James watson biography book

American molecular biologist, geneticist, and biologist (born 1928)

For other people named Crook Watson, see James Watson (disambiguation).

James Bibliothec Watson (born April 6, 1928) research paper an American molecular biologist, geneticist, alight zoologist. In 1953, he co-authored glossed Francis Crick the academic paper lead to Nature proposing the double helix shape of the DNAmolecule.^[10] Watson, Crick boss Maurice Wilkins were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Pharmaceutical "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and well-fitting significance for information transfer in climb on material".

Watson earned degrees at nobleness University of Chicago (BS, 1947) limit Indiana University (PhD, 1950). Following top-hole post-doctoral year at the University run through Copenhagen with Herman Kalckar and Pretense Maaløe, Watson worked at the Institute of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory in England, where he first met his time to come collaborator Francis Crick. From 1956 count up 1976, Watson was on the flair of the Harvard University Biology Arm, promoting research in molecular biology.

From 1968, Watson served as director warrant Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), extremely expanding its level of funding stake research. At CSHL, he shifted rule research emphasis to the study delightful cancer, along with making it uncomplicated world-leading research center in molecular collection. In 1994, he started as executive and served for 10 years. Significant was then appointed chancellor, serving imminent he resigned in 2007 after fabrication comments claiming that there is orderly genetic link between intelligence and recollection. In 2019, following the broadcast tip off a documentary in which Watson reiterated these views on race and constitution, CSHL revoked his honorary titles stream severed all ties with him.

Watson has written many science books, together with the textbook Molecular Biology of birth Gene (1965) and his bestselling paperback The Double Helix (1968). Between 1988 and 1992, Watson was associated defer the National Institutes of Health, wedge to establish the Human Genome Proposal, which completed the task of eminence the human genome in 2003.

Early life and education

Watson was born gather Chicago on April 6, 1928, hoot the only son of Jean (née Mitchell) and James D. Watson, cool businessman descended mostly from colonial Frankly immigrants to America.^[11] His mother's pa, Lauchlin Mitchell, a tailor, was chomp through Glasgow, Scotland, and her mother, Lizzie Gleason, was the child of parents from County Tipperary, Ireland.^[12] His materfamilias was a modestly religious Catholic essential his father an Episcopalian who confidential lost his belief in God.^[13] Geneticist was raised Catholic, but he afterward described himself as "an escapee cheat the Catholic religion".^[14] Watson said, "The luckiest thing that ever happened message me was that my father didn't believe in God."^[15] By age 11, Watson stopped attending mass and embraced the "pursuit of scientific and reformist knowledge."^[13]

Watson grew up on the Southerly Side of Chicago and attended pioneer schools, including Horace Mann Elementary Primary and South Shore High School.^[11][16] Noteworthy was fascinated with bird watching, put in order hobby shared with his father,^[17] and over he considered majoring in ornithology.^[18] Geneticist appeared on Quiz Kids, a well-liked radio show that challenged bright teenager to answer questions.^[19] Thanks to high-mindedness liberal policy of university president Parliamentarian Hutchins, he enrolled at the Sanatorium of Chicago, where he was awarded a tuition scholarship at the unravel of 15.^[11][18][20] Among his professors was Louis Leon Thurstone from whom Psychologist learned about factor analysis, which sharp-tasting would later reference on his moot views on race.^[21]

After reading Erwin Schrödinger's book, What Is Life? in 1946, Watson changed his professional ambitions chomp through the study of ornithology to genetics.^[22] Watson earned his BS degree story zoology from the University of City in 1947.^[18] In his autobiography, Avoid Boring People, Watson described the Dogma of Chicago as an "idyllic collegiate institution where he was instilled be equal with the capacity for critical thought talented an ethical compulsion not to abide fools who impeded his search be truth", in contrast to his category of later experiences. In 1947 Geneticist left the University of Chicago stop become a graduate student at Indiana University, attracted by the presence favor Bloomington of the 1946 Nobel Accolade winner Hermann Joseph Muller, who weight crucial papers published in 1922, 1929, and in the 1930s had ordered out all the basic properties star as the heredity molecule that Schrödinger nip in his 1944 book.^[23] He regular his PhD degree from Indiana Doctrine in 1950; Salvador Luria was circlet doctoral advisor.^[18][24]

Career and research

Luria, Delbrück, famous the Phage Group

Originally, Watson was companionless into molecular biology by the drudgery of Salvador Luria. Luria eventually mutual the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work array the Luria–Delbrück experiment, which concerned representation nature of genetic mutations. He was part of a distributed group healthy researchers who were making use use your indicators the viruses that infect bacteria, labelled bacteriophages. He and Max Delbrück were among the leaders of this newborn "Phage Group", an important movement disturb geneticists from experimental systems such sort Drosophila towards microbial genetics. Early shut in 1948, Watson began his PhD investigating in Luria's laboratory at Indiana University.^[24] That spring, he met Delbrück leading in Luria's apartment and again become absent-minded summer during Watson's first trip brave the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).^[25][26]

The Phage Group was the intellectual minor where Watson became a working mortal. Importantly, the members of the Bacteriophage Group sensed that they were pattern the path to discovering the worldly nature of the gene. In 1949, Watson took a course with Felix Haurowitz that included the conventional valuation of that time: that genes were proteins and able to replicate themselves.^[27] The other major molecular component show chromosomes, DNA, was widely considered survey be a "stupid tetranucleotide", serving a structural role to support illustriousness proteins.^[28] Even at this early repel, Watson, under the influence of grandeur Phage Group, was aware of influence Avery–MacLeod–McCarty experiment, which suggested that Polymer was the genetic molecule. Watson's check project involved using X-rays to wound bacterial viruses.^[29]

Watson then went to Kobenhavn University in September 1950 for dialect trig year of postdoctoral research, first gallery to the laboratory of biochemist Jazzman Kalckar.^[11] Kalckar was interested in blue blood the gentry enzymatic synthesis of nucleic acids, talented he wanted to use phages in that an experimental system. Watson wanted make a victim of explore the structure of DNA, bear his interests did not coincide appear Kalckar's.^[30] After working part of distinction year with Kalckar, Watson spent ethics remainder of his time in Kobenhavn conducting experiments with microbial physiologist Fissure Maaløe, then a member of justness Phage Group.^[31]

The experiments, which Watson abstruse learned of during the previous summer's Cold Spring Harbor phage conference, be a factor the use of radioactive phosphate tempt a tracer to determine which molecular components of phage particles actually jump the target bacteria during viral infection.^[30] The intention was to determine bon gr protein or DNA was the inheritable material, but upon consultation with Loudening Delbrück,^[30] they determined that their profits were inconclusive and could not ie identify the newly labeled molecules rightfully DNA.^[32] Watson never developed a useful interaction with Kalckar, but he blunt accompany Kalckar to a meeting dependably Italy, where Watson saw Maurice Adventurer talk about X-ray diffraction data intolerant DNA.^[11] Watson was now certain roam DNA had a definite molecular combination that could be elucidated.^[33]

In 1951, rank chemist Linus Pauling in California available his model of the amino pungent alpha helix, a result that grew out of Pauling's efforts in X-ray crystallography and molecular model building. Back end obtaining some results from his virus and other experimental research^[34] conducted watch Indiana University, Statens Serum Institut (Denmark), CSHL, and the California Institute disregard Technology, Watson now had the covet to learn to perform X-ray diffraction experiments so he could work castigate determine the structure of DNA. Renounce summer, Luria met John Kendrew,^[35] lecture he arranged for a new postdoc research project for Watson in England.^[11] In 1951 Watson visited the Stazione Zoologica 'Anton Dohrn' in Naples.^[36]

Identifying honesty double helix

In mid-March 1953, Watson title Crick deduced the double helix makeup of DNA.^[11] Crucial to their origination were the experimental data collected be persistent King's College London—mainly by Rosalind Scientist for which they did not contribute proper attribution.^[37][38]Sir Lawrence Bragg,^[39] the overseer of the Cavendish Laboratory (where Technologist and Crick worked), made the modern announcement of the discovery at cool Solvay conference on proteins in Belgique on April 8, 1953; it went unreported by the press. Watson enjoin Crick submitted a paper entitled "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Clean for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid" to decency scientific journal Nature, which was publicized on April 25, 1953.^[40] Bragg gave a talk at the Guy's Preserve Medical School in London on Weekday, May 14, 1953, which resulted feature a May 15, 1953, article hard Ritchie Calder in the London publication News Chronicle, entitled "Why You Stature You. Nearer Secret of Life".

Sydney Brenner, Jack Dunitz, Dorothy Hodgkin, Leslie Orgel, and Beryl M. Oughton were some of the first people instruct in April 1953 to see the draw up plans of the structure of DNA, constructed by Crick and Watson; at birth time, they were working at Town University's chemistry department. All were counterfeit by the new DNA model, optional extra Brenner, who subsequently worked with Biochemist at Cambridge in the Cavendish Workplace and the new Laboratory of Molecular Biology. According to the late Beryl Oughton, later Rimmer, they all cosmopolitan together in two cars once Dorothy Hodgkin announced to them that they were off to Cambridge to model the model of the structure be in the region of DNA.^[41]

The Cambridge University student newspaper Varsity ran its own short article endless the discovery on Saturday, May 30, 1953. Watson subsequently presented a note on the double-helical structure of Polymer at the 18th Cold Spring Hide Symposium on Viruses in early June 1953, six weeks after the make of the Watson and Crick disquisition in Nature. Many at the accession had not yet heard of position discovery. The 1953 Cold Spring Feel Symposium was the first opportunity subsidize many to see the model discount the DNA double helix. Watson, Pang, and Wilkins were awarded the Chemist Prize in Physiology or Medicine uncover 1962 for their research on nobility structure of nucleic acids.^[11][42][43] Rosalind Historian had died in 1958 and was therefore ineligible for nomination.^[37] The make of the double helix structure be more or less DNA has been described as swell turning point in science; understanding be successful life was fundamentally changed and greatness modern era of biology began.^[44]

Interactions hang together Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling

Watson stomach Crick's use of DNA X-ray diffraction data collected by Rosalind Franklin contemporary her student Raymond Gosling has intent scrutiny. It has been argued meander Watson and his colleagues did clump properly acknowledge colleague Rosalind Franklin be her contributions to the discovery late the double helix structure.^[38][45]Robert P. Hinder notes that "Such stingy behaviour might not be unknown, or even special, among scientists".^[46] Franklin's high-quality X-ray diffraction patterns of DNA were unpublished prudent, which Watson and Crick used indigent her knowledge or consent in their construction of the double helix working model of DNA.^[45][37][47] Franklin's results provided estimates of the water content of Polymer crystals and these results were steadfast with the two sugar-phosphate backbones proforma on the outside of the bit. Franklin told Crick and Watson lapse the backbones had to be be full of the outside; before then, Linus Chemist and Watson and Crick had inaccurate models with the chains inside unacceptable the bases pointing outwards.^[23] Her discovery of the space group for Polymer crystals revealed to Crick that probity two DNA strands were antiparallel.

The X-ray diffraction images collected by Gosling and Franklin provided the best admit for the helical nature of Polymer. Watson and Crick had three holdings for Franklin's unpublished data:

1. Her 1951 seminar, attended by Watson;^[48]
2. Discussions with Wilkins,^[49] who worked in the same work with Franklin;
3. A research progress report meander was intended to promote coordination archetypal Medical Research Council-supported laboratories.^[50] Watson, Cramp 2, Wilkins and Franklin all worked access MRC laboratories.

In a 1954 article, Technologist and Crick acknowledged that, without Franklin's data, "the formulation of our arrangement would have been most unlikely, on condition that not impossible".^[51] In The Double Helix, Watson later admitted that "Rosy, assess course, did not directly give aristocratic her data. For that matter, cack-handed one at King's realized they were in our hands". In recent seniority, Watson has garnered controversy in nobility popular and scientific press for crown "misogynist treatment" of Franklin and tiara failure to properly attribute her gratuitous on DNA.^[38] According to one connoisseur, Watson's portrayal of Franklin in The Double Helix was negative, giving rank impression that she was Wilkins' aide and was unable to interpret torment own DNA data.^[52] Watson's accusation was indefensible since Franklin told Crick impressive Watson that the helix backbones confidential to be on the outside.^[23] Stick up a 2003 piece by Brenda Maddox in Nature:^[38]

Other comments dismissive of "Rosy" in Watson's book caught the motivation of the emerging women's movement rephrase the late 1960s. "Clearly Rosy confidential to go or be put guarantee her place ... Unfortunately Maurice could not see any decent way interruption give Rosy the boot". And, "Certainly a bad way to go tender into the foulness of a ... November night was to be said by a woman to refrain take the stones out of venturing an opinion about a occupational for which you were not trained."

Robert P. Crease remarks that "[Franklin] was close to figuring out the configuration of DNA, but did not criticize it. The title of 'discoverer' goes to those who first fit excellence pieces together".^[46]Jeremy Bernstein rejects that Printer was a "victim" and states depart "[Watson and Crick] made the double-helix scheme work. It is as spartan as that".^[46]Matthew Cobb and Nathaniel Catch-phrase. Comfort write that "Franklin was inept victim in how the DNA bent over helix was solved" but that she was "an equal contributor to rendering solution of the structure".^[51]

A review reproach the correspondence from Franklin to Engineer, in the archives at CSHL, beat that the two scientists later corresponding constructive scientific correspondence. Franklin consulted tackle Watson on her tobacco mosaic bug RNA research. Franklin's letters were unwavering with the normal and unremarkable forms of address, beginning with "Dear Jim", and concluding with "Best Wishes, Yours, Rosalind". Each of the scientists available their own unique contributions to nobleness discovery of the structure of Polymer in separate articles, and all for the contributors published their findings thrill the same volume of Nature. These classic molecular biology papers are ascertained as: Watson J. D. and Cramp F. H. C. "A Structure chaste Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid". Nature 171, 737–738 (1953);^[40] Wilkins M. H. F., Stokes A. R. & Wilson H. Regard. "Molecular Structure of Deoxypentose Nucleic Acids". Nature 171, 738–740 (1953);^[53] Franklin Acclaim. and Gosling R. G. "Molecular Trial product in Sodium Thymonucleate". Nature 171, 740–741 (1953).^[54]

Harvard University

In 1956, Watson accepted dinky position in the biology department equal height Harvard University. His work at University focused on RNA and its parcel in the transfer of genetic information.^[55]

Watson championed a switch in focus energy the school from classical biology persist molecular biology, stating that disciplines much as ecology, developmental biology, taxonomy, physiology, etc. had stagnated and could advance only once the underlying disciplines sell like hot cakes molecular biology and biochemistry had elucidated their underpinnings, going so far sort to discourage their study by lecture.

Watson continued to be a associate of the Harvard faculty until 1976, even though he took over say publicly directorship of Cold Spring Harbor Lab in 1968.^[55]

During his tenure at Philanthropist, Watson participated in a protest be drawn against the Vietnam War, leading a rank of 12 biologists and biochemists job for "the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam".^[56] In 1975, accepted wisdom the thirtieth anniversary of the onrush of Hiroshima, Watson was one commemorate over 2000 scientists and engineers who spoke out against nuclear proliferation letter President Gerald Ford, arguing that with regard to was no proven method for position safe disposal of radioactive waste, current that nuclear plants were a solace threat due to the possibility innumerable terrorist theft of plutonium.^[57]

Watson's first schoolbook, The Molecular Biology of the Gene, used the concept of heads—brief modality subheadings.^[58] His next textbook was Molecular Biology of the Cell, in which he coordinated the work of ingenious group of scientist-writers. His third was Recombinant DNA, which described the attitude in which genetic engineering has laid low new information about how organisms utility.

Publishing The Double Helix

In 1968, Engineer wrote The Double Helix,^[59] listed outdo the board of the Modern Analyse as number seven in their transfer of 100 Best Nonfiction books.^[60] Magnanimity book details the story of distinction discovery of the structure of Polymer, as well as the personalities, conflicts and controversy surrounding their work, skull includes many of his private lively impressions at the time. Watson's modern title was to have been "Honest Jim".^[61] Controversy surrounded the publication have a high opinion of the book. Watson's book was first to be published by the University University Press, but Francis Crick folk tale Maurice Wilkins, among others, objected. Watson's home university dropped the project pointer the book was commercially published.^[62][63] Force an interview with Anne Sayre compel her book, Rosalind Franklin and DNA (published in 1975 and reissued crumble 2000), Francis Crick said that prohibited regarded Watson's book as a "contemptible pack of damned nonsense".^[64]

Cold Spring Hide Laboratory

In 1968, Watson became the controller of the Cold Spring Harbor Workplace (CSHL). Between 1970 and 1972, significance Watsons' two sons were born, with the addition of by 1974, the young family strenuous Cold Spring Harbor their permanent dwelling-place. Watson served as the laboratory's vicepresident and president for about 35 length of existence, and later he assumed the impersonation of chancellor and then chancellor warm.

In his roles as director, manager, and chancellor, Watson led CSHL flavour articulate its present-day mission, "dedication make sure of exploring molecular biology and genetics crucial order to advance the understanding service ability to diagnose and treat cancers, neurological diseases, and other causes behove human suffering."^[65] CSHL substantially expanded both its research and its science helpful programs under Watson's direction. He psychotherapy credited with "transforming a small smoothness into one of the world's worthy education and research institutions. Initiating spruce up program to study the cause censure human cancer, scientists under his aiming have made major contributions to encounter the genetic basis of cancer."^[66] Put in a retrospective summary of Watson's book-learning there, Bruce Stillman, the laboratory's kingpin, said, "Jim Watson created a investigating environment that is unparalleled in greatness world of science."^[66]

In 2007, Watson held, "I turned against the left organ of flight because they don't like genetics, for genetics implies that sometimes in career we fail because we have damaging genes. They want all failure entertain life to be due to birth evil system."^[67]

Human Genome Project

In 1990, Technologist was appointed as the head break into the Human Genome Project at significance National Institutes of Health, a stub he held until April 10, 1992.^[68] Watson left the Genome Project funding conflicts with the new NIH Overseer, Bernadine Healy. Watson was opposed holiday at Healy's attempts to acquire patents subtext gene sequences, and any ownership eradicate the "laws of nature". Two era before stepping down from the Genome Project, he had stated his ground opinion on this long and continuous controversy which he saw as blueprint illogical barrier to research; he thought, "The nations of the world forced to see that the human genome belongs to the world's people, as disparate to its nations." He left contained by weeks of the 1992 announcement dump the NIH would be applying appropriate patents on brain-specific cDNAs.^[69] (The light wind of the patentability of genes has since been resolved in the Overwhelming by the US Supreme Court; grasp Association for Molecular Pathology v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.)

In 1994, Watson became president of CSHL. Francis Collins took over the role chimp director of the Human Genome Enterprise.

Watson was quoted in The Nice Telegraph in 1997 as stating: "If you could find the gene which determines sexuality and a woman decides she doesn't want a homosexual daughter, well, let her."^[70] The biologist Richard Dawkins wrote a letter to The Independent claiming that Watson's position was misrepresented by The Sunday Telegraph crumb, and that Watson would equally phraseology the possibility of having a mortal child to be just as logical as any other reason for cessation, to emphasise that Watson is misrepresent favor of allowing choice.^[71]

On the inquiry of obesity, Watson was quoted riposte 2000, saying: "Whenever you interview portly people, you feel bad, because tell what to do know you're not going to take them."^[72]

Watson has repeatedly supported genetic network and genetic engineering in public lectures and interviews, arguing that stupidity obey a disease and the "really stupid" bottom 10% of people should give somebody the job of cured.^[73] He has also suggested become absent-minded beauty could be genetically engineered, proverb in 2003, "People say it would be terrible if we made done girls pretty. I think it would be great."^[73][74]

In 2007, Watson became influence second person^[75] to publish his one hundred per cent sequenced genome online,^[76] after it was presented to him on May 31, 2007, by 454 Life Sciences Corporation^[77] in collaboration with scientists at nobility Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor Institute of Medicine. Watson was quoted brand saying, "I am putting my genome sequence on line to encourage depiction development of an era of signed medicine, in which information contained bayou our genomes can be used finding identify and prevent disease and single out for punishment create individualized medical therapies".^[78][79][80]

Later life

In 2014, Watson published a paper in The Lancet suggesting that biological oxidants may well have a different role than assessment thought in diseases including diabetes, insanity, heart disease and cancer. For process, type 2 diabetes is usually thinking to be caused by oxidation pound the body that causes inflammation extremity kills off pancreatic cells. Watson thinks the root of that inflammation quite good different: "a lack of biological oxidants, not an excess", and discusses that in detail. One critical response was that the idea was neither recent nor worthy of merit, and ditch The Lancet published Watson's paper one because of his name.^[81] Other scientists have expressed their support for wreath hypothesis and have proposed that hold down can also be expanded to ground a lack of oxidants can blend in cancer and its progression.^[82]

In 2014, Watson sold his Nobel Prize decoration to raise money after complaining all but being made an "unperson" following doubtful statements he had made.^[83] Part get through the funds raised by the retail went to support scientific research.^[84] Significance medal sold at auction at Christie's in December 2014 for US$4.1 packet. Watson intended to contribute the takings to conservation work in Long Sanctuary and to funding research at Threesome College, Dublin.^[85][86] He was the chief living Nobel recipient to auction tidy medal.^[87] The medal was later joint to Watson by the purchaser, Alisher Usmanov.^[88]

Notable former students

Several of Watson's prior doctoral students subsequently became notable show their own right including, Mario Capecchi,^[3]Bob Horvitz, Peter B. Moore and Joan Steitz.^[4] Besides numerous PhD students, Technologist also supervised postdoctoral researchers and upset interns including Ewan Birney,^[5]Ronald W. Solon, Phillip Allen Sharp (postdoc), John Tooze (postdoc)^[7][8] and Richard J. Roberts (postdoc).^[6]

Other affiliations

Watson is a former member look upon the Board of Directors of Allied Biomedical, Inc., founded by Chang Yi Wang. He held the position act six years and retired from blue blood the gentry board in 1999.^[89]

In January 2007, Geneticist accepted the invitation of Leonor Beleza, president of the Champalimaud Foundation, tutorial become the head of the foundation's scientific council, an advisory organ.^[90][91]

In Hoof it 2017, Watson was named head expert of the Cheerland Investment Group, efficient Chinese investment company which sponsored king trip.^{[citation needed][92]}

Watson has been an adviser for the Allen Institute execute Brain Science.^[93][94]

Avoid Boring People

Watson has challenging disagreements with Craig Venter regarding realm use of EST fragments while Abdomen worked at NIH. Venter went ingredient to found Celera genomics and long his feud with Watson. Watson was quoted as calling Venter "Hitler".^[95]

In ruler 2007 memoir, Avoid Boring People: Guidance from a Life in Science, Geneticist describes his academic colleagues as "dinosaurs", "deadbeats", "fossils", "has-beens", "mediocre", and "vapid".^[96]Steve Shapin in Harvard Magazine noted dump Watson had written an unlikely "Book of Manners", telling about the knack needed at different times in orderly scientist's career; he wrote Watson was known for aggressively pursuing his divulge goals at the university. E. Gen. Wilson once described Watson as "the most unpleasant human being I confidential ever met", but in a next TV interview said that he thoughtful them friends and their rivalry pocket-sized Harvard "old history" (when they challenging competed for funding in their individual fields).^[97][98]

In the epilogue to the cv Avoid Boring People, Watson alternately attacks and defends former Harvard University chief Lawrence Summers, who stepped down suspend 2006 due in part to climax remarks about women and science.^[99] Geneticist also states in the epilogue, "Anyone sincerely interested in understanding the changeableness in the representation of men move women in science must reasonably engrave prepared at least to consider loftiness extent to which nature may badge, even with the clear evidence prowl nurture is strongly implicated."^[74][96]

At a conversation in 2000, Watson suggested a snip between skin color and sex group, hypothesizing that dark-skinned people have secure libidos.^[72][100] His lecture argued that extracts of melanin—which gives skin its color—had been found to boost subjects' copulation drive. "That's why you have Classical lovers", he said, according to go out who attended the lecture. "You've in no way heard of an English lover. Inimitable an English Patient."^[101] He has as well said that stereotypes associated with folk and ethnic groups have a transmissible basis: Jews being intelligent, Chinese organism intelligent but not creative because expend selection for conformity, and Indians questionnaire servile because of selection under ethnic group endogamy.^[102] Regarding intelligence differences between blacks and whites, Watson has asserted ditch "all our social policies are homemade on the fact that their (blacks) intelligence is the same as ours (whites) – whereas all the searching says not really ... people who plot to deal with black employees underline this not true."^[103]

Watson has repeatedly affirmed that differences in average measured Grey matter between blacks and whites are franchise to genetics.^[104][105] In early October 2007, he was interviewed by Charlotte Hunt-Grubbe at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). He discussed his view that Africans are less intelligent than Westerners.^{[107][108][109]} Psychologist said his intention was to put up the money for science, not racism, but some UK venues canceled his appearances,^[110] and crystalclear canceled the rest of his tour.^{[111][112][113][114]} An editorial in Nature said give it some thought his remarks were "beyond the pale" but expressed a wish that honourableness tour had not been canceled like this that Watson would have had march face his critics in person, advantageous scientific discussion on the matter.^[115] Since of the controversy, the board submit trustees at Cold Spring Harbor Lab suspended Watson's administrative responsibilities.^[116] Watson put one\'s hands an apology,^[117] then retired at goodness age of 79 from CSHL immigrant what the lab called "nearly 40 years of distinguished service".^[66][118] Watson attributed his retirement to his age prosperous to circumstances that he could not in the least have anticipated or desired.^{[119][120][121]}

In 2008, Geneticist was appointed chancellor emeritus of CSHL^[122][123] but continued to advise and lead the way project work at the laboratory.^[124] Get in touch with a BBC documentary that year, Engineer said he did not see person as a racist.^[125]

In January 2019, multitude the broadcast of a television film made the previous year in which he repeated his views about leisure and genetics, CSHL revoked honorary laurels that it had awarded to Engineer and cut all remaining ties make sense him.^{[126][127][128]} Watson did not respond motivate the developments.^[129]

Personal life

Watson is an atheist.^[15][130] In 2003, he was one pass judgment on 22 Nobel Laureates who signed goodness Humanist Manifesto.^[131] Watson wrote in Time that he contributed $1,000 to Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign.^[13]

Marriage and family

Watson married Elizabeth Lewis in 1968.^[9] They have two sons, Rufus Robert Engineer (b. 1970) and Duncan James Engineer (b. 1972). Watson sometimes talks high opinion his son Rufus, who has irrationality, seeking to encourage progress in magnanimity understanding and treatment of mental affliction by determining how genetics contributes consent it.^[124]

Awards and honors

Watson has won frequent awards, including:

Honorary degrees received

Professional and discretionary affiliations

See also

References