James Watson, the co-discoverer of the double-helix structure of DNA, has passed away. His research with Francis Crick and others culminated in one of the most important papers ever.
The 1953 paper, published in Nature, is also one of the shortest ever. It begins and ends with two of the greatest understatements of all time:
WE wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (D.N.A.). This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest…
…It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a copying mechanism for the genetic material.
To say Watson and Crick’s research “culminated” in this key paper is more than a bit ironic, based on what has come after. A Nobel prize, an understanding of the fundamental nature of evolution and life itself, the $3 billion Human Genome Project, major medical advances, entire new industries…
And the main focus of the Alan & Priscilla Oppenheimer Foundation. Most of our work since 2007 can be traced back to Watson and Crick: the Personal Genome Project, All of Us, Moore’s law bringing us a $1000 DNA sequencer for current projects, and Much More.
We were also fortunate enough to meet and listen to James Watson when he was interviewed at the 2010 GET conference.
Thank you Dr. Watson.