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Nobel laureate Dr James D. Watson – by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory –

Top 10 Facts about James D. Watson

James Dewey Watson is a molecular biologist, zoologist and founder of modern genetics. He is renowned for discovering DNA along with Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin. Both he and Francis Crick co-authored an academic paper proposing the double helix structure of the DNA molecule.

Watson met Crick during their time at the University of Cambridge at the Cavendish Laboratory. Watson was continuing his postdoctoral work with X-rays, learning diffraction techniques and Crick shared his interest in puzzling out the structure of DNA.

Their first attempt to discover the structure of DNA didn鈥檛 work but at their second attempt, they discovered the double-helical configuration of DNA. This became a groundbreaking discovery in the field of genetics as it established how the DNA molecule could duplicate itself.

Let鈥檚 delve into 10 interesting facts about James Watson

1. James was the only son born to his parents

Watson was born on April 6th, 1928 in Chicago Illinois. He was the only son of his parents, James D Watson and Jean Mitchell. His father was a businessman and his ancestral background was of English descent and had lived in the midwest for several generations.

His grandfather from his mother鈥檚 side was a Scottish-born tailor married to a daughter of Irish immigrants who arrived in the United States around the 19th century.

2. Watson joined the University of Chicago when he was only 15

James D Watson – by National Cancer Institute –

Watson was exceptionally early in development, especially in his studies which saw him join college at 15. In 1947, four years after joining the university he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.

 He continued to develop a very keen interest in learning about genetics. His passion was affirmed when he got a Fellowship for graduate study in Zoology at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he received his PhD degree in Zoology in 1950.

3. James became a Professor at Harvard University

James D Watson plaque in Vincent Square – by Tom Morris –

In 1956, he was a member of the Harvard Biology Department, first as Assistant Professor. He then became an Associate professor in 1958 and a full professor in 1961. 

During his time as a professor at the university, his major research interest has been the role of RNA in protein synthesis. He involved Swiss biochemist Alfred Tissi猫res and the French biochemist Fran莽ois Gros, and most recently Walter Gilbert in the experimental process.

4. Watson married Elizabeth Lewis who was Houston’s first female police chief

In 1968, James Watson married Elizabeth Lewis and together they had two sons; Rufus Robert Watson and Duncan James Watson.

Elizabeth was Houston’s first female police chief. She served for two years before becoming the police chief in Austin, Texas, she resigned five years later in 1997 and went ahead to become a law enforcement consultant.

5. James got Numerous Awards for his work

Dr Murad, Dr Zhanov and Dr Watson in Moscow – by Vera Knorre –

The awards that have come to Watson include the John Collins Warren Prize of the Massachusetts General Hospital, which was shared with Francis Crick in 1959 and the Eli Lilly Award in Biochemistry in the same year.

He was also given the Lasker Award, with Crick and Wilkins in 1960; the Research Corporation Prize, with Crick in 1962; membership of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, and Foreign membership of the Danish Academy of Arts and Sciences.

6. Watson is a consultant to the President鈥檚 Scientific Advisory Committee

The President鈥檚 Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is the sole body of advisors from outside the federal government charged with making science, technology, and innovation policy recommendations to the President and the White House.

The Committee was created on November 21, 1957, by President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower, As an active writer and outspoken scientist, Watson was hired as a consultant in the committee.

7. James Watson has written over 10 science books

James Watson and John Gage – by Steve Jurvetson –

He has written many academic papers and his best selling book is The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA.

His other books are but are not limited to: The DNA Story, Molecular Biology of the Gene, Molecular Biology of the Cell Recombinant DNA: A Short Course, and his 2003 memoir, Genes, Girls and Gamow and Avoid Boring People.

8. Watson’s son suffers from Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of difficulties determining what is real and what is not. It is characterized by hallucinations, paranoia and disorganized thinking.

Watson openly speaks about his son Rufus Robert Watson who suffers from Schizophrenia. He does this to encourage progress in the understanding and treatment of mental illness by determining how genetics contributes to it.

9. James auctioned his Nobel medal

James Watson with the Othmer Gold Medal, awarded June 9, 2005. By Douglas A. Lockard –

In 1962, Watson, Crick and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology “for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material”.

 Later in 2014, Watson sold his Nobel prize medal to raise money after complaining of being made an ”unperson” following controversial statements he had made.

The medal was sold at auction at Christie’s in December 2014 for the US $4.1 million. Part of the funds raised by the sale went to support scientific research.

10. Watson had a long history of racist and sexist public comments

Over the years, James Watson occasionally attracted controversy with his uninhibited remarks on a variety of topics in the tune of racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, and even fat-shaming remarks.

In 2007, he apologized publicly after an interview in which he told a British reporter that he was 鈥済loomy鈥� about Africa because 鈥渁ll our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours 鈥� whereas all the testing says not really鈥�.

This was taken to speculate that Africa鈥檚 progress might be hindered by genetic inheritance. He retracted the statement and regretted any offense caused by his remarks.

After 43 years of service, Watson retired as Chancellor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and resigned from the Laboratory鈥檚 Board of Directors.

In the recent past, Watson鈥檚 legacy was tarnished by his offensive and baseless comments.

Watson began to recede from public life in 2007 and is currently 94 years old. His favorite pastimes after retirement include activities include walking and bird watching.