James D. Watson | |
---|---|
![]() James D. Watson | |
Born | |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Chicago, Indiana University |
Known for | DNA structure, Molecular biology |
Awards | Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1962); Copley Medal (1993)[1] |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Genetics |
Institutions | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; Harvard University; University of Cambridge; National Institutes of Health |
Doctoral advisor | Salvador Luria |
James Dewey Watson (born April 6, 1928) is an American molecular biologist and zoologist.
Watson is of British ancestry. He is best known as one of the discoverers of the structure of DNA with Francis Crick in 1953.
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".[2]
He studied at the University of Chicago and Indiana University and later worked at the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory. He met Crick at the Cavendish and they became friends.
Watson has received 19 honorary doctorates.
Watson has always been a controversial figure, especially in the United States. The main cause is a long-running argument as to what causes the small difference in the average IQs of black and white people in the U.S.A.
Watson has repeatedly said that differences in average measured IQ between blacks and whites are due to genetics.[3][4][5] [6][7][8] Watson said his intention was to promote science, not racism
An excerpt from Watson's memoir, Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science page=102 goes as follows:
An editorial in Nature said that his remarks were "beyond the pale".[10] Because of the controversy, the Board of Trustees at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory suspended Watson's administrative responsibilities.[11] Watson issued an apology,[12] then retired at the age of 79 from CSHL after what the lab called "nearly 40 years of distinguished service".[13][14] Watson attributed his retirement to his age and to circumstances that he could never have anticipated or desired.[15][16][17]
Watson has published a number of books.