The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA
About
Background materials include reproductions of the original scientific papers in which the double helical structure of DNA was first presented in 1953 and 1954.
In Criticism, which begins with "A Review of the Reviews" by Gunther Stent, other scientists and scholars reveal their own experiences and views of Watson's story. There are reviews by Philip Morrison, F. X. S., Richard C. Lewontin, Mary Ellmann, Robert L. Sinsheimer, John Lear, Alex Comfort, Jacob Bronowski, Conrad H. Waddington, Robert K. Merton, Peter M. Medawar, and André Lwoff; as well as three letters to the editor of Science by Max F. Perutz, M. H. F. Wilkins, and James D. Watson.
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Why it’s great
Equal parts memoir and scientific detective story, Watson chronicles the race to crack DNA’s structure. Teens see how curiosity, rivalry, and collaboration power real-world research. An epilogue and study guide in modern editions address Rosalind Franklin’s pivotal role—perfect for discussions on ethics in science. A must-read for future biologists and medical students.