Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s double-helix structure, dead at 97

If James Watson had kept his opinions to himself, the co-discoverer of DNA’s double-helix structure would be remembered as a scientific giant. His work illuminated the blueprint for life, launching biology on the path that has transformed the modern world. As head of the Human Genome Project from 1988 to 1992, he helped set in motion the genomics revolution that transformed science and industry.

Watson, who died Thursday at 97, liked to speak his mind. Fame was a powerful megaphone.
He became a pariah in the scientific community for using his stature to promote racist theories and express misogynistic musings. Even his greatest achievement was clouded by controversy. Watson and his collaborator Francis Crick’s elucidation of the structure of DNA relied on X-ray diffraction data obtained from Rosalind Franklin without her knowledge or consent. Franklin died in 1958 without receiving the recognition she deserved. As Watson and Crick were celebrated for their achievements with a Nobel Prize, they failed to acknowledge her role...