The Double Helix

James D. Watson is best known for his discovery of the DNA structure with Francis Crick. In addition, Watson published The Double Helix, which is his own personal account. Here is a summary. At a scientific conference in Naples, Maurice Wilkins showed a X-ray diffraction photo of DNA to the group, which included Watson. Wilkins’ comment about known the structure of DNA will tell how genes work excited Watson. Despite Watson’s attempts, Wilkins did …

…with phage pathogens (which he thought would be vital to uncovering the secret of DNA), to his early studies of the DNA molecule in London through his first staggering failure and subsequent forbidden of further research as relevant to the molecule, to his new work with Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), and finally to his work with Francis Crick up to and including the discovery of the double helix and base pair combinations inherent to DNA.