James Watson, co-discoverer of the double-helix shape of DNA, has died at age 97

"Francis Crick and I made the discovery of the century, that was pretty clear," Watson once said."

"There was no way we could have foreseen the explosive impac"

James D. Watson died at 97. He co-discovered the DNA double helix in 1953 at age 24 and shared the 1962 Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins. The double-helix model revealed how hereditary information is stored and how DNA strands separate to allow replication. The discovery became an iconic scientific symbol and enabled gene editing, gene therapy, forensic DNA identification and genealogical tracing. The breakthrough also raised ethical questions about altering heritable genetic material. Watson later faced professional censure and condemnation for making offensive statements claiming racial differences in intelligence.

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