DNA Double Helix Co-discoverer Dr. James Watson Visits SIBS

Dr. James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, 1962 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Emeritus President of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, visited Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS, (SIBS) at the invitation of Dr. CHEN Xiaoya, president of SIBS, from April 8^th to 9^th.

Dr. James Watson giving a lecture in SIBS (Image by SIBS)

After meeting with Dr. CHEN Xiaoya, Dr. Watson gave a lecture entitled Pursuit of the Double Helix . The lecture on the discovery of the DNA double helix attracted more than 600 audiences. Dr. Watson also talked with SIBS graduate students and gave them advices on sciences and life. Then he visited the Institute of Neurosciences (ION) and the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBCB).

During the visit at IBCB, Dr. Watson presented flowers to the statue of Dr. WANG Yinglai. Dr. WANG Yinglai (1907.11.13~2001.5.5) was a prominent biochemist in China, founding director of the former Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, CAS.
Dr. James Watson is an American molecular biologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953. He was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins. Close relationship between Dr. Watson and Chinese biologists could be dated back to decades ago. Friendship with Dr. WANG Yinglai is one of the precious memory to Dr. Watson.