James Watson, renowned scientist and co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, has died at the age of 97. Watson, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for their groundbreaking work on the double helix structure of DNA. This discovery revolutionized the field of genetics and laid the foundation for advances such as genetic engineering and gene therapy. Watson later recounted the intense competition and ambition behind the discovery in his memoir, which sparked both criticism and praise for its candid portrayal of scientific rivalry.