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Biographical Sketch of
In 1968, Dr. Watson became Director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, New York. Under his direction, the Laboratory began research on viruses that cause cancer and from that research emerged our present understanding of cancer genes. Other active areas of research are plant molecular biology, cell biology, and neuroscience, and the Laboratory consistently ranks among the top research institutions worldwide. Nobel Prizes have been won by three of the Laboratory’s staff (Alfred Hershey; Barbara McClintock; and Richard Roberts). Dr. Watson was also responsible for developing the Laboratory’s meeting and publications programs. The Laboratory functions as a postgraduate university on DNA science with 5,000 scientists from around the world attending more than 52 professional meetings and advanced courses held each year at Cold Spring Harbor. The Press publishes some 20 books each year and three international journals. Thus, the Laboratory exerts an influence on biological research far beyond its own boundaries. In 1994, Dr. Watson became President of the Laboratory. Dr. Watson is also famed as an author. His account of the discovery of the structure of DNA - The Double Helix- is an international best seller and has been translated into over 20 languages. It has remained in print ever since it was published in 1968. In addition, Dr. Watson’s first textbook, The Molecular Biology of the Gene, set a new standard in biology textbooks that has been followed by all subsequent books. He is a co-author of two other immensely successful books - The Molecular Biology of the Cell and Recombinant DNA. Between 1988 and 1992, Dr. Watson was responsible for directing the US Human Genome Project, a multi-million dollar effort to map human genes and to sequence the human genome. It was his effort that launched the Project and transformed it into the first successful "big science" program in biomedical research. In addition to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Watson has received many honors, including the Eli Lilly Award in Biochemistry; the Albert Lasker Prize; the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Copley Medal of the Royal Society of London; and the Charles A. Dana Distinguished Achievement Award in Health. He has received honorary degrees from 18 universities. His memberships include the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; the National Academy of Sciences; the American Philosophical Society; the Athenaeum, London; the Royal Society of London; and the Academy of Sciences, Russia. You may also view a Curriculum Vitae or a list of selected Publications. |
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Dr. James D. Watson is known internationally for his discovery of the structure of DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid), for which he shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins. Their elegant structure for the DNA
molecule - the Double Helix - inspired the development of modern biology and led to a new
industry - biotechnology. The image of the Double Helix has become an icon for modern
science and the story of the discovery was made into a BBC TV film - Life Story.