James Watson, Nobel Prize winner and DNA pioneer, dies at 97

Nobel Prize winner James D Watson, who helped identify the double-helix structure of the DNA molecule, died on Friday at the age of 97. He breathed his last in East Northport, New York, on Long Island.

His discovery — made when the brash, Chicago-born Watson was just 24 — turned him into a hallowed figure in the world of science for decades. But near the end of his life, he faced condemnation and professional censure for offensive remarks, including saying Black people are less intelligent than white people, according to a report by AP.

Watson shared a 1962 Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for discovering that deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a double helix, consisting of two strands that coil around each other to create what resembles a long, gently twisting ladder.

That realization was a breakthrough. It instantly suggested how hereditary information is stored and how cells duplicate their DNA when they divide. The duplication begins with the two strands of DNA pulling apart like a zipper.

The discovery helped open the door to more recent developments such as tinkering with the genetic makeup of living things, treating disease by inserting genes into patients, identifying human remains and criminal suspects from DNA samples, and tracing family trees and ancient human ancestors. But it has also raised a host of ethical questions, such as whether we should be altering the body’s blueprint for cosmetic reasons or in a way that is transmitted to a person’s offspring.

While widely celebrated for his scientific impact, Watson also faced criticism later in life. In 2019, several honorary titles were revoked after he publicly repeated controversial claims linking race and intelligence. The comments were condemned by scientific and academic institutions.

Watson died in hospice care after a brief illness, his son said on Friday. His former research lab confirmed he passed away a day earlier, AP reported.

“He never stopped fighting for people who were suffering from disease,” Duncan Watson said of his father.

(With inputs from AP)