James Watson, the Nobel laureate co-credited with discovering DNA’s double-helix structure but later disgraced over repeated racist remarks, has died at the age of 97.
Watson, who shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, was celebrated as one of the 20th century’s most influential scientists for his 1953 discovery that revolutionized modern biology. The breakthrough laid the foundation for major advances in genetics, medicine, and forensic science, including DNA testing and genetically modified crops.
At just 25, Watson joined Crick in unraveling the structure of DNA, work that forever changed the understanding of how life is coded and replicated. He later made key contributions to cancer research and the mapping of the human genome. His 1968 memoir, The Double Helix, became a best-seller, praised for its candid account of the fierce scientific race to uncover DNA’s secrets.
However, Watson’s career was marred by controversy. Known for his blunt and often offensive comments, he drew criticism for belittling female scientists — including Rosalind Franklin, whose crucial X-ray diffraction work was pivotal to the discovery but went largely unrecognized. Franklin, who died in 1958, was excluded from the Nobel Prize, which cannot be awarded posthumously.
Watson’s reputation collapsed in 2007 after he told a British newspaper he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa,” claiming differences in intelligence between races. Despite later apologizing, he was swiftly removed as chancellor of his laboratory and largely shunned by the scientific community.
Though his scientific legacy remains monumental, Watson’s later years were overshadowed by the deep controversy surrounding his remarks and attitudes.
