In Memory of James Watson, the Discoverer of DNA Structure

• James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, passed away at the age of 97.
• The discovery by Watson became the foundation for numerous achievements in science and medicine.
• The scientist faced criticism for his racist and sexist statements in the later years of his life.

This is reported by The Yomiuri Shimbun, vox.com.

On November 8, 2025, James D. Watson, a renowned scientist who, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, discovered the structure of DNA in 1953, passed away at the age of 97.

This discovery became the foundation for numerous achievements in medicine, criminalistics, and genetic research, but in the later years of his life, Watson faced criticism for his racist and sexist statements.

Watson received the Nobel Prize in 1962 for his discovery, which demonstrated how genetic information is stored in organisms. However, his later comments on racial differences in intelligence sparked international condemnation. In 2007, he stated that "all social policies are based on the fact that their intellect is the same as ours," which led to his dismissal from positions at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Watson continued to express negative views about representatives of different groups throughout his career. His statements about women and race provoked outrage in the scientific community. Regardless of this, his scientific contributions remain significant, as the discovery of the structure of DNA is one of the greatest achievements in biology.

Watson passed away in hospice following a brief illness, confirmed by his son. He left behind a legacy of scientific achievements with numerous publications and groundbreaking discoveries.

Tags: Research