James Watson was born on April 6, 1928 in Chicago Illinois. He was a very gifted and bright child. He is most known for his contributions to DNA and Genetics along with his co-worker Francis Crick. Watson received his B.S. at the University of Chicago and received a Ph.D. from Indiana University. Watson also worked at the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory in England. This was where he first met Francis Crick. (Bagley).
As a child, his favorite question was “why?” and simple answers did not suffice. He accrued a lot of his knowledge by reading the World Almanac. He won $100 on a radio show called "Quiz Kid,” and spent the money on a set of binoculars so that he could go bird watching. At the age of fifteen, he was admitted to the University of Chicago in an experimental scholarship program for gifted adolescents. His interest in birds led him to study biology; and in the year 1947 he was awarded a B.S. degree in Zoology. After reading Erwin Schrodinger’s influential book "What is Life?" he switched to the field of Genetics. (DNALC).
He was rejected by the California Institute of Technology and Harvard, but he received a scholarship to the University of Indiana for a Ph.D. In 1950, he received his doctoral degree in Zoology for his work on bacteriophage viruses. From there, Watson moved to Copenhagen, where he was a Merck Fellow of the National Research Council as he continued his research in virues. (Bagley).
In 1951, Watson attended a meeting at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, where he heard the outcomes of the Hershey-Chase experiment. He was then convinced that DNA was the genetic material. He realized that if the structure of the DNA molecule was understood, it would be possible to suggest that ge...
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...es would surely die, and there would be less viable offspring. DNA contributes to vaccination and understanding genetic disorders. There are now breakthroughs in curing HIV by analyzing the DNA of some people who are immune to getting the virus from a genetic mutation. Today, there is much more of an understanding of cancer and how it transpires and its various categories; because of DNA, it is now know that there is a difference between familial and sporadic cancer. Geneticists are also able to predict the chances of parents having offspring with specific disorders. Lives are saved when individuals with failing organs need a transplant and must find a donor match. This involves DNA as well. What better field is there to study than the blueprints to one’s own being? We can thank James Watson and his partner, Francis Crick for this great scientific discovery. (Klug).
...hich inherited traits, such as those for genetic disease, can be tracked over generations. Throughout out the course of human development, scientists will continue to find new new ways to help the human race through the discovery of the human gene inside of each of us, its uses, as well as complications, that can help the survival of our species.
With a competitive spirit, people are driven to act in ways that they would not otherwise and the results can be drastic. In the case of James D. Watson and Francis Crick, in Watson’s novel the Double Helix, this sensation of competition leads to one of the greatest discoveries in biology. But the actions of Watson, Crick, and their competitors may or may not be justified for the results that they yield; the powerful conflict of rivalry has beneficial, detrimental, and questionably moral consequences that shaped the pathway to DNA’s structure.
Watson was an American psychologist that helped path the way for other researchers in psychology. He was born on January 9th, 1878, in South Carolina. His mother was devoted to religion and she pushed her ideals and morals onto him. She prohibited smoking, drinking, adultery, and other sinful acts. This led to Watson growing up hating religion and eventually, opposing it. Also, Watson was a delinquent when he was young, he was arrested twice and did poorly academically; but, with the help of his mother and her connections, it gave him an opportunity to attend Furman University of South Carolina. This gave him a second chance and he didn’t take it for granted. Watson graduated with a master’s when he was 21. After he finished his years in Furman University, he was presented with an offer from University of Chicago, for his graduates study in psychology. Once he finished his graduate degree, he stayed there as a research
Charles Robert Darwin was an English naturalist who was born in Shrewsbury, England on February 12, 1809. He was the second youngest of six children. Before Charles Darwin, there were many scientists throughout his family. His father, Dr. Robert Darwin, was a medical doctor, and his grandfather, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, was a well-known botanist. Darwin’s mother, Susannah Darwin, died when he was only eight years old. Darwin was a child that came from wealth and privilege and who loved to explore nature. In October 1825 at age sixteen, Darwin enrolled at Edinburgh University with his brother Erasmus. Two years later, Charles became a student at Christ’s College in Cambridge. His father wanted him to become a medical doctor, as he was, but since the sight of blood made Darwin nauseous, he refused. His father also proposed that he become a priest, but since Charles was far more interested in natural history, he had other ideas in mind (Dao, 2009)
"The discovery of the structure by Crick and Watson, with all its biological implications, has been one of the major scientific events of this century." (Bragg, The Double Helix, p1) In the story of The Double Helix, James Watson tells of the road that led to the discovery of life's basic building block-DNA. This autobiography gives insight into science and the workings within a professional research laboratory that few members of society will ever be able to experience. It also gives the reader an idea of the reality of life for one scientist and how he struggled with the problem of DNA. However, the author's style is marked by his lack of objectivity and inclusion of many biased opinions and personal prejudices.
As I searched over the numerous website and psychology books trying to figure out who to write on for this research paper I stumbles upon a famous quote that captures my attention swiftly.
Erwin Schrodinger is a historic chemist who led a difficult life, but gave the scientific community multiple important contributions. Erwin Schrodinger’s life revolving around chemistry is full of contributions and essential advancements that he gave to the scientific community. Some of Schrodinger’s contributions consist of Schrodinger’s wave equation and Schrodinger’s book “What is Life” which led to valuable progression in biology thanks to his book (“Erwin Schrodinger.” Erwin Schrodinger. Dr.).
Simply put, DNA contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive, and reproduce. The discovery and use of DNA has seen many changes and made great progress over many years. James Watson was a pioneer molecular biologist who is credited, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, with discovering the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The three won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1962 for their work (Bagley, 2013). Scientists use the term “double helix” to describe DNA’s winding, two-stranded chemical structure.
Genetic engineering for humans would eventually destroy the human natural selection theory, that everyone brought into this world was untouched and born to be who ever they were suppose to be. But with genetic engineering, scientists would be able to change unborn children to make them for acceptable to the human world.
With all factors put into place the potential benefits of perfecting human genetic engineering far outweigh the negatives. A world with genetic engineering is a world that would be advantageous to all who undergo the procedure to positively modify their DNA. A genetically engineered human race will be able to have defeated all genetic mutations and diseases, rid humans of possible illnesses in young and unborn children, create drastically longer lifespans, and provide generations with a high quality of life. Human genetic engineering has progressed more rapidly than projected; according to Stephen Hawking, when human genetic engineering is consummated he hypothesizes, “With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our DNA, and improve the human race. But it will be a slow process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the effect of changes to the genetic code.”(Hawking). The advancements that genetic engineering will provide for the human race is incredible and we will soon benefit from science and technology more than ever
The Double Helix tells a tale of fierce competition, perseverance, and scientific innovation as we follow James Watson and his cohort Francis Crick on their quest to discover the secret to life, the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid. Although already fascinated with DNA, Watson struggled with finding chemistry exciting enough to learn it in depth. He had studied birds in college and thereby managed to avoid any formal chemistry or physics courses. As he later pursued a PhD in biochemistry, he realized he could put it off no longer and attempted to learn organic chemistry at Indiana University. However, after a mishap in the lab, he was encouraged instead to study nucleic acid chemistry with Herman Kalckar in Copenhagen. There, his mind strayed from his work and he began doing unauthorized research in the lab of Ole Maaløe, studying phages. Herman stopped teaching Watson after going through a divorce with his wife, and sent Watson off to a scientific conference in Naples. Although he was bored by many of the lectures, Maurice Wilkins’s talk about X-ray diffraction fascinated Watson. He was struck by an X-ray diffraction picture of DNA that Maurice presented and was determined to study the acid. He later got to know more about Maurice’s colleague, Rosalind Franklin, who was proud, stubborn, and very difficult to work with. Watson greatly admired the lecture given by the renowned Linus Pauling, who had discovered the structure of the alpha-helix and was thought of as the leader in DNA research in the scientific world.
Born January 8, 1942 in Oxford England, Stephen Hawking was born -as some say- into a family of intellects. Stephens’s father, Frank hawking, studied at Oxford University as a medical researcher – while mother, Isobel Hawking, was one of the first women to attend the university in the 1930’s (a time period when not many women considered college). The two raised four children together, Stephen being the oldest. While Stephens’s father would have had the eldest children study medicine at university, it was apparent from an early age that Stephen and his siblings had taken to the stars.
Stephen Hawking is a world-renowned British theoretical physicist, mainly known for his contributions to quantum gravity, general relativity, and cosmology. He especially impacted the science of black holes. As a child he dreamed of being a scientist and was intrigued by the sky and its infinite depth. Born on January 8, 1942 in Oxford England, Hawking was surrounded by a family of thinkers and was expected to be exceptional, just as his parents were. Both parents attended Oxford University. His family was eccentric and often acted differently than the typical family. At dinner they would sit in silence while reading books. Their family car was a London taxi, they housed bees, and produced fireworks in their greenhouse (Stephen Hawking). His family was unique but impacted Hawking’s pathway to success with their educational influence.
Under the control of the government, it would lead to much advancement. Forgotten crimes would resurface and be solved, and improve overall health of citizens. A DNA databank would prove invaluable in its ability to aid in the apprehending of criminals. Also, locating and identifying disaster victims would prove easier as well. Also assuming that DNA is left at the scene of almost every crime, fighting crime would be easier than ever.
Stephen Hawking one of the greatest physicist was born on January 8, 1942 in Oxford,England. Surprisingly he was born on the 300 hundredth anniversary of Galileo. Hawking’s parents lived in Highgate during the attack of the world war II and the black out in London. For a more guarded and secure place his mother Isobel decided to give birth in Oxford, England.(Hawking.org) During this time money was very little for the Hawkings because of the war. Everything was hard for them at this time especially when raising a family. While Stephen was growing up the Hawkings were oddly different from him, during dinner time in most occasions they were often reading a book. They were recognized as being highly intelligent and very clever people. Besides for Stephen he was the more normal one in the family. Hawking at a young was recognized as being bright and his mother would say how he had a strong sense of wonder, “stars would always draw his attention,”she quoted. Yet he wouldn’t take his school work seriously. (biography.com) He was ranked no more than halfway up in his class and also struggled with reading. (Ferguson, pg.20) Even though, him and a couple of friends would solve mathematical equations together it took his friends hours to solve about 2 problems out of 10 but on the other hand, he would rush downstairs in minutes and have completed already 5 (biography.com)