James Watson, the Nobel laureate known for co-discovering DNA’s double-helix structure, has died at 97. He passed away in hospice care on Long Island, according to the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he spent much of his career.
Watson gained fame for his 1953 discovery, made with Francis Crick, which revolutionized modern biology and led to advances in medicine, forensics, and genetics. The pair, along with Maurice Wilkins, won the 1962 Nobel Prize for their work.
Despite his scientific achievements, Watson’s reputation suffered due to his controversial remarks, including disparaging comments about female scientists and racist statements about intelligence. In 2007, he faced backlash for claiming that “all social policies” assume equal intelligence across races, leading to his removal as chancellor of his lab.
Born in 1928 in Chicago, Watson earned his Ph.D. in zoology in 1950 and later worked at Cambridge, where he partnered with Crick. Their groundbreaking model of DNA, resembling a twisting ladder, showed how the molecule could replicate itself. Watson also contributed to the Human Genome Project and authored several books, including the best-selling memoir The Double Helix.
Watson is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their two sons. His former lab acknowledged his significant contributions while distancing itself from his recent remarks.
