Nobel Prize-winning American scientist and co-discoverer of DNA structure, James Watson, has died at the age of 97.

The news was confirmed in a BBC report on Saturday (November 8).

The report states that in 1953, alongside British scientist Francis Crick, he discovered the double helix structure of the DNA molecule — one of the most groundbreaking scientific achievements of the 20th century. This discovery laid the foundation of modern molecular biology.

Watson’s death was confirmed by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the United States, where he conducted research and worked for many years. In 1962, he jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Crick and Maurice Wilkins for discovering DNA’s structure.

The BBC reported that in later life, his reputation was severely damaged due to controversial remarks on race and gender. In multiple interviews, he made scientifically discredited and racist comments about the intelligence of people of African descent. As a result:
- In 2007, he lost his position as Chancellor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- In 2019, after repeating similar remarks, the institution revoked all his honorary titles.

Watson was born in April 1928 in Chicago, USA. He enrolled at the University of Chicago at just 15 years of age. Later, while researching at Cambridge University, he met Francis Crick, and together they built the three-dimensional model of DNA.

He later joined Harvard University as a professor of biology. In 1968, he became the director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and transformed it into one of the world’s leading research centers.

In 2014, he auctioned his Nobel medal, which was sold for $4.8 million to a Russian billionaire. However, the buyer later returned the medal to Watson.