James Watson, the world-renowned American molecular biologist and geneticist, who fundamentally changed our understanding of life, has passed away at the age of 97. His death was reported by BBC, reports Baltimore Chronicle with a link to the BBC.
Watson first gained international recognition in 1953, when he, together with British scientist Francis Crick, identified the double helix structure of DNA. This discovery became a breakthrough that laid the foundation for modern molecular biology and propelled advances in genetics.
The work of Watson and Crick is considered one of the most significant scientific achievements of the twentieth century. In 1962, they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material.”
Despite his scientific accomplishments, Watson’s later career was marred by controversy. His public statements regarding race and gender drew significant criticism in academic circles. In one television interview, he suggested that genetic factors could influence the differences in IQ test results between white and Black people.
In 2007, in an interview with The Times, Watson expressed what he called a “pessimistic view of Africa’s prospects,” claiming that Western social policies are based on the assumption that intellectual abilities are equal, while, in his opinion, scientific tests indicate otherwise. These statements caused widespread backlash and tarnished the reputation of a scientist who had long been regarded as a symbol of groundbreaking discoveries in biology.
Earlier we wrote that Trump-Putin Budapest Meeting Could Happen Soon.
