Chicago – November 07, 2025
James Watson, the pioneering American molecular biologist who co-discovered the double-helix structure of DNA, has died at the age of 97. His death marks the passing of one of the most influential figures in the history of modern genetics.
Watson, alongside Francis Crick, revealed the double-helix model of DNA in 1953 — a discovery that revolutionized biology and transformed medicine, laying the foundation for modern genetics, genomics, and biotechnology. Their groundbreaking work, based partly on X-ray diffraction data produced by Rosalind Franklin, earned them the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Maurice Wilkins.
Born in Chicago in 1928, Watson’s career spanned decades of research, education, and leadership, including his directorship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. While his scientific legacy remains monumental, his later years were marred by controversy over comments on race and intelligence that drew widespread criticism.
Nevertheless, Watson’s contribution to understanding DNA’s structure and function remains one of the cornerstones of modern science, influencing everything from genetic engineering to personalized medicine.
