James D. Watson is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist, best known for co-discovering the structure of DNA in 1953 alongside Francis Crick. Born on April 6, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, Watson was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Crick and Maurice Wilkins for their groundbreaking work elucidating the double-helix model of DNA. His scientific contributions have had a profound impact on genetics and modern biology. Watson has also been a prominent figure in research and science administration, having once led the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. His sometimes controversial opinions and public statements on various topics have sparked debate within the scientific community and beyond. Watson chronicled the DNA discovery story in his book "The Double Helix," which remains a notable account of scientific discovery.