The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNAThe classic personal account of Watson and Crick’s groundbreaking discovery of the structure of DNA, now with an introduction by Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind. By identifying the structure of DNA, the molecule of life, Francis Crick and James Watson revolutionized biochemistry and won themselves a Nobel Prize. At the time, Watson was only twenty-four, a young scientist hungry to make his mark. His uncompromisingly honest account of the heady days of their thrilling sprint against other world-class researchers to solve one of science’s greatest mysteries gives a dazzlingly clear picture of a world of brilliant scientists with great gifts, very human ambitions, and bitter rivalries. With humility unspoiled by false modesty, Watson relates his and Crick’s desperate efforts to beat Linus Pauling to the Holy Grail of life sciences, the identification of the basic building block of life. Never has a scientist been so truthful in capturing in words the flavor of his work. |
From inside the book
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Page 58
Sir Lawrence flatly denied prior knowledge of Francis ' efforts and was thoroughly
insulted by the implication that he had underhandedly used another scientist's
ideas . On the other hand , Francis found it impossible to believe that Bragg could
...
Sir Lawrence flatly denied prior knowledge of Francis ' efforts and was thoroughly
insulted by the implication that he had underhandedly used another scientist's
ideas . On the other hand , Francis found it impossible to believe that Bragg could
...
Page 126
Tommy's facility for making a far - out idea seem plausible set Francis to
wondering whether an argument could be made for a “ perfect biological
principle . ” Knowing that Griffith was interested in theoretical schemes for gene
replication , he ...
Tommy's facility for making a far - out idea seem plausible set Francis to
wondering whether an argument could be made for a “ perfect biological
principle . ” Knowing that Griffith was interested in theoretical schemes for gene
replication , he ...
Page 214
Instead , he was referring to the likewith - like idea . Fortunately , by the time my
letter reached Cal Tech the base pairs had fallen out . If they had not , I would
have been in the dreadful position of having to inform Delbrück and Pauling that I
...
Instead , he was referring to the likewith - like idea . Fortunately , by the time my
letter reached Cal Tech the base pairs had fallen out . If they had not , I would
have been in the dreadful position of having to inform Delbrück and Pauling that I
...
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - tgraettinger - LibraryThingWonderful account of the discovery of DNA. Had almost the feel of a detective novel. It's a very easy, quick read. If you can find it, there is a video, "The Race for the Double Helix" aka "Life Story ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - pramodghuge - LibraryThingA very personal account by the author James Watson on how he and his colleague Francis Crick with the help of others beat Linus Pauling to win the coveted Nobel prize for identifying the structure of ... Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
acid adenine answer argument arranged arrival asked atoms backbone base pairs bases became began biological bonds Bragg building Cambridge Cavendish chemical chemistry coiled coils College completely conversation Crick crystallographic cytosine Delbrück double helix English equal evidence existed experiments face fact final Francis gave genes genetic give given groups guanine hand held helical hope hydrogen idea immediately important interest John join King's knew later letter Linus London look lunch Maurice meeting mind molecules months Moreover morning moved Nature needed never obvious Pauling Pauling's Peter position possibility problem protein quickly realized reason remained Rosy saying scientific sense solve soon structure success sugar sure talk tell theory thinking thought tion told walked wanted week X-ray
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA |
| Author | James D. Watson |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Touchstone, 2001 |
| ISBN | 074321630X, 9780743216302 |
| Length | 256 pages |
| Subjects | › › Science / General Science / History Science / Life Sciences / Genetics & Genomics Science / Reference |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |