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Shaping your place in posterity	Shaping your place in posterity
2007-06-11 11:10:36 UTC	2007-06-11 14:40:42 UTC (about 4 hours later)
A POINT OF VIEW By Lisa Jardine	A POINT OF VIEW By Lisa Jardine
The discovery of DNA's structure shaped the 20th Century	The discovery of DNA's structure shaped the 20th Century
As Tony Blair seeks his place in posterity, he should heed the example of the scientists who identified the structure of DNA and then tried to shape their own place in history, says writer and broadcaster Lisa Jardine.	As Tony Blair seeks his place in posterity, he should heed the example of the scientists who identified the structure of DNA and then tried to shape their own place in history, says writer and broadcaster Lisa Jardine.
Francis Crick, who would have been celebrating his birthday, is lastingly remembered for discovering the structure of DNA in 1953.	Francis Crick, who would have been celebrating his birthday, is lastingly remembered for discovering the structure of DNA in 1953.
That set biologists on the path towards the secrets of the genetic code, leading eventually to the human genome project, whose goal is to decipher the meaning of the billions of units of genetic information, unlocking cures for previously untreatable diseases.	That set biologists on the path towards the secrets of the genetic code, leading eventually to the human genome project, whose goal is to decipher the meaning of the billions of units of genetic information, unlocking cures for previously untreatable diseases.
So this week is a good time to remember how the dramatic story of that scientific breakthrough first came to been told, and to think about the way such stories shape our collective memory of important moments in history - something Tony Blair might do well to consider.	So this week is a good time to remember how the dramatic story of that scientific breakthrough first came to been told, and to think about the way such stories shape our collective memory of important moments in history - something Tony Blair might do well to consider.
In 1968 a scandal erupted at Harvard University. There was a rumour that Harvard University Press was refusing to publish The Double Helix - the inside story of the race to discover the structure of DNA. The book's author was James Watson, Crick's Cambridge collaborator, who had won the Nobel Prize for this brilliant breakthrough with Crick and Maurice Wilkins in 1962.	In 1968 a scandal erupted at Harvard University. There was a rumour that Harvard University Press was refusing to publish The Double Helix - the inside story of the race to discover the structure of DNA. The book's author was James Watson, Crick's Cambridge collaborator, who had won the Nobel Prize for this brilliant breakthrough with Crick and Maurice Wilkins in 1962.
Watson painted Crick and himself as film-stars - carpet-bagging adventurers and intellectual mischief-makers	Watson painted Crick and himself as film-stars - carpet-bagging adventurers and intellectual mischief-makers
According to the New York Times: "The university halted plans for publication when the two men who shared the Nobel Prize with Dr. Watson for this work, voiced protests."	According to the New York Times: "The university halted plans for publication when the two men who shared the Nobel Prize with Dr. Watson for this work, voiced protests."
Crick and Wilkins were apparently objecting to parts of Watson's manuscript, because of derogatory remarks it made about several scientists involved. Publication, however, eventually went ahead. Watson removed the offending passages - though not those concerning Wilkins's collaborator, Rosalind Franklin, who had died of cancer in 1958.	Crick and Wilkins were apparently objecting to parts of Watson's manuscript, because of derogatory remarks it made about several scientists involved. Publication, however, eventually went ahead. Watson removed the offending passages - though not those concerning Wilkins's collaborator, Rosalind Franklin, who had died of cancer in 1958.
Franklin's premature death had already prevented her sharing in the Nobel Prize (it is never awarded posthumously). Now she could not respond to Watson's disparaging remarks about her. Watson did later add an "epilogue" in which he admitted that he had been wrong in some of his less flattering early impressions of Franklin. The Double Helix went on to become a bestseller.	Franklin's premature death had already prevented her sharing in the Nobel Prize (it is never awarded posthumously). Now she could not respond to Watson's disparaging remarks about her. Watson did later add an "epilogue" in which he admitted that he had been wrong in some of his less flattering early impressions of Franklin. The Double Helix went on to become a bestseller.
Partisan narrative	Partisan narrative
At issue in the attempt to stop publication of Watson's book was the account he gave of the way ground-breaking scientific discoveries are made. Where the scientist had traditionally been presented as a white-coated, omniscient sage, Watson painted Crick and himself as film-stars - carpet-bagging adventurers and intellectual mischief-makers, spurred on by their desire to win at all costs.	At issue in the attempt to stop publication of Watson's book was the account he gave of the way ground-breaking scientific discoveries are made. Where the scientist had traditionally been presented as a white-coated, omniscient sage, Watson painted Crick and himself as film-stars - carpet-bagging adventurers and intellectual mischief-makers, spurred on by their desire to win at all costs.
"I have never seen Francis Crick in a modest mood," are the book's opening words.	"I have never seen Francis Crick in a modest mood," are the book's opening words.
Watson's The Double Helix is a colourful, partisan narrative account of the everyday lives of research scientists, and the complicated ways in which they move from routine laboratory work towards solving a problem identified as of major scientific importance.	Watson's The Double Helix is a colourful, partisan narrative account of the everyday lives of research scientists, and the complicated ways in which they move from routine laboratory work towards solving a problem identified as of major scientific importance.
Departing would be idiocy, for I had discovered the fun of talking to Francis Crick James Watson Hear Radio 4's A Point of View	Departing would be idiocy, for I had discovered the fun of talking to Francis Crick James Watson Hear Radio 4's A Point of View
It is a thriller - full of accidents, remarks overheard and data stumbled upon by chance. There are brash remarks, rash promises, mistakes hastily withdrawn and reworked, personality clashes which hinder progress, and finally, glittering prizes for a few.	It is a thriller - full of accidents, remarks overheard and data stumbled upon by chance. There are brash remarks, rash promises, mistakes hastily withdrawn and reworked, personality clashes which hinder progress, and finally, glittering prizes for a few.
By the 1950s a number of molecular biologists had focused their attention on DNA as the likely carrier of human genetic material.	By the 1950s a number of molecular biologists had focused their attention on DNA as the likely carrier of human genetic material.
The young James Watson first saw an X-ray diffraction photograph of the DNA molecule in 1951, while working as a post-doctoral student in a Copenhagen laboratory. He recognised that if genes were like crystals -- as the detail of the photographs seemed to show -- there was a possibility of discovering their fundamental structure using crystallography.	The young James Watson first saw an X-ray diffraction photograph of the DNA molecule in 1951, while working as a post-doctoral student in a Copenhagen laboratory. He recognised that if genes were like crystals -- as the detail of the photographs seemed to show -- there was a possibility of discovering their fundamental structure using crystallography.
Dashing figure	Dashing figure
He immediately switched his research to the Cavendish Laboratory in England, where Max Perutz was known to be working on the minute structure of large biological molecules.	He immediately switched his research to the Cavendish Laboratory in England, where Max Perutz was known to be working on the minute structure of large biological molecules.
Once there, Watson tells us: "I knew I would not leave Cambridge for a long time. Departing would be idiocy, for I had discovered the fun of talking to Francis Crick."	Once there, Watson tells us: "I knew I would not leave Cambridge for a long time. Departing would be idiocy, for I had discovered the fun of talking to Francis Crick."
Crick was a dashing figure -- as voluble and excitable as Watson was gawky and shy. He also had a genuinely original mind. As Watson puts it: "Francis's brain was a genuine asset."	Crick was a dashing figure -- as voluble and excitable as Watson was gawky and shy. He also had a genuinely original mind. As Watson puts it: "Francis's brain was a genuine asset."
Crick and Watson became superstars of science	Crick and Watson became superstars of science
Crick was someone with the capacity to connect information gathered and processed from a wide range of sources and disciplines. He was full of ideas, impatient and easily bored, and loved nothing more than to engage with a similarly indefatigable antagonist in heated scientific debate.	Crick was someone with the capacity to connect information gathered and processed from a wide range of sources and disciplines. He was full of ideas, impatient and easily bored, and loved nothing more than to engage with a similarly indefatigable antagonist in heated scientific debate.
Watson became Crick's regular coffee-break companion in the laboratory, and they met increasingly often socially, where they continued their scientific discussions - when not distracted by their other shared obsession, the opposite sex.	Watson became Crick's regular coffee-break companion in the laboratory, and they met increasingly often socially, where they continued their scientific discussions - when not distracted by their other shared obsession, the opposite sex.
What is remarkable is the speed with which, once Crick and Watson had identified the crux of the problem of DNA's structure, they managed to solve it. It was, scientists will tell you, exactly the right moment to do so - the key technology and vital techniques were available.	What is remarkable is the speed with which, once Crick and Watson had identified the crux of the problem of DNA's structure, they managed to solve it. It was, scientists will tell you, exactly the right moment to do so - the key technology and vital techniques were available.
In California, Linus Pauling had discovered that the basic structure of the protein molecule - a long chain molecule closely related to DNA - was helix-shaped. His unconventional technique for arriving at this conclusion involved a combination of guesswork and physical model-building. Crick and Watson decided to adopt the same strategy.	In California, Linus Pauling had discovered that the basic structure of the protein molecule - a long chain molecule closely related to DNA - was helix-shaped. His unconventional technique for arriving at this conclusion involved a combination of guesswork and physical model-building. Crick and Watson decided to adopt the same strategy.
Explosive row	Explosive row
They played around with models made out of bits of a children's construction set, and they consulted Wilkins and Franklin in London about their X-ray diffraction photographs, carefully concealing the reason for their interest.	They played around with models made out of bits of a children's construction set, and they consulted Wilkins and Franklin in London about their X-ray diffraction photographs, carefully concealing the reason for their interest.
A quarrel with Rosalind Franklin gave them their final, vital piece of data. On a visit to her lab, Watson, with typical brashness, lectured Franklin on the need for her to learn some theory, to interpret her photos of DNA. She exploded with anger, and he fled.	A quarrel with Rosalind Franklin gave them their final, vital piece of data. On a visit to her lab, Watson, with typical brashness, lectured Franklin on the need for her to learn some theory, to interpret her photos of DNA. She exploded with anger, and he fled.
In the safety of Wilkins's laboratory the two men moaned about working with difficult women, and Wilkins produced Rosalind Franklin's most recent X-ray diffraction photograph. Watson tells us how he saw immediately that it told him what he needed to know.	In the safety of Wilkins's laboratory the two men moaned about working with difficult women, and Wilkins produced Rosalind Franklin's most recent X-ray diffraction photograph. Watson tells us how he saw immediately that it told him what he needed to know.
Some received less fame than others	Some received less fame than others
"My mouth fell open and my pulse began to race. The pattern was unbelievably simpler than those obtained previously. It could arise only from a helical structure."	"My mouth fell open and my pulse began to race. The pattern was unbelievably simpler than those obtained previously. It could arise only from a helical structure."
He rushed back to Cambridge, with a sketch of the photo scribbled on the edge of his newspaper. In two months he and Crick had produced their double helix for scrutiny by the scientific community. Its simplicity was utterly convincing. A letter to the journal Nature announced the discovery with wonderful understatement.	He rushed back to Cambridge, with a sketch of the photo scribbled on the edge of his newspaper. In two months he and Crick had produced their double helix for scrutiny by the scientific community. Its simplicity was utterly convincing. A letter to the journal Nature announced the discovery with wonderful understatement.
"We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA). This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest."	"We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA). This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest."
That is the story as Watson still likes to tell it - the beguiling tale people like myself cherish as a real life scientific adventure story. Crick always saw it otherwise. In his view, their breakthrough was "partly a matter of luck, and partly good judgement, inspiration and persistent application".	That is the story as Watson still likes to tell it - the beguiling tale people like myself cherish as a real life scientific adventure story. Crick always saw it otherwise. In his view, their breakthrough was "partly a matter of luck, and partly good judgement, inspiration and persistent application".
The textbook account of the impact of the discovery is different, too. In 2003, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery, one commentator wrote in Nature: "We usually think that the double-helix model acquired immediate and enduring success. On the contrary, it enjoyed only a quiet debut."	The textbook account of the impact of the discovery is different, too. In 2003, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery, one commentator wrote in Nature: "We usually think that the double-helix model acquired immediate and enduring success. On the contrary, it enjoyed only a quiet debut."