World’s Super Scientists – James Dewey Watson

of DNA Double Helix Fame James D.Watson – James Dewey Watson

James Dewey Watson (born 1928) is an American I molecular biologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA.

Scientists James Dewey Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the 1962 Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material.”

At the age of 12, Watson starred on Quiz kids, a popular radio show, challenged precocious youngsters to answer questions.

• 1947 James Dewey Watson earned his B.S. in Zoology from the University of Chicago.

• 1950 James Dewey Watson gained his Ph.D. in Zoology at Indiana University. He went to Copenhagen for a year of postdoctoral research.

James Watson Structure of DNA

• 1951 James Dewey Watson moved to Clare College, Cambridge and started work at the Cavendish Laboratory.

• By 1952 estimates from X-ray diffraction experimental data and electron microscopy agreed that the diameter of DNA was about 2 nanometers (nm).

There are four, nucleobases: guanine (G), cytosine (C), adenine (A) and thymine (T) in DNA. The so-called Chargaff ratios experimental results indicated that the amount of G is equal to C and the amount of A is equal to T. A and G nucleobases (technically referred to as purines), T and C nucleobases, known as pyrimidines. The nitrogens with the “squiggly” lines are the ones that attach as “leader rungs” to the helical backbone; these nitrogen atoms are equidistant and also superimpose in the two pairs, allowing the helical structure to be smooth.

The double helix by James Watson

helix : [pl. helices] shape like a spiral

helical : like a helix

double helix : the structure of DNA, consisting of two connected long thin pieces that form a spiral shape.

The number of bases stacked within a single turn of the DNA helix (10 per turn; a full turn of the helix is 27 angstroms [2.7 nm] in the compact A form, 34 angstroms [3.4nm] in the wetter B form)

James Watson Genome project

In 1988, Watson’s achievement and success led to his appointment as the Head of the Human Genome Project, a position he held until 1992.

In 1994 Dr. Francis Collins took over the role as Director of the Human Genome Project.

I am putting my genome sequence on line to encourage the development of an era of personalized medicine, in which information contained in our genomes can be used to identify and prevent disease and to create individualized medical therapies” said Watson.

Scientist Watson was the recipient of many Awards. Dr. Bruce Stillman said, “Jim Watson created a research environment that is unparalleled in the world of science.”

James Dewey Watson Research

“Dedicat[ion] to exploring molecular biology and genetics in order to advance the understanding and ability to diagnose and treat cancers, neurological diseases, and other causes of human suffering.”

Scientist Dr. Watson is now the Institute advisor for Allen Institute for Brain Science located in Seattle, Washington.

Science and Spirituality

Biologically, God exists in all the living forms as DNA and its power to replicate. The heart of living beings is HE ART in divine sense. Science is naked without religious temperament or spiritual experience.

– H.N. Gour

Dean H Hamer in his book entitled : The “God Gene: How Faith is Hardwired into our Genes” links religious inclination levels of a person to a gene named ‘God Gene’ in the human genome.