James Watson dies: Why Nobel-winning scientist lost his titles, sold his medal in 2014

James Watson dies: Nobel-winning DNA pioneer and controversy figure

James Watson, the American biologist who co-discovered the double helix structure of DNA and received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, has passed away. He died on Thursday in East Northport, New York, his son Duncan confirmed.

Watson had been transferred earlier in the week from a hospital, where he was being treated for an infection, to a hospice facility. Born on April 6, 1928, in Chicago, he shared the Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for developing the 1953 model of DNA's structure.

Scientific legacy and achievements

Watson played a central role in one of the greatest discoveries in biology, identifying how genetic information is stored and transmitted through the DNA molecule. His leadership at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) spanned decades, where he served as director from 1994 to 2007.

Controversies and public backlash

Despite his scientific achievements, Watson's reputation was deeply affected by several controversial remarks. In 2007, he resigned from CSHL after making comments linking race and intelligence, which were condemned as racist and scientifically unfounded.

“I believe testing indicates the intelligence of Africans is not really ... the same as ours,”

Watson told the Times of London in 2007. The statement caused widespread outrage and lasting damage to his standing in the scientific community.

In a 2019 PBS documentary, Watson repeated similar sentiments, reigniting the backlash and prompting CSHL to remove his remaining honorary titles on January 1, 2020. Director Bruce Stillman publicly stated that the laboratory found Watson’s views “repugnant, unsupported by science,” officially ending a 40-year association.

Later years and financial decline

Facing both public isolation and financial challenges, Watson auctioned his Nobel Prize medal at Christie's in 2014 for $4.1 million. The winning bidder was Alisher Usmanov, a Russian billionaire and industrialist.

Watson said he “never meant harm” with his comments, but the damage to his reputation proved lasting.

Author's Summary

James Watson's life combined groundbreaking scientific discovery with lasting controversy that reshaped his public and professional legacy.

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Hindustan Times Hindustan Times — 2025-11-07

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