Scientist who discovered DNA's double-helix structure dies at 97
James Watson, the scientist who helped crack the code of life by discovering DNA's double-helix structure in 1953, has died at 97.
His son shared that he passed away on November 6 after a brief illness.
Watson's work with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins changed science forever and earned them the Nobel Prize in 1962.
Watson's groundbreaking work revolutionized our understanding of genetics
Born in Chicago in 1928, Watson earned his Ph.D. before turning 24 and teamed up with Crick at Cambridge to reveal how genetic information is stored—using key X-ray data from Rosalind Franklin (shown to them by Maurice Wilkins).
Their breakthrough laid the foundation for modern genetics, medicine, and even forensics.
Later on, Watson led the Human Genome Project and wrote influential books about science.
Controversial remarks in later years
While his scientific achievements are legendary, Watson's later years were clouded by controversial remarks that sparked criticism and debate about ethics in science.
Still, his impact as a pioneer in genetics remains undeniable.