James Watson and the Discovery of DNA's Structure
James Watson, the scientist who co-discovered the structure of DNA, died on November 2025. He shared a Nobel Prize for unveiling the double-helix shape of the DNA molecule, a discovery that revolutionized biology and medicine.
Historical Moment of the Discovery
On a foggy Saturday morning in 1953, the 24-year-old James Watson worked with cardboard shapes representing fragments of a DNA molecule. As he arranged the pieces, he realized they formed the “rungs” of a twisted ladder, now known as a double helix. His first reaction was:
“It’s so beautiful.”
This breakthrough helped explain how DNA functions as the basis of genes.
Recognition and Legacy
- Watson received a Nobel Prize for this work.
- In 2015, the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Fortov, returned a Nobel prize medal related to Watson to him at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow.
- Watson was photographed at exhibitions and speaking engagements, highlighting his important role in molecular biology.
President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Fortov returned a Nobel prize medal to U.S. Nobel laureate James Watson in Moscow, June 17, 2015.
Impact Beyond Science
Watson’s discovery sparked not only medical advances but also complex ethical debates about genetics and biotechnology.
Author’s summary: James Watson’s role in unraveling DNA’s double-helix structure marked a turning point in science, driving medical progress while raising important ethical questions.