James Watson

James Watson was born in Chicago in 1928. He loved birds and science as a boy. He grew up to be a biologist. In 1953, he helped find the shape of DNA with Francis Crick. DNA is the code of life inside all living things.

Finding DNA's Shape

Watson worked with Francis Crick in England. They studied pictures and clues about DNA. They figured out that DNA looks like a twisted ladder. This shape is called a double helix. It was one of the biggest science finds ever.

After the Discovery

Watson won the Nobel Prize in 1962 with Crick and Maurice Wilkins. He wrote a famous book called 'The Double Helix' about the discovery. He later led a big science lab in New York. He also helped with a project to map all human DNA.

Fun Facts

• He went to college at the University of Chicago when he was only 15.
• He was a big bird-watcher as a kid.
• His Nobel Prize medal was once sold for millions of dollars.

Did You Know?

DNA tells your body how to grow and what color your eyes should be. Watson helped figure out its secret shape.