DNA Pioneer James Watson Dead; Legacy in Turmoil

• James D. Watson, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who co-discovered the structure of DNA, has died at the age of 97.
• His 1953 breakthrough with Francis H.C. Crick, revealing the double helix, is hailed as one of the most critical scientific achievements of the 20th century.
• Watson's later career was defined by immense contributions, including leading the Human Genome Project.
• However, his legacy remains complicated by a history of racist and sexist remarks that led to public condemnation and the stripping of his honorary titles.

A Titan of Science Has Fallen

James D. Watson, a towering figure in science whose co-discovery of the DNA double helix reshaped our understanding of life itself, died on Thursday in East Northport, N.Y. He was 97. His son, Duncan, confirmed his death, stating that Dr. Watson had been transferred to a hospice facility after being hospitalized for an infection.

At the remarkably young age of 25, Dr. Watson, alongside his colleague Francis H.C. Crick, unveiled the elegant structure of the DNA molecule. This discovery, published in 1953, laid the foundation for virtually all of modern biology and genetics, earning them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 and cementing Watson's place in the scientific pantheon.

Beyond the Double Helix

Dr. Watson's impact did not end in the 1950s. He became a celebrated author with his candid and personal memoir, "The Double Helix," which gave an insider's account of the race to discover DNA's structure. His career continued to shape modern science as he took the helm of the ambitious Human Genome Project, a monumental international effort to map all the genes of a human being.

His leadership at institutions like Harvard University and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island influenced generations of scientists, further solidifying his role as a central figure in biological research for decades.

A Legacy Marred by Controversy

Despite his undeniable genius and foundational contributions, Dr. Watson's later years were overshadowed by a series of inflammatory and offensive public statements. He repeatedly made comments, widely condemned as racist, in which he suggested a genetic link between race and intelligence. He also made numerous sexist remarks throughout his career.

These views ignited widespread uproar, leading to his forced retirement and condemnation from the very scientific community he helped build. In 2019, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the institution he had led for decades, took the extraordinary step of stripping him of all his honorary titles, stating his remarks were "unsubstantiated and reckless" and "reprehensible." This final chapter leaves a permanent stain on the legacy of a man whose scientific brilliance was matched only by the controversy that ultimately defined him.