DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 97
DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 972 hours agoShareSaveMadeline Halpert and Christal HayesShareSaveGetty ImagesNobel Prize-winning American scientist James Watson, one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA, has died aged 97.
In one of the greatest breakthroughs of the 20th century, he identified the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953 alongside a British scientist, Francis Crick, setting the stage for rapid advances in molecular biology.
But his reputation and standing were badly hurt by his comments on race and sex. In a TV programme, he made a reference to a disputed view that genes cause differences between black and white people on IQ tests.
The death of Watson was confirmed to the BBC by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he worked and researched for decades.
Watson shared the Nobel in 1962 with Maurice Wilkins and Crick for the DNA's double helix structure discovery.
“We have discovered the secret of life,” they said at the time.
Hs later comments on race led ..
