Nobel Laureate James Watson, Co-Discoverer of DNA Structure, Dies at 97

Renowned American scientist James D. Watson, who won the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking discovery of the DNA double helix structure, has passed away at the age of 97 after a prolonged illness.

According to U.S. media reports, Watson’s death was confirmed by a spokesperson for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the research institution where he worked for several decades.

In one of his final interviews, Watson reflected on his life’s purpose, saying, “I wanted to do something meaningful — to search for truth — that was my life’s goal.”

Watson, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, discovered the double helix structure of DNA in 1953 — a finding that revolutionized molecular biology and deepened the understanding of genetics.

Their pioneering work was first published in the journal Nature, and in 1962, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this historic achievement.

The discovery of the DNA structure remains one of the most significant milestones in modern science, forming the foundation of genetic research and biotechnology.