James Watson

At 96 years old, James Watson physical status not available right now. We will update James Watson's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Career and research

Watson was first introduced to molecular biology by Salvador Luria's work. Luria received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1969 for his work on the Luria–Delbrück experiment, which was concerned about genetic mutations. He was one of a large group of researchers researching bacteriophages, which kill bacteria. He and Max Delbrück were among the leaders of this new "Phage Group," an important group of geneticists from experimental methods such as Drosophila to microbial genetics. Watson started his PhD studies in Luria's laboratory at Indiana University in 1948. During Watson's first trip to the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory that spring, he met Delbrück first in Luria's apartment and again in the summer.

Watson was a researcher at the Phage Group, which led to his appointment as a working scientist. The Phage Group members were able to determine the physical appearance of the gene, which was vital. Watson took a course with Felix Haurowitz in 1949 that included the common assumption at the time: genes were proteins and would reproduce themselves. The other important molecular component of chromosomes, DNA, was widely believed to be a "stupid tetranucleotide," which was only used in a descriptive role to help the proteins. Watson, who was under the Phage Group's influence, was aware of the Avery-MacLeod–McCarty experiment, which claimed that DNA was the genetic component of DNA. Watson's research project involved the use of X-rays to inactivate bacterial viruses.

Watson went to Copenhagen University in September 1950 for a year of postdoctoral research, first heading to Herman Kalckar's laboratory. Kalckar was interested in the enzymatic synthesis of nucleic acids, and he wanted to use phages as an experiment. Watson wanted to investigate DNA, but his passions did not align with Kalckar's. Watson spent the remainder of his time in Copenhagen performing experiments with microbial physiologist Ole Maale, then a Phage Group researcher, after being employed with Kalckar during the year.

Watson's findings, which Watson had learned about during the previous summer's Cold Spring Harbor phage conference, included the use of radioactive phosphate as a tracer to determine which molecular components of phage particles actually infect the target bacteria during viral infection. The intention was to see if protein or DNA was the genetic material, but the researchers discovered that they were inconclusive and that they were unable to recognize the newly labeled molecules as DNA. Watson never had a positive interaction with Kalckar, but he did accompany Kalckar to a meeting in Italy, where Watson met Maurice Wilkins about X-ray diffraction results for DNA. Watson was now positive that DNA had a specific molecular structure that could be lucidated.

Linus Pauling, a California chemist, released his model of the amino acid alpha helix in 1951, a result that followed Pauling's efforts in X-ray crystallography and molecular model building. Watson, who had some findings from his phage and other experimental studies at Indiana University, Statens Serum Institut (Denmark), and the California Institute of Technology, wanted to perform X-ray diffraction experiments to see DNA's structure. Luria met John Kendrew in the summer and arranged for a new postdoctoral research grant for Watson in England. Watson visited the Stazione Zoologica 'Anton Dohrn' in Naples in 1951.

Watson and Crick deduced the double helix DNA structure in mid-March 1953. The experimental results obtained at King's College London were crucial to their discovery, mainly by Rosalind Franklin for which they did not have official attribution. Sir Lawrence Bragg, the director of the Cavendish Laboratory (where Watson and Crick worked), made the initial announcement of the discovery on April 8, 1953, but it was unreported by the press. Watson and Crick submitted a paper titled "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid" to the scientific journal Nature, which was released on April 25, 1953. On Thursday, Bragg spoke at the Guy's Hospital Medical School in London, which culminated in Ritchie Calder's article entitled "Why You Are You" in the London newspaper News Chronicle, May 14, 1953. The "Hinder Secret of Life" is nearer.

Some of the first people to see the Crick and Watson's design of DNA in April 1953 were Sydney Brenner, Jack Dunitz, Dorothy Hodgkin, Leslie Orgel, and Beryl M. Oughton; at the time, they were working in Oxford University's Chemistry Department. Brenner, who later worked with Crick in Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory and the new Laboratory of Molecular Biology, impressed all by the new DNA model, particularly Brenner. According to Beryl Oughton, a later Rimmer, they all travelled in two cars together in two cars when Dorothy Hodgkin announced to them that they were off to Cambridge to see the DNA model.

Varsity, a Cambridge University student newspaper, also published a short article about the find on Saturday, May 30, 1953. Watson later 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 Watson and Crick papers were published in Nature. Many of those at the meeting had not yet heard of the find. The 1953 Cold Spring Harbor Symposium was the first opportunity for many to see the DNA double helix.

In 1962, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins were named Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their study into nucleic acids' composition. Rosalind Franklin died in 1958 and was thus ineligible for nomination.

The discovery of the double helix structure of DNA has been described as a turning point in science; life was fundamentally changed, and the modern era of biology has begun.

Watson and Crick were unauthorized users of DNA X-ray diffraction results obtained by Rosalind Franklin and her student Raymond Gosling. Franklin's high-quality X-ray diffraction patterns of DNA were deemed preferrable unpublished data obtained without authorization from a scientist in another lab on the same topic. Watson and Crick used some of Franklin's unpublished results — without her knowledge — in their design of the double helix model of DNA. Franklin's findings gave estimates of DNA crystal contents, but these results were consistent with the two sugar-phosphate backbones being outside the molecule. Franklin told Crick and Watson that the backbones must be exposed to the outside; before that, Linus Pauling and Watson and Crick had erroneous models with the chains inside and the bases pointed outwards; Watson and Watson had erroneous models. The two DNA strands were antiparallel, according to Crick, who discovered them in a space group for DNA crystals.

The X-ray diffraction photographs collected by Gosling and Franklin provided the best evidence for DNA's helical origins. Watson and Crick had three sources for Franklin's unpublished results: 'Frank's unpublished results were published by Watson and Crick.'

Watson has drew skepticism in recent years for his "misogynistic treatment" of Franklin and his inability to properly attribute her work to DNA. Watson later revealed that "Rosy, of course, did not specifically provide us with her details." No one at King's knew they were in our hands," the author explained. Watson's portrayal of Franklin in The Double Helix was negative, giving the appearance that she was Wilkins' assistant and was unable to analyze her own DNA results, according to one critic. Watson's allegation was defensible, since Franklin told Crick and Watson that the helix backbones had to be exposed on the outside.

From a 2003 piece in Nature:

The correspondence from Franklin to Watson, which was stored in the CSHL archives, revealed that the two scientists later exchanged constructive scientific correspondence. Franklin consulted with Watson on her tobacco mosaic virus RNA study. Franklin's letters were presented in the classic and unremarkable ways of address, beginning with "Dear Jim" and ending with "Best Wishes, Yours, Rosalind." Each of the scientists contributed to the discovery of DNA in separate papers, and all of the scientists published their findings in Nature's same volume. Watson J. D. and Crick F. H. C. "A Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid" is included in these classic molecular biology papers. Nature 171, 737–738 (1953); Wilkins M. H. F., Stokes A. R., and Wilson H. R. "Ethical Structure of Deoxypentose Nucleic Acids" Nature 171, 738–740 (1953); Franklin R. and Gosling R. G.'s "Molecular Structure of Sodium Thymonucleate" Nature 171, 740–741 (1953): Nature 171, 740-741 (1953).

Watson took up a position in Harvard University's Biology Department in 1956. His research at Harvard honed RNA and its role in the transfer of genetic information.

Watson argued for a change in focus for classical biology to molecular biology, implying that fields such as ecology, developmental biology, taxonomy, physiology, and the like were among the disciplines under investigation. Both research had stalled and could progress only after molecular biology and biochemistry, which had elucidated their underpinnings, going so far as to discourage undergraduate study.

Watson continued to work with the Harvard faculty until 1976, even though he took over the lab's leadership of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 1968.

During his time at Harvard, Watson led a movement against the Vietnam War, leading a coalition of 12 biologists and biochemists calling for "the immediate withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam." Watson, one of over 2000 scientists and engineers who spoke out against nuclear proliferation to President Gerald Ford in 1975, arguing that there is no such thing as a threat to security due to the possibility of terrorist stealing plutonium.

The Molecular Biology of the Gene by Watson used the term heads in his first book, as well as brief declarative subheadings. His next book, Molecular Biology of the Cell, was published in which he coordinated the efforts of a group of scientist-writers. Recombinant DNA, which described the ways in which genetic engineering has provided new insights into organism function, was his third book.

Watson wrote The Double Helix, which was ranked No. 7 on the Modern Library's list of the 100 Best Nonfiction Books in 1968. The book explores the evolution of DNA, as well as the personalities, conflicts, and controversies surrounding their work, as well as several of his personal emotional impressions at the time. Watson's original name was supposed to be "Honest Jim." The book's publication caused controversies. Watson's book was supposed to be published by the Harvard University Press, but Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, among others, protested. Watson's home university dropped the initiative, but the book was later published in a commercially published manner. Francis Crick, who published Rosalind Franklin and DNA in 1975 and 2000, said he regarded Watson's book as a "contemptible pile of damned garbage" in an interview with Anne Sayre.

Watson became the Head of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 1968 (CSHL). The Watsons' two sons were born between 1970 and 1972, and by 1974, the Watsons' younger family had made Cold Spring Harbor their permanent home. Watson served as the laboratory's director and president for about 35 years, then took over the role of chancellor and then Chancellor Emeritus.

Watson, the Founder, president and chancellor, helped CSHL articulate its present-day mission, "dedication to molecular biology and genetics in order to advance the understanding and treatment of human suffering." CSHL's Watson's direction in research and science education greatly enhanced both its academic and science educational programs. He is credited with "converting a tiny plant into one of the world's best education and research institutions." Scientists under his direction have made significant contributions to the study of human cancer's genetic causes. "Jim Watson established a research environment that is unparalleled in the field of science," Watson said in a retrospective recap of Watson's work there.

Watson said in 2007, "I turned against the left wing because they don't like genetics," because genetics shows that many people die in life because of genetic abnormalities. All failure in life is due to the wrong system, and they want it to be due to the evil system."

Watson was appointed as the Head of the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health in 1990, a position he held until April 10, 1992. After having differences with Bernadine Healy, the new NIH Director, Watson left the Genome Project. Watson was skeptical of Healy's attempts to obtain patents on gene sequences, as well as any rights to the "rights of nature." "The people of the world must see that the human genome belongs to the world's people, not to the nations," the scientist said two years before stepping down from the Genome Project, which he saw as an illogical barrier to research. He left within weeks of the 1992 announcement that the Northern Ireland would submit patents for brain-specific cDNAs. (The question of gene patentability has since been decided in the United States by the US Supreme Court, see Association for Molecular Pathology vs. United States Patent and Trademark Office.)

Watson became President of CSHL in 1994. Francis Collins took over the Human Genome Project's Directorship.

Watson wrote in The Sunday Telegraph in 1997, saying, "If you could find the gene that determines sexuality and a woman decides she does not want a homosexual child, well, let her." Richard Dawkins, a biologist, sent a letter to The Independent claiming that Watson's position was misrepresented by the Sunday Telegraph article and that Watson would also consider the possibility of a heterosexual child to be just as valid as any other reason for abortion. Watson would also argue that allowing choice would be a good thing.

Watson was quoted in 2000: "You're going to make the wrong decision" when interviewing fat people because you know you're not going to hire them."

Watson has consistently advocated genetic testing and genetic engineering in public lectures and interviews, arguing that stupidity is a disease and that the "serious" bottom 10% of people should be cured. In 2003, he has also stated that beauty can be genetically engineered, adding, "People say it would be sad if we made all girls pretty." "I think it will be amazing."

After being invited by 454 Life Sciences Corporation in collaboration with scientists at Baylor College of Medicine, James Watson became the second individual to publish his fully sequenced genome online in 2007. Watson was quoted as saying, "I am running my genome sequence on time to promote the growth of a personalized medicine era," in which our genomes can be used to detect and prevent disease as well as designing personalized medical therapies.

Watson published a paper in The Lancet in 2014 arguing that biological oxidants may play a different role in diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and cancer. For example, type 2 diabetes is thought to be triggered by oxidation in the body that causes inflammation and kills pancreatic cells. Watson claims that the source of the inflammation is different: "A lack of biological oxidants, not an excess," Watson explains. According to one of the criticisms, the theory was neither new nor worthy of merit, and that The Lancet only published Watson's paper because of his name. Other scientists have voiced their support for his study and have suggested that it be expanded to explain why a lack of oxidants can cause cancer and its progression.

After complaining of being called a "unperson" after making inflammatory remarks, Watson sold his Nobel prize medal to raise funds in 2014. Parts of the funds earned by the auction went to support scientific study. In December 2014, the medal was sold at Christie's auction for US$4.1 million. Watson intended to contribute to conservation projects in Long Island and to research at Trinity College, Dublin. He was the first living Nobel recipient to sell a medal. Alisher Usmanov, the owner, received the medal later this year and was returned to Watson.

Many of Watson's former medical students went on to become well-known in their own right, including Mario Capecchi, Bob Horvitz, Peter B. Moore, and Joan Steitz. Watson, in addition to several PhD students, supervised postdoctoral students and other interns, including Ewan Birney, Ronald W. Davis, Phillip Allen Sharp (postdoc), John Tooze (postdoc) and Richard J. Roberts (postdoc).

Watson is a former member of United Biomedical, Inc., founded by Chang Yi Wang. He served on the board for six years before resigning from the board in 1999.

Watson accepted Leonor Beleza, the president of the Champalimaud Foundation, to serve as the foundation's scientific council's advisory organ in January 2007.

Watson was appointed head consultant of the Cheerland Investment Group, a Chinese investment company that sponsored his trip in March 2017.

Watson has also served as an institute advisor for the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

When Venter was in Northern Ireland, Watson had disagreements with Craig about his use of EST fragments. Venter went on to discover Celera genomics and continued his rivalry with Watson. Watson was described as calling Venter "Hitler" in a newspaper.

Watson's book, Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science, Watson compares his academic colleagues as "dinosaurs," "deadbeats," "fossils," "has-beens," "poor," "mediocre," and "vain." Watson had written an unexpected "Book of Manners," according to Stanford's Steve Shapin, who recalled that Watson had published an intriguing book of Manners; he wrote Watson was known for aggressively seeking his own interests at the university. Watson once described him as "the most unpleasant human being I had ever encountered," but in a later television interview, he said he considered them and their rivalry at Harvard "old history" (when they had competed for support in their respective fields.

Watson alternately attacks and praises former Harvard University president Lawrence Summers, who resigned in 2006 due in part to his remarks about women and science. "Anyone who is sincerely interested in knowing the disparities in the representation of men and women in science should be able to assess the degree to which nature is strongly implicated," Watson says in the epilogue.

Watson argued a correlation between skin color and sex drive at a conference in 2000, hypothesizing that dark-skinned people have more libidos. Extracts of melanin—which gives skin its color—had been discovered to stimulate subjects' sex drive, according to his lecture. According to people who attended the lecture, "You have Latin lovers" because of this. "You've never heard of an English lover." This is the first time an English patient has been admitted to the hospital. He has also stated that stereotypes associated with racial and ethnic groups are genetic: Jews being intelligent, Chinese being resourceful, but not creative due to conformity selection, and Indians being servile because of caste endogamy. Watson has stated that "all our social initiatives are based on the fact that their (black) intelligence is the same as ours (whites), despite widespread belief that black employees are not aware of this."

Watson has consistently stated that there are differences in average measured IQ between blacks and whites are due to genetics. He was interviewed by Charlotte Hunt-Grubbe at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in early October 2007. (CSHL). He spoke about the fact that Africans are less intelligent than Westerners. Watson said that his goal was to promote science, not racism, but that several British venues had cancelled his appearances, and he cancelled the remainder of his tour. Watson's remarks, according to an Nature writer, were "beyond the pale" but expressed a wish that the tour had not been cancelled so that Watson would not have to face his critics in person, encouraging scientific debate on the topic. Watson's administrative duties were suspended due to the scandal. Watson released an apology and then resigned from CSHL at the age of 79 from "nearly 40 years of distinguished service," the lab wrote. Watson attributed his retirement to his age and circumstances that he may never have predicted or wished for.

Watson was appointed chancellor emeritus of CSHL in 2008 but continued to advise and guide projects at the laboratory. Watson said he did not identify himself as a bigote in a BBC documentary that year.

Following the broadcast of a television documentary last year, in which he reiterated his assertions about race and genetics, CSHL revoked honorary awards given to Watson and cut all remaining ties with him in January 2019. Watson did not respond to the changes.

Source