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. |
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Page 3
Since Alfred was still out of training , we decided to spend the afternoon walking
up to a small restaurant which lay at the base of the huge glacier falling down off
the Obergabelhorn and over which we were to walk the next day . We were only ...
Since Alfred was still out of training , we decided to spend the afternoon walking
up to a small restaurant which lay at the base of the huge glacier falling down off
the Obergabelhorn and over which we were to walk the next day . We were only ...
Page 124
argued that muscle fibers were living and hence not subject to rules for physicists
. When necessary , he lent me the key or walked down the stair to unlock the
heavy doors that led out onto Free School Lane . Hugh was not in the lab when
late ...
argued that muscle fibers were living and hence not subject to rules for physicists
. When necessary , he lent me the key or walked down the stair to unlock the
heavy doors that led out onto Free School Lane . Hugh was not in the lab when
late ...
Page 171
Reluctantly I ate , hoping that after coffee I might get more details if I walked him
back to his flat . Our bottle of Chablis , however , diminished my desire for hard
facts , and as we walked out of Soho and across Oxford Street , Maurice spoke
only ...
Reluctantly I ate , hoping that after coffee I might get more details if I walked him
back to his flat . Our bottle of Chablis , however , diminished my desire for hard
facts , and as we walked out of Soho and across Oxford Street , Maurice spoke
only ...
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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 |