James Watson exemplified the best and worst of science – from monumental discoveries to sexism and cutthroat competition

By: Andor J. Kiss, Miami University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 7, 2025

Words: 1,363

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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By Andor J. Kiss, Miami University

James Dewey Watson was an American molecular biologist most known for co-winning the 1962 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for discovering the structure of DNA and its significance in transferring information in living systems. The importance of this discovery cannot be overstated. It unlocked how genes work and gave birth to the fields of molecular biology and evolutionary phylogenetics. It has inspired and influenced my career as …

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