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
Results 1-3 of 22
Page 49
No one should mind if , by spending only a few hours a week thinking about DNA , he helped me solve a smashingly important problem . As a consequence , John Kendrew soon realized that I was unlikely to help him solve the myoglobin ...
No one should mind if , by spending only a few hours a week thinking about DNA , he helped me solve a smashingly important problem . As a consequence , John Kendrew soon realized that I was unlikely to help him solve the myoglobin ...
Page 179
Francis seized the occasion to ask Maurice whether he would mind if we started to play about with DNA models . When Maurice's slow answer emerged as no , he wouldn't mind , my pulse rate returned to normal . For even if the answer had ...
Francis seized the occasion to ask Maurice whether he would mind if we started to play about with DNA models . When Maurice's slow answer emerged as no , he wouldn't mind , my pulse rate returned to normal . For even if the answer had ...
Page 210
I had feared that her sharp , stubborn mind , caught in her self - made antihelical trap , might dig up irrelevant results that would foster uncertainty about the correctness of the double helix . Nonetheless , like almost everyone else ...
I had feared that her sharp , stubborn mind , caught in her self - made antihelical trap , might dig up irrelevant results that would foster uncertainty about the correctness of the double helix . Nonetheless , like almost everyone else ...
What people are saying - Write a review
User ratings
| 5 stars |
| ||
| 4 stars |
| ||
| 3 stars |
| ||
| 2 stars |
| ||
| 1 star |
|
Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified
LibraryThing Review
User Review - labfs39 - LibraryThingJames D. Watson was 24 years old when he and Francis Crick published their paper announcing the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953. Nine years later they would be awarded the Nobel Prize, along ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - atozgrl - LibraryThingA surprisingly easy read. The chapters are short and the writing style is breezy. It's a very personal account of James Watson's experiences studying overseas and his efforts, along with others, to ... Read full review
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acid adenine answer argument arranged arrival asked atoms backbone base base pairs became began biology 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 / Human Anatomy & Physiology Science / Reference |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |