DNA PIONEER: James Watson and the Double Helix

by Joyce Baldwin ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 29, 1994

In its drama, Watson's life has rivaled the discovery of the structure of DNA. So intent on his research was this awkward, bumbling scholar that he would climb a drainpipe to sneak into a lab at night. Watson had a knack for selecting problems that would yield important scientific results, but did he pilfer? Did Rosalind Franklin originate crucial material? If so, why was she not included in the Nobel Prize? Baldwin, who had exceptional access to Watson and his family, conveys the elegance of science (the ""structure [of DNA] was too pretty not to be true""), describes diverse influences (birding, Arrowsmith, movies), and even gives advice (go to a college where others are brighter than you, to test your mettle). Voluminous detail on what, exactly, provided a lifetime's worth of inspiration broaden an intriguing picture of this intrepid competitor. Glossary; bibliography; index.

Pub Date: April 29, 1994

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 136

Publisher: Walker

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1994

Categories: CHILDREN'S