Research Catalog

Title

Watson and DNA : making a scientific revolution / Victor K. McElheny.

Author

McElheny, Victor K.

Publication

New York : Basic Books, [2004], ©2004.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xiv, 365 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, portraits; 23 cm

Summary

From the discovery of the double helix to the imminent sequencing of the human genome, James Watson has been at dead center in this great biological revolution. Since the very morning after his Nobel Prize-winning discovery, he has continued to ride the scientific supernova that he and his collaborator, Francis Crick, detonated in 1953. Targeting the big questions, mobilizing the best talent, writing the textbook that defined molecular biology, energizing the "war on cancer," he has served as a prime mover of the DNA era. Now, a distinguished science reporter who has known him for decades and worked for him for four years, with unique access to the scientists who know Watson best, has written an unauthorized, non-reverential account of this extraordinary man. While Watson is probably the most influential scientist in the last half-century, he is also one of the most controversial. From the ruthless competition in the race to identify the structure of DNA, to clashes with ethicists over charged issues in genetics, to a chorus of Bronx cheers for his recent memoir, Watson has left a wake of detractors as well as fans. Until now, Watson has managed to keep control over his legend, fending off aspiring biographers with his own memoirs. Victor McElheny gets behind this invented persona, bringing us close to the relentless genius who triggered and sustained a revolution in science that affects us all.

Subjects

• DNA
• Molecular genetics
• Molecular biologists
• Watson, James D., 1928-
• Molecular biology > Biography
• Biology > Molecular genetics > Biography
• DNA > History
• Structuuranalyse

Note

• "Hardback first published in 2003 by Perseus Publishing"--T.p. verso.
• "A Merloyd Lawrence book."

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 289-346) and index.

Contents

Books and birds, "Growing Up" in Chicago -- Target, the gene, bloomington and "Paradise" -- Stumbling on gold, two smart alecks in Cambridge -- Beautiful molecule, being believed -- Now what? Thrashing around -- Harvard, "Few Dared Call Him to Account" -- Manifesto and marriage -- "Fresh, Arrogant, Catty, Bratty, and Funny" -- Passion for building, Cold Spring Harbor -- "Higher" cells, science at Cold Spring Harbor -- "Old Man Out", recombinant DNA --Genome, "It Is So Obvious" -- Epilogue: "I'm An Optimist."

ISBN

• 0738208663 (pbk.)
• 9780738208664 (pbk.)

LCCN

2002114461

OCLC

• ocm54476510
• SCSB-5359929

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries