Nobel Laureate James Watson, Co-Discoverer of DNA's Double Helix, Dies at 97

Pioneering Biologist James Watson Passes Away

James Dewey Watson, the acclaimed American molecular biologist who, alongside Francis Crick, unraveled the double-helix structure of DNA, has died at the age of 97. Watson passed away on November 6, 2025, in hospice care in East Northport, New York, following a brief illness. His death was confirmed by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on November 7, 2025.

Born on April 6, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, Watson's seminal work in 1953 fundamentally transformed the understanding of heredity and laid the groundwork for modern molecular biology.

The Landmark Discovery of DNA's Structure

Watson's most significant contribution to science came in 1953 when, working with Francis Crick at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, he co-authored the academic paper proposing the double-helix structure of the DNA molecule. Their breakthrough was significantly aided by experimental data from Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins at King's College London. The findings were published in the scientific journal *Nature* on April 25, 1953, in a paper titled 'Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid'.

This discovery provided the key to understanding how genetic information is stored, replicated, and transmitted, ushering in a new era of biological research and technological advancements in medicine, forensics, and genetics.

Nobel Recognition and Extensive Career

In recognition of their monumental achievement, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins were jointly awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 'for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material'. Rosalind Franklin, whose crucial X-ray diffraction images were instrumental to the discovery, had passed away in 1958 and was thus ineligible for the posthumous award.

Watson earned his B.Sc. in Zoology from the University of Chicago in 1947 and a Ph.D. in Zoology from Indiana University in 1950. His career extended beyond the initial DNA discovery. He taught at Harvard University from 1955 to 1976 and later became director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in 1968, transforming it into a world-leading research institution with a strong focus on cancer research. From 1988 to 1992, he also played a pivotal role in helping to establish and direct the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health.

Controversies and Complex Legacy

Despite his profound scientific contributions, Watson's later life was marked by significant controversy due to a series of remarks on race and intelligence. In 2007, he faced widespread condemnation for suggesting a genetic link between intelligence and race, leading to his resignation as chancellor of CSHL. He reiterated these views in a 2019 documentary, which prompted CSHL to revoke his honorary titles and sever all remaining ties with him in 2020. These statements were widely criticized as 'reprehensible', 'unsupported by science', and 'profoundly misguided'.

In 2014, facing financial strain and feeling ostracized, Watson sold his Nobel Prize medal, becoming the first living laureate to do so. The medal was later returned to him by the purchaser. Watson's personal account of the DNA discovery, his 1968 memoir *The Double Helix*, also generated considerable debate upon its publication.

Watson is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Lewis, and their two sons, Rufus and Duncan. His passing closes a chapter on a figure whose scientific brilliance was undeniable, yet whose later pronouncements cast a long shadow over his otherwise celebrated career.