In 1947 Watson left the University of Chicago to become a graduate student at Indiana University, attracted by the presence at Bloomington of the 1946 Nobel Prize winner Hermann Joseph Muller, who in crucial papers published in 1922, 1929, and in the 1930s had laid out all the basic properties of the heredity molecule that Schrödinger presented in his 1944 book.
James Dewey Watson KBE (born April 6, 1928) is an American molecular biologist, geneticist and zoologist.
Watson was born in Chicago on April 6, 1928, as the only son of Jean (née Mitchell) and James D.
In 1947 Watson left the University of Chicago to become a graduate student at Indiana University, attracted by the presence at Bloomington of the 1946 Nobel Prize winner Hermann Joseph Muller, who in crucial papers published in 1922, 1929, and in the 1930s had laid out all the basic properties of the heredity molecule that Schrödinger presented in his 1944 book.
In 1947 Watson left the University of Chicago to become a graduate student at Indiana University, attracted by the presence at Bloomington of the 1946 Nobel Prize winner Hermann Joseph Muller, who in crucial papers published in 1922, 1929, and in the 1930s had laid out all the basic properties of the heredity molecule that Schrödinger presented in his 1944 book.
In 1947 Watson left the University of Chicago to become a graduate student at Indiana University, attracted by the presence at Bloomington of the 1946 Nobel Prize winner Hermann Joseph Muller, who in crucial papers published in 1922, 1929, and in the 1930s had laid out all the basic properties of the heredity molecule that Schrödinger presented in his 1944 book.
Among his professors was Louis Leon Thurstone from whom Watson learned about factor analysis, which he would later reference on his controversial views on race. After reading Erwin Schrödinger's book, What Is Life? in 1946, Watson changed his professional ambitions from the study of ornithology to genetics.
In 1947 Watson left the University of Chicago to become a graduate student at Indiana University, attracted by the presence at Bloomington of the 1946 Nobel Prize winner Hermann Joseph Muller, who in crucial papers published in 1922, 1929, and in the 1930s had laid out all the basic properties of the heredity molecule that Schrödinger presented in his 1944 book.
In subsequent years, it has been recognized that Watson and his colleagues did not properly attribute colleague Rosalind Franklin for her contributions to the discovery of the double helix structure. Watson earned degrees at the University of Chicago (BS, 1947) and Indiana University (PhD, 1950).
Watson earned his BS degree in Zoology from the University of Chicago in 1947.
In 1947 Watson left the University of Chicago to become a graduate student at Indiana University, attracted by the presence at Bloomington of the 1946 Nobel Prize winner Hermann Joseph Muller, who in crucial papers published in 1922, 1929, and in the 1930s had laid out all the basic properties of the heredity molecule that Schrödinger presented in his 1944 book.
Early in 1948, Watson began his PhD research in Luria's laboratory at Indiana University.
In 1949, Watson took a course with Felix Haurowitz that included the conventional view of that time: that genes were proteins and able to replicate themselves.
In subsequent years, it has been recognized that Watson and his colleagues did not properly attribute colleague Rosalind Franklin for her contributions to the discovery of the double helix structure. Watson earned degrees at the University of Chicago (BS, 1947) and Indiana University (PhD, 1950).
He received his PhD degree from Indiana University in 1950; Salvador Luria was his doctoral advisor. ==Career and research== ===Luria, Delbrück, and the Phage Group=== Originally, Watson was drawn into molecular biology by the work of Salvador Luria.
Watson's research project involved using X-rays to inactivate bacterial viruses. Watson then went to Copenhagen University in September 1950 for a year of postdoctoral research, first heading to the laboratory of biochemist Herman Kalckar.
Watson was now certain that DNA had a definite molecular structure that could be elucidated. In 1951, the chemist Linus Pauling in California published his model of the amino acid alpha helix, a result that grew out of Pauling's efforts in X-ray crystallography and molecular model building.
In 1951 Watson visited the Stazione Zoologica 'Anton Dohrn' in Naples. ===Identifying the double helix=== In mid-March 1953, Watson and Crick deduced the double helix structure of DNA.
Watson and Crick had three sources for Franklin's unpublished data: Her 1951 seminar, attended by Watson, Discussions with Wilkins, who worked in the same laboratory with Franklin, A research progress report that was intended to promote coordination of Medical Research Council-supported laboratories.
In 1953, he co-authored with Francis Crick the academic paper proposing the double helix structure of the DNA molecule.
In 1951 Watson visited the Stazione Zoologica 'Anton Dohrn' in Naples. ===Identifying the double helix=== In mid-March 1953, Watson and Crick deduced the double helix structure of DNA.
Sir Lawrence Bragg, the director of the Cavendish Laboratory (where Watson and Crick worked), made the original announcement of the discovery at a Solvay conference on proteins in Belgium on April 8, 1953; it went unreported by the press.
Watson and Crick submitted a paper entitled " A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid" to the scientific journal Nature, which was published on April 25, 1953.
Bragg gave a talk at the Guy's Hospital Medical School in London on Thursday, May 14, 1953, which resulted in a May 15, 1953, article by Ritchie Calder in the London newspaper News Chronicle, entitled "Why You Are You.
Oughton were some of the first people in April 1953 to see the model of the structure of DNA, constructed by Crick and Watson; at the time, they were working at Oxford University's Chemistry Department.
According to the late Beryl Oughton, later Rimmer, they all travelled together in two cars once Dorothy Hodgkin announced to them that they were off to Cambridge to see the model of the structure of DNA. The Cambridge University student newspaper Varsity also ran its own short article on the discovery on Saturday, May 30, 1953.
Watson subsequently presented a paper on the double-helical structure of DNA at the 18th Cold Spring Harbor Symposium on Viruses in early June 1953, six weeks after the publication of the Watson and Crick paper in Nature.
The 1953 Cold Spring Harbor Symposium was the first opportunity for many to see the model of the DNA double helix. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for their research on the structure of nucleic acids.
From 1956 to 1976, Watson was on the faculty of the Harvard University Biology Department, promoting research in molecular biology. From 1968 Watson served as director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), greatly expanding its level of funding and research.
"Molecular Configuration in Sodium Thymonucleate" Nature 171, 740–741 (1953). ===Harvard University=== In 1956, Watson accepted a position in the Biology department at Harvard University.
Rosalind Franklin had died in 1958 and was therefore ineligible for nomination. The publication of the double helix structure of DNA has been described as a turning point in science; understanding of life was fundamentally changed and the modern era of biology began. ====Interactions with Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling, and use of their DNA data==== Watson and Crick's use of DNA X-ray diffraction data collected by Rosalind Franklin and her student Raymond Gosling was unauthorized.
From a 2003 piece in Nature Magazine: Other comments dismissive of “Rosy” in Watson's book caught the attention of the emerging women's movement in the late 1960s.
Watson, Crick and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material".
The 1953 Cold Spring Harbor Symposium was the first opportunity for many to see the model of the DNA double helix. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for their research on the structure of nucleic acids.
From 1956 to 1976, Watson was on the faculty of the Harvard University Biology Department, promoting research in molecular biology. From 1968 Watson served as director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), greatly expanding its level of funding and research.
The textbooks are still in print. ===Publishing The Double Helix=== In 1968, Watson wrote The Double Helix, listed by the Board of the Modern Library as number seven in their list of 100 Best Nonfiction books.
In an interview with Anne Sayre for her book 'Rosalind Franklin and DNA' (published in 1975 and reissued in 2000), Francis Crick said that he regarded Watson's book as a "contemptible pack of damned nonsense." ===Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory=== In 1968, Watson became the Director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).
In 2003, he was one of 22 Nobel Laureates who signed the Humanist Manifesto. ===Marriage and family=== Watson married Elizabeth Lewis in 1968.
Luria eventually shared the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the Luria–Delbrück experiment, which concerned the nature of genetic mutations.
Between 1970 and 1972, the Watsons' two sons were born, and by 1974, the young family made Cold Spring Harbor their permanent residence.
Between 1970 and 1972, the Watsons' two sons were born, and by 1974, the young family made Cold Spring Harbor their permanent residence.
Between 1970 and 1972, the Watsons' two sons were born, and by 1974, the young family made Cold Spring Harbor their permanent residence.
Robert Olby; 1974 The Path to The Double Helix: Discovery of DNA.
forces from Vietnam." In 1975, on the thirtieth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, Watson was one of over 2000 scientists and engineers who spoke out against nuclear proliferation to President Gerald Ford, arguing that there was no proven method for the safe disposal of radioactive waste, and that nuclear plants were a security threat due to the possibility of terrorist theft of plutonium. Views on Watson's scientific contributions while at Harvard are somewhat mixed.
In an interview with Anne Sayre for her book 'Rosalind Franklin and DNA' (published in 1975 and reissued in 2000), Francis Crick said that he regarded Watson's book as a "contemptible pack of damned nonsense." ===Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory=== In 1968, Watson became the Director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).
Norton and Company, , 1975/2000. James D.
From 1956 to 1976, Watson was on the faculty of the Harvard University Biology Department, promoting research in molecular biology. From 1968 Watson served as director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), greatly expanding its level of funding and research.
Watson, The Annotated and Illustrated Double Helix, edited by Alexander Gann and Jan Witkowski (2012) Simon & Schuster, . (Norton Critical Editions, 1981). ==External links== James D.
Between 1988 and 1992, Watson was associated with the National Institutes of Health, helping to establish the Human Genome Project, which completed the task of mapping the human genome in 2003. == Early life and education == James D.
They want all failure in life to be due to the evil system." ===Human Genome Project=== In 1990, Watson was appointed as the Head of the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health, a position he held until April 10, 1992.
(1988) What Mad Pursuit: A Personal View of Scientific Discovery (Basic Books reprint edition, 1990) John Finch; 'A Nobel Fellow On Every Floor', Medical Research Council 2008, 381 pp, ; this book is all about the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge. Friedberg, E.C.; "Sydney Brenner: A Biography", CSHL Press October 2010, . Friedburg, E.
. The History of the University of Cambridge: Volume 4 (1870 to 1990), Cambridge University Press, 1992. ===Selected books published=== James D.
Between 1988 and 1992, Watson was associated with the National Institutes of Health, helping to establish the Human Genome Project, which completed the task of mapping the human genome in 2003. == Early life and education == James D.
They want all failure in life to be due to the evil system." ===Human Genome Project=== In 1990, Watson was appointed as the Head of the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health, a position he held until April 10, 1992.
. The History of the University of Cambridge: Volume 4 (1870 to 1990), Cambridge University Press, 1992. ===Selected books published=== James D.
In 1994, he started as president and served for 10 years.
Patent and Trademark Office) In 1994, Watson became President of CSHL.
; Definitive DNA textbook, with foreword by Francis Crick, revised in 1994 with a 9-page postscript. Robert Olby; (2003) "Quiet debut for the double helix" Nature 421 (January 23): 402–405. Robert Olby; "Francis Crick: Hunter of Life's Secrets", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, , August 2009. Ridley, M.
forces from Vietnam." In 1975, on the thirtieth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, Watson was one of over 2000 scientists and engineers who spoke out against nuclear proliferation to President Gerald Ford, arguing that there was no proven method for the safe disposal of radioactive waste, and that nuclear plants were a security threat due to the possibility of terrorist theft of plutonium. Views on Watson's scientific contributions while at Harvard are somewhat mixed.
In an interview with Anne Sayre for her book 'Rosalind Franklin and DNA' (published in 1975 and reissued in 2000), Francis Crick said that he regarded Watson's book as a "contemptible pack of damned nonsense." ===Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory=== In 1968, Watson became the Director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).
Watson also states in the epilogue, "Anyone sincerely interested in understanding the imbalance in the representation of men and women in science must reasonably be prepared at least to consider the extent to which nature may figure, even with the clear evidence that nurture is strongly implicated." ===Comments on race === At a conference in 2000, Watson suggested a link between skin color and sex drive, hypothesizing that dark-skinned people have stronger libidos.
Between 1988 and 1992, Watson was associated with the National Institutes of Health, helping to establish the Human Genome Project, which completed the task of mapping the human genome in 2003. == Early life and education == James D.
From a 2003 piece in Nature Magazine: Other comments dismissive of “Rosy” in Watson's book caught the attention of the emerging women's movement in the late 1960s.
He has also suggested that beauty could be genetically engineered, saying in 2003, "People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty.
In 2003, he was one of 22 Nobel Laureates who signed the Humanist Manifesto. ===Marriage and family=== Watson married Elizabeth Lewis in 1968.
Wilson once described Watson as "the most unpleasant human being I had ever met", but in a later TV interview said that he considered them friends and their rivalry at Harvard "old history" (when they had competed for funding in their respective fields). In the epilogue to the memoir Avoid Boring People, Watson alternately attacks and defends former Harvard University president Lawrence Summers, who stepped down in 2006 due in part to his remarks about women and science.
He was then appointed chancellor, serving until he resigned in 2007 after making comments claiming that there is a genetic link between intelligence and race.
I think it would be great." In 2007, James Watson became the second person to publish his fully sequenced genome online, after it was presented to him on May 31, 2007, by 454 Life Sciences Corporation in collaboration with scientists at the Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine.
In early October 2007, he was interviewed by Charlotte Hunt-Grubbe at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).
Watson attributed his retirement to his age and to circumstances that he could never have anticipated or desired. In 2008, Watson was appointed chancellor emeritus of CSHL.
(1988) What Mad Pursuit: A Personal View of Scientific Discovery (Basic Books reprint edition, 1990) John Finch; 'A Nobel Fellow On Every Floor', Medical Research Council 2008, 381 pp, ; this book is all about the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge. Friedberg, E.C.; "Sydney Brenner: A Biography", CSHL Press October 2010, . Friedburg, E.
; Definitive DNA textbook, with foreword by Francis Crick, revised in 1994 with a 9-page postscript. Robert Olby; (2003) "Quiet debut for the double helix" Nature 421 (January 23): 402–405. Robert Olby; "Francis Crick: Hunter of Life's Secrets", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, , August 2009. Ridley, M.
(1988) What Mad Pursuit: A Personal View of Scientific Discovery (Basic Books reprint edition, 1990) John Finch; 'A Nobel Fellow On Every Floor', Medical Research Council 2008, 381 pp, ; this book is all about the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge. Friedberg, E.C.; "Sydney Brenner: A Biography", CSHL Press October 2010, . Friedburg, E.
Watson was quoted as saying, "I am putting my genome sequence on line to encourage the development of an era of personalized medicine, in which information contained in our genomes can be used to identify and prevent disease and to create individualized medical therapies". ===Later life=== In 2014, Watson published a paper in The Lancet suggesting that biological oxidants may have a different role than is thought in diseases including diabetes, dementia, heart disease and cancer.
Other scientists have expressed their support for his hypothesis and have proposed that it can also be expanded to why a lack of oxidants can result in cancer and its progression. In 2014, Watson sold his Nobel prize medal to raise money; part of the funds raised by the sale went to support scientific research.
The medal sold at auction at Christie's in December 2014 for .
Watson did not respond to the developments, having been ill since a car accident in October 2018. ==Personal life== Watson is an atheist.
In 2019, following the broadcast of a documentary in which Watson reiterated these views on race and genetics, CSHL revoked his honorary titles and severed all ties with him. Watson has written many science books, including the textbook Molecular Biology of the Gene (1965) and his bestselling book The Double Helix (1968).
, he continued to advise and guide project work at the laboratory. In January 2019, following the broadcast of a television documentary made the previous year in which he repeated his views about race and genetics, CSHL revoked honorary titles that it had awarded to Watson and cut all remaining ties with him.
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