structure, Dies at 97

James Dewey Watson, the American molecular biologist renowned for helping reveal the structure of DNA, has passed away at the age of 97. The New York Times reported that he died on Thursday in East Northport, Long Island, after being moved to hospice care earlier in the week due to an infection.

Scientific Legacy

Watson, along with Francis Crick, proposed the double helix model of DNA in a landmark 1953 paper published in Nature. This discovery transformed biology and deepened our understanding of genetic information.

“For their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material.”

In 1962, Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this breakthrough.

Early Life and Education

Born on April 6, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, Watson completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Chicago and earned a Ph.D. from Indiana University Bloomington. He later conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Copenhagen.

Collaboration with Crick

While working at the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, Watson met Francis Crick. Their collaboration led to the deduction of DNA’s double helix in March 1953, an achievement that redefined modern biology.

Author’s Summary

James Watson’s discovery of DNA’s double helix with Francis Crick revolutionized biology and remains a defining moment in 20th-century science.

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The Indian Express The Indian Express — 2025-11-07

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