James Watson

6 April 1928 – 6 November 2025

James Dewey Watson was an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist best known for co-discovering the double helix structure of DNA with Francis Crick in 1953. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 and later led major scientific institutions, though his later career was marked by controversy over remarks on race.

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Life events

Born in Chicago, Illinois
6 April 1928

James Watson was born in Chicago and showed early academic precocity.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Earned a PhD from Indiana University
1950

He received his doctorate in zoology, studying under geneticist Salvador Luria.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the Cavendish Laboratory
1951

He began work at Cambridge, where he met Francis Crick.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Co-discovered the structure of DNA
1953

With Francis Crick he proposed the double helix model of DNA.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Awarded the Nobel Prize
1962

He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Crick and Maurice Wilkins.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Published The Double Helix
1968

He wrote a candid and controversial personal account of the discovery of DNA's structure.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Became director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
1968

He led Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, building it into a major research center.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Led the Human Genome Project
1990

He served as the first head of the National Center for Human Genome Research.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died at age 97
6 November 2025

James Watson died in November 2025.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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