James Watson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Watson
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Watson in 2012
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James Dewey Watson
April 6, 1928 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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Elizabeth Lewis
(m. 1968) |
| Children | 2 |
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| Fields | Genetics |
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| Thesis | The Biological Properties of X-Ray Inactivated Bacteriophage (1951) |
| Doctoral advisor | Salvador Luria |
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James Dewey Watson (born April 6, 1928) is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist. In 1953, he worked with Francis Crick to propose the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. This discovery was a huge step in understanding life.
Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. They received it for their discoveries about the structure of nucleic acids. This work helped explain how information is passed on in living things.
Watson earned his degrees from the University of Chicago (1947) and Indiana University Bloomington (1950). After studying in Copenhagen, he worked at the University of Cambridge in England. There, he met Francis Crick, who would become his research partner. From 1956 to 1976, Watson taught at Harvard University. He helped grow research in molecular biology there.
Starting in 1968, Watson became the director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). He greatly increased its funding and research efforts. At CSHL, he focused his research on cancer. He also made CSHL a top center for molecular biology research. He served as president for 10 years, starting in 1994. He then became chancellor but resigned in 2007. This was after he made controversial comments about intelligence and race. In 2019, CSHL removed his honorary titles and ended all ties with him. This happened after he repeated these views in a documentary.
Watson has written many science books. These include the textbook Molecular Biology of the Gene (1965). His bestselling book, The Double Helix (1968), tells the story of the DNA discovery. Between 1988 and 1992, Watson worked with the National Institutes of Health. He helped start the Human Genome Project. This project mapped the entire human genome by 2003.
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Early Life and Education
Watson was born in Chicago on April 6, 1928. He was the only son of Jean and James D. Watson. His family had mostly English and Irish roots. He was raised Catholic but later became an atheist. He said that by age 11, he focused on science and knowledge.
Watson grew up in Chicago and went to public schools. He loved bird watching and thought about studying ornithology. He even appeared on Quiz Kids, a radio show for bright young people. At 15, he enrolled at the University of Chicago with a scholarship.
In 1946, Watson read Erwin Schrödinger's book, What Is Life?. This book made him change his focus from birds to genetics. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in zoology in 1947. He then went to Indiana University for graduate school. He was drawn there by Hermann Joseph Muller, a Nobel Prize winner. Watson received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1950. His advisor was Salvador Luria.
Career and Scientific Discoveries
Early Research and the Phage Group
Watson became interested in molecular biology through the work of Salvador Luria. Luria later won a Nobel Prize for his work on genetic mutations. Watson joined a group of scientists called the "Phage Group". They studied bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria.
The Phage Group believed they were close to understanding the physical nature of the gene. In 1949, many thought genes were proteins. But Watson knew about the Avery–MacLeod–McCarty experiment. This experiment suggested that DNA was the genetic material. Watson's early research involved using X-rays to study bacterial viruses.
In 1950, Watson went to Copenhagen University for postdoctoral research. He wanted to study DNA's structure. He later saw Maurice Wilkins present X-ray diffraction data for DNA. This made Watson even more sure that DNA had a clear structure that could be figured out.
Discovering the Double Helix
In March 1953, Watson and Crick figured out the double helix structure of DNA. They used experimental data from King's College London. Much of this data was collected by Rosalind Franklin and her student Raymond Gosling.
Watson and Crick published their paper, "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid", in Nature on April 25, 1953. The discovery was first announced by Lawrence Bragg, their lab director.
Many scientists were impressed by the new DNA model. Sydney Brenner, who later worked with Crick, was one of the first to see it. The discovery was also reported in the Cambridge University student newspaper. Watson presented the double helix model at a conference in June 1953.
Watson, Crick, and Wilkins received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. Rosalind Franklin had passed away in 1958, so she could not be nominated. The discovery of the DNA double helix changed science forever. It marked the beginning of modern biology.
Working with Rosalind Franklin
Watson and Crick used DNA X-ray diffraction data from Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling. Some people argue that Franklin was not properly recognized for her work. Her high-quality X-ray patterns of DNA were unpublished. Watson and Crick used them without her direct knowledge or permission.
Franklin's results showed that the two sugar-phosphate backbones were on the outside of the DNA molecule. She had told Crick and Watson this. Before her findings, other models had the chains inside. Her work also showed that the two DNA strands were antiparallel.
Watson and Crick later acknowledged that their structure would have been "most unlikely, if not impossible" without Franklin's data. In his book The Double Helix, Watson admitted that Franklin did not directly give them her data.
Despite some past disagreements, Franklin and Watson later had positive scientific discussions. They exchanged letters about Franklin's research on tobacco mosaic virus RNA. All the scientists involved published their findings in the same issue of Nature.
Time at Harvard University
In 1956, Watson joined the biology department at Harvard University. He focused on RNA and its role in carrying genetic information. Watson pushed Harvard to focus more on molecular biology. He believed that other biology fields would advance once molecular biology was better understood.
Watson remained at Harvard until 1976. During this time, he also became director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 1968. He participated in protests against the Vietnam War. He also spoke out against nuclear weapons in 1975.
Watson wrote several important textbooks. These include The Molecular Biology of the Gene and Molecular Biology of the Cell. He also wrote Recombinant DNA, which explained genetic engineering.
Writing The Double Helix
In 1968, Watson wrote The Double Helix. This book tells the story of the DNA discovery. It also describes the people involved and the challenges they faced. The book caused some controversy when it was published. Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins had objections to it.
Leading Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
In 1968, Watson became director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He and his family moved there permanently by 1974. Watson led CSHL for about 35 years. He served as director, president, and later chancellor.
Under Watson's leadership, CSHL grew significantly. It became a world-leading research and education institution. He started a program to study cancer. Scientists there made major discoveries about the genetic causes of cancer.
In 2007, Watson made some controversial comments. He stated that he believed some failures in life were due to "bad genes."
The Human Genome Project
In 1990, Watson was chosen to lead the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health. This project aimed to map all the genes in human DNA. He held this position until 1992.
Watson left the project after disagreements with the new NIH Director, Bernadine Healy. Watson did not agree with trying to patent gene sequences. He believed that the human genome should belong to everyone.
In 1994, Watson became president of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Francis Collins took over as director of the Human Genome Project.
Watson has supported genetic screening and genetic engineering. He has suggested that these could help cure diseases. In 2007, Watson became the second person to have his full genome sequence published online. He hoped this would encourage personalized medicine. This is where medical treatments are tailored to a person's unique genetic information.
Later Life and Controversies
In 2014, Watson published a paper in The Lancet. It suggested new ideas about the role of biological oxidants in diseases.
Also in 2014, Watson sold his Nobel Prize medal. He said he felt like an "unperson" after making controversial statements. The medal sold for $4.1 million. He planned to use the money for scientific research and conservation. The buyer, Alisher Usmanov, later returned the medal to Watson.
In 2007, Watson published his memoir, Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science. In this book, he described some academic colleagues in harsh terms.
In October 2007, Watson made controversial comments about differences in intelligence between racial groups. These remarks caused a lot of criticism. As a result, some of his public appearances were canceled. The board of trustees at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory suspended his duties. Watson apologized and then retired from CSHL at age 79.
In 2008, Watson was appointed chancellor emeritus of CSHL. However, in January 2019, CSHL removed his honorary titles and cut all ties with him. This happened after he repeated his unacceptable views in a television documentary.
Personal Life
Watson is an atheist. He signed the Humanist Manifesto in 2003.
Family Life
Watson married Elizabeth Lewis in 1968. They have two sons, Rufus Robert Watson (born 1970) and Duncan James Watson (born 1972). Watson sometimes speaks about his son Rufus, who has schizophrenia. He hopes to encourage more research into the genetic causes and treatments for mental illness.
Awards and Honors
Watson has received many awards for his scientific work, including:
- Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, 1960
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1962
- John J. Carty Award in molecular biology
- Copley Medal of the Royal Society, 1993
- Lomonosov Gold Medal, 1994
- National Medal of Science, 1997
- Liberty Medal, 2000
- Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences, 2001
- Othmer Gold Medal, 2005
Honorary Degrees
Watson has received many honorary degrees from universities around the world, including:
- University of Chicago, US, 1961
- Indiana University, US, 1963
- Harvard University, US, 1978
- University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1993
- University of Dublin, Ireland, 2001
Professional Memberships
Watson has been a member of many important scientific organizations, such as:
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- National Academy of Sciences
- Royal Society, Foreign Member since 1981
- Russian Academy of Sciences
See also
In Spanish: James Dewey Watson para niños
- Behavioral genetics
- History of molecular biology
- History of RNA biology
- Life Story – a 1987 BBC film about the discovery of DNA structure
- List of RNA biologists
- Predictive medicine
- Whole genome sequencing
