James Dewey Watson, the molecular biologist who co-discovered the double helix structure of DNA — one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century — has died on November 6, 2025, at the age of 97. Watson passed away in East Northport, New York, a week after being transferred to hospice care following treatment for an infection.
In 1953, Watson and his colleague Francis Crick forever transformed our understanding of life itself. Their paper "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid," published in Nature on April 25, 1953, revealed DNA's iconic twisted-ladder structure. This discovery explained how genetic information is stored and replicated, setting the foundation for modern molecular biology, genetics, and biotechnology.
Working at the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, the 25-year-old Watson and Crick pieced together the puzzle using various sources of data. Their model showed two intertwined strands forming a double helix, with the sugar-phosphate backbones on the outside and complementary base pairs holding the structure together, a revelation that would earn Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962.
As Dr. Munish Raizada, MD, FAAP noted on his X (formerly Twitter) post following Watson's death: "We all remember how the famous 'Watson and Crick Model of DNA' revolutionized the genetics and molecular science."
Although behind this celebrated discovery lies a controversial chapter that has sparked decades of scientific and ethical debate. The double helix model relied heavily on unpublished X-ray crystallography data collected by Rosalind Franklin and her student Raymond Gosling at King's College London.
Franklin's high-quality X-ray diffraction images, particularly the famous "Photo 51," provided crucial evidence for DNA's helical structure. Her work revealed that the sugar-phosphate backbones must be on the outside of the molecule and that the two DNA strands were antiparallel. Watson and Crick accessed this data through three channels: Watson's attendance at Franklin's 1951 seminar, discussions with Franklin's colleague Maurice Wilkins, and a Medical Research Council progress report — all without Franklin's knowledge or explicit consent.
Historians later noted that without Franklin's data, the formulation of the DNA structure would have been most unlikely, if not impossible. Yet the story of proper attribution remains complex. Watson's 1968 bestselling memoir The Double Helix portrayed Franklin negatively, referring to her dismissively as "Rosy" and giving the impression she was merely Wilkins' assistant who couldn't interpret her own data.
Modern historians of science have worked to correct this narrative.
As Dr. Raizada observed, "equally important was the contribution of Linus Pauling and Rosalind Franklin who utilized X-ray crystallography to explore the structure of proteins and DNA respectively."
Franklin published her findings in the same volume of Nature as Watson and Crick, and later correspondence between Franklin and Watson showed constructive scientific collaboration before her untimely death from ovarian cancer in 1958 at age 37.
An interesting historical footnote: Watson was born in Chicago, and the Chicago Medical School was later renamed Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in honor of the overlooked scientist — a symbolic recognition of her contributions, as per Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada.
Watson's scientific career extended far beyond the 1953 discovery. From 1956 to 1976, he promoted molecular biology research at Harvard University's Biology Department. In 1968, he became director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) on Long Island, transforming it into a world-leading research center in molecular biology and shifting focus to cancer research.
His influence on science writing was equally significant. Watson's textbook Molecular Biology of the Gene (1965) became a foundational text for generations of students, while The Double Helix brought the human drama of scientific discovery to mainstream readers.
Perhaps his most ambitious project came later: from 1988 to 1992, Watson helped establish the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health, an international effort that successfully mapped all human genes by 2003 — a landmark achievement in modern genetics. This accomplishment opened new frontiers in medicine, personalized healthcare, and our understanding of human evolution.
Watson's later years were overshadowed by increasingly controversial statements that ultimately led to his professional ostracism. His comments revealed views on race, intelligence, and genetics that the scientific community widely condemned as racist and lacking scientific foundation.
The turning point came in 2007 when Watson suggested in an interview that Africans were inherently less intelligent than Westerners, which was unsupported by scientific evidence. He resigned as chancellor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory following these remarks. In 2019, after reiterating these views in a documentary, CSHL took the extraordinary step of revoking his honorary titles: Chancellor Emeritus, Professor Emeritus, and Honorary Trustee, and severed all ties with the Nobel laureate.
Watson also made other troubling statements over the years, including comments about obesity, homosexuality, and genetic engineering that many found offensive and ethically problematic. He suggested that "stupidity" should be treated as a disease and advocated for genetic engineering to enhance beauty.
These controversies stand in stark contrast to Watson's scientific achievements, presenting a cautionary tale about how even brilliant minds can harbor deeply flawed and harmful beliefs.
These remarks, widely condemned within the scientific community, transformed Watson’s public image from a pioneering figure to a cautionary example of how brilliance cannot excuse prejudice.
Following his death, major news organizations struggled to capture Watson's dual legacy. The New York Times called him "one of the most important scientists of the 20th century" while acknowledging the controversy surrounding his racial views. The BBC noted that Watson's work "opened the door" to understanding how DNA replicates and carries genetic information, "setting the stage for rapid advances in molecular biology."
Watson was married to Elizabeth Lewis from 1968 until his death. They had two sons: Rufus Robert Watson (born 1970), who has schizophrenia, and Duncan James Watson (born 1972). Watson sometimes spoke publicly about Rufus's condition to encourage research into the genetic factors of mental illness.
An atheist throughout his life, Watson once remarked, "The luckiest thing that ever happened to me was that my father didn't believe in God." In 2003, he was among 22 Nobel Laureates who signed the Humanist Manifesto. In his later years, he contributed to Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign.
Despite the personal controversies, Watson's scientific contributions remain foundational to modern biology. The double helix model transformed our understanding of heredity, evolution, and disease. It enabled the development of DNA fingerprinting, recombinant DNA technology, CRISPR gene editing, and countless medical advances.
The story of DNA's discovery also serves as an important lesson about the nature of scientific progress, how breakthrough discoveries often involve collaboration, competition, and sometimes ethically questionable conduct. It reminds us that proper attribution matters and that the contributions of all scientists, regardless of gender or background, deserve recognition.
James Watson's life exemplified both the extraordinary heights and troubling depths that can coexist within a single individual. He helped unlock one of nature's greatest secrets, yet his later pronouncements damaged his reputation and caused real harm.
The double helix endures as a symbol of scientific achievement and human ingenuity. Watson's role in revealing its structure ensures his place in history, a place that will forever be viewed through the lens of both his monumental contributions and his profound failings.
Who discovered the structure of DNA?
James Watson and Francis Crick are credited with discovering the structure of DNA in 1953, building upon crucial X-ray diffraction data collected by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling.
What was Rosalind Franklin’s contribution to DNA discovery?
Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray diffraction image “Photo 51” provided direct evidence of DNA’s helical structure, making her work pivotal to the discovery.
Why was James Watson’s Nobel Prize controversial?
While Watson, Crick, and Wilkins received the Nobel Prize in 1962, Rosalind Franklin’s role was overlooked because she had died in 1958 and the prize is not awarded posthumously.
What did James Watson say that caused backlash?
Watson made comments linking race and intelligence that were widely condemned as racist and unscientific, leading to the loss of his honorary positions.
What was James Watson’s role in the Human Genome Project?
Watson helped launch the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health, which mapped the entire human genome by 2003, a major milestone in genetic research.
(Rh/VK/MSM)
