James Watson, the renowned molecular biologist whose work helped uncover the double-helix structure of DNA, has di£d at the age of 97. His passing was confirmed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he spent much of his career conducting research.
Watson’s groundbreaking contribution came in 1953, when, at just 24 years old, he and Francis Crick revealed the double-helix structure of DNA—a discovery that transformed modern science. The breakthrough paved the way for advances in medicine, genetics, forensic science, genealogy, and countless ethical debates. In recognition of their achievement, Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962.
The discovery showed how hereditary information is stored and how DNA replicates—two strands unzipping like a zipper—an insight that became foundational in biology. The double helix soon became an iconic symbol of science, appearing in popular culture, artwork, and even postage stamps.
Watson went on to write influential textbooks, publish a best-selling memoir, mentor promising young scientists, and play a key role in launching the Human Genome Project. His support for genetic research was partly driven by personal reasons; his son Rufus had been hospitalised with a suspected schizophrenia diagnosis, and Watson hoped deeper understanding of DNA could advance treatments.
However, the later years of his career were overshadowed by widespread condemnation after he made offensive comments suggesting that Black people are less intelligent than white people. In 2007, he was quoted by The Sunday Times as saying he was “gloomy about the future of Africa” and claimed that testing did not support equal intelligence among races. Despite later attempts to clarify or walk back the remarks, he faced significant backlash and professional consequences.
Though he never again matched the scale of his early scientific breakthrough, James Watson remained a towering—if deeply controversial—figure in modern genetics.
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