{"id":2441,"date":"2024-11-08T12:15:09","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T17:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/?p=2441"},"modified":"2024-11-08T12:15:11","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T17:15:11","slug":"james-watson-the-dna-structure-inventor-from-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/james-watson-the-dna-structure-inventor-from-chicago-2441","title":{"rendered":"James Watson: the DNA structure inventor from Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>James Watson is a famous geneticist and biologist. Thanks to his invention, the development of physiology and medicine changed forever. He worked in the team that discovered the DNA structure. Read more on <a href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/\">chicago1.one<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a314b6b74a8b\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a314b6b74a8b\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/james-watson-the-dna-structure-inventor-from-chicago-2441\/#Young_years\" >Young years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/james-watson-the-dna-structure-inventor-from-chicago-2441\/#Genetics_in_the_Watsons_life\" >Genetics in the Watson\u2019s life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/james-watson-the-dna-structure-inventor-from-chicago-2441\/#Research_of_the_nucleic_acids_and_their_structure\" >Research of the nucleic acids and their structure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/james-watson-the-dna-structure-inventor-from-chicago-2441\/#Further_work\" >Further work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/eternal\/james-watson-the-dna-structure-inventor-from-chicago-2441\/#Sale_of_the_Nobel_Prize_medal\" >Sale of the Nobel Prize medal<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Young_years\"><\/span>Young years<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.chicago1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2023\/10\/2qx9fkaigrquib7donwzef8zkzoxwb7_sgrnsvfuadvbdhwqzqu2nlrosuiu0fwhg5-c8h2vtu_ccc847sswbdy1deyds4tp_24gbzdcd_yuckrzkqepun_owogsa-p5grzpuzjukdod9t3yas_o2k0.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>James was born on April 6, 1928 in Chicago. He was the only child in the family. The boy&#8217;s parents emigrated from England to the USA and settled in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The boy was raised in the spirit of Catholicism. However, he called himself a fugitive from religion later. James received his primary and secondary education at Horace Mann Elementary School and South Shore High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At school, the boy was fascinated by birds. Together with his father, he could watch them for hours. Therefore, he decided to connect his life with ornithology. At the age of twelve, he took part in the popular radio Quiz Kids. Intellectual young people competed with each other in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A talented young man managed to enter the University of Chicago at the age of fifteen. Erwin Schr\u00f6dinger&#8217;s book What Is Life? had a great influence on his outlook. After reading it, James switched from ornithology to genetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Genetics_in_the_Watsons_life\"><\/span>Genetics in the Watson\u2019s life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.chicago1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2023\/10\/akkcgpdictcs-sebg6rgmt6fuzpvouw6kztdqwnkyfceo_xpa82q6hbapqzeddyogpzdhtraykh56tfbso_6b9dtgdo_fxg5oeg51s8zuyu6nbyo0yo5gg1oxjxm1l98bm427g7v-b2mboxkif5l7xk.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1947, the future scientist earned a bachelor&#8217;s degree in zoology. However, a year later, he left his studies and entered Indiana University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason for this change was the fact that Hermann Joseph Muller taught there. He was a Nobel Prize laureate for the study of molecular properties of heredity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1950, James completed his studies and received his PhD degree. He studied the effect of X-rays on the reproduction of bacteriophages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James got his first job at the biochemistry laboratory of the University of Copenhagen. However, due to a conflict with biochemist Herman Kalckar, the young scientist left the job and began work under the guidance of physiologist Ole Maal\u00f8e.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Research_of_the_nucleic_acids_and_their_structure\"><\/span>Research of the nucleic acids and their structure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.chicago1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2023\/10\/ravy8xogok_7e-hc1pxyhqyxiogs-evw1ypaylfsemencpaikwxwmvxztctbwjpocktmjzyaibbep9hmnvocfqqir289kfnjfdhxplpjt9ct3fr24ms2hhlw-twgdsc34ne6ldrs_xa5moioont3kxo.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our hero became interested in X-ray studies, which allowed him to begin work on the nucleic acids structure. The scientist was invited to a new project at a research center in England. There, James met a biologist, Francis Crick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From 1952, they began to work on modeling the DNA structure. On February 21, 1953, they discovered the structure of the double helix. The famous journal Nature published their article dedicated to this. It caused a real sensation among researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Watson presented detailed research at a symposium on viruses held in Cold Spring Harbor. The participants were able to see these discoveries for the first time. Everyone was amazed and fascinated by the new structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until the middle of the XX century, the world knew nothing about the DNA structure and genetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1956, James started working in the biology department of Harvard University. There, the scientist focused his attention on RNA and its role in genetics. He made his career path from assistant professor to professor of biology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1962, Watson, Crick and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery. Rosalind Franklin, whose research was the basis for it, died in 1958. Therefore, she was not nominated along with her colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This discovery changed science. From that moment, the modern stage in the development of biology as a science began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Further_work\"><\/span>Further work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From 1968, James headed the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. This period was extremely fruitful for his scientific activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James insisted on radical changes in the study of biology. He believed that biochemistry and molecular biology should become the main disciplines in universities. In 1965, the book Molecular Biology of the Gene was published under his authorship. It gained wide popularity and recognition among scientists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The book began to be used as a textbook in universities. James Watson introduced a new standard for educational literature. In the book, the author used short declarative subheadings for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another successful work is the book The Double Helix. In it, he tells in detail the story of how the DNA structure was discovered and what difficulties scientists faced. The publication was included in the hundred best books among scientific literature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1990, he received another promotion and the position of head of the Human Genome Project at the National Institutes of Health. However, he worked in his new position for only two years and was forced to leave the project due to a conflict with the new director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2007, James Watson lost all of his lifetime honors and his job because of racist remarks. The scientist gave an interview to the popular Sunday Times newspaper and expressed his disappointment with the world community&#8217;s social policy towards Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the scientist, the intelligence of the inhabitants of Africa does not compare with the American or European. Therefore, there can be no equality with black people. After the scandalous statements, James was fired from the Laboratory and stripped of all administrative duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The scientist wrote a letter of apology and managed to retain the title of honorary professor. Unexpectedly, the scandal continued in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James Watson gave an interview to the authors of the documentary American Masters: Decoding Watson and supported his previously stated views about the African population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Laboratory immediately reacted to his statements, calling them scientifically unfounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ambiguous views of James Watson often caused outrage in the public. Thus, he argued that overweight girls do not have enough ambition and that the achievements of genetic engineering should be used to create exceptionally beautiful girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sale_of_the_Nobel_Prize_medal\"><\/span>Sale of the Nobel Prize medal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.chicago1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2023\/10\/v8egwmphq54gzrfw9fpunskh8naxibo8oj6zng95fdz9uufzi4ta7tp7jfjryxhpbmv345noogv6i7sywgskxg4ta7khftzqivindpbyuw1o6j9x8rhet9ozlgluvgzeojxdwxsamsfbaosly2i2yaw.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2014, he decided to sell one of the greatest achievements in life, the Nobel Prize medal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James put the gold medal up for auction. He became the first laureate to sell his award during his lifetime. The scientist decided to put the Nobel Prize medal up for auction because his colleague Francis Crick had previously raised more than $2 million for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An unknown buyer at an auction bought the Nobel Prize medal of 86-year-old Watson for $4.8 million. The draft and manuscript of his Nobel speech were also sold. For them, he received $245 and $365 thousand respectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>James Watson is a famous geneticist and biologist. Thanks to his invention, the development of physiology and medicine changed forever. He worked in the team that discovered the DNA structure. Read more on chicago1.one. Young years James was born on April 6, 1928 in Chicago. He was the only child in the family. The boy&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":324,"featured_media":1787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1166],"tags":[1804,1805,1812,1802,1801,1808,1810,1813,1814,1806,1811,1807,1803,1800,1809],"moimportance":[78,81],"motype":[1158],"moformat":[93],"class_list":{"0":"post-2441","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-education","8":"tag-dna-discovery-legacy","9":"tag-dna-research-history","10":"tag-dna-structure-discovery","11":"tag-dna-structure-inventor","12":"tag-double-helix-dna","13":"tag-genetics-breakthrough","14":"tag-human-genome-project","15":"tag-james-watson-biography","16":"tag-james-watson-chicago","17":"tag-molecular-biology-pioneer","18":"tag-molecular-genetics","19":"tag-nobel-prize-in-physiology","20":"tag-scientific-achievements","21":"tag-watson-and-crick","22":"tag-watsons-contributions","23":"moimportance-golovna-novina","24":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatori","25":"motype-eternal","26":"moformat-longrid-korotka"},"modified_by":"Inna Hananova","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/324"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2441"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2442,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441\/revisions\/2442"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2441"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2441"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2441"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicago1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}