James Watson Saw the True Form of DNA. Then It Blinded Him.

James Watson’s legacy is a cautionary tale against letting a profound discovery shape your entire worldview.

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The DNA Helix Changed How We Thought About Ourselves

“The laws of inheritance are quite unknown,” Charles Darwin acknowledged in 1859. The discovery of DNA’s shape altered how we conceived of life itself.

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James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97

His decoding the blueprint for life with Francis H.C. Crick made him one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. He wrote a celebrated memoir and later ignited an uproar with racist views.

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