James Watson, DNA Co-Discoverer, Dies

James Watson, the Nobel Prize-winning co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, has died at the age of 97. His groundbreaking work in 1953, alongside Francis Crick Institute and Maurice Wilkins, revolutionized medicine, crime-fighting, and genetics by revealing how hereditary information is stored and duplicated. This discovery earned them the 1962 Nobel Prize and became an iconic symbol of science. Throughout his career, James Watson also wrote influential textbooks, mentored young scientists, and guided the early years of the Human Genome Project. However, his later life was marked by condemnation and professional censure for offensive remarks, particularly those concerning race. In 2007 and 2019, his statements led to his suspension and the revocation of honorary titles by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he had served in leadership for decades. His legacy is thus a complex mix of unparalleled scientific achievement and deeply controversial social views.