Twisting the Night Away Events at the International Centre for Life (14–17 April, Newcastle, UK)

Home , Human Genome Project, Rosalind Franklin, The Double Helix

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50TH ANNIVERSARY inspirational people after their ideas more than three people, so would and dedication made 1953 a water- she have been honoured even had shed year in science? she been alive? Regardless, Franklin Francis Harry Compton Crick, the did become something of a feminist Whatever happened to... man who, at the age of 30, in his own icon after Watson was rather dismis- words “essentially knew nothing”,has sive of her in his bestseller of the late continued to address ‘big’ questions 1960s, The Double Helix. Her last since he and James Watson answered working years produced what one of the biggest. Collaborations Watson describes as “very beautiful with the 2002 Nobel laureate Sydney work” on the structure of tobacco Brenner produced ideas on protein mosaic virus. synthesis and the genetic code. Crick James Dewey Watson has joined the Salk Institute in California retained the high profile that he in 1976, and this has remained his gained after widespread recognition affiliation up to the present, where he followed on the heels of the 1953 has focused on the problem of con- breakthrough. After brief stints sciousness. Most recently, he has been working with Alexander Rich, and considering the neural correlates of Crick again, Watson went on to consciousness: the minimal set of Harvard where he collaborated with neuronal events that give rise to a Walter Gilbert. In 1968, he took over specific aspect of a conscious precept. as Director of Cold Spring Harbor Rosalind Elsie Franklin, often Laboratory, which he revitalized by characterized as the wronged hero- focusing on tumour biology, even- ine of the double helix story, died tually becoming its President in four years before Watson, Crick and 1994. In this role, as well as during a Winners of the 1962 Nobel Prizes display their diplomas. Maurice Watson and Crick are among the Wilkins received their Nobel Prize stint at the National Institutes of Wilkins is on the far left, Francis most recognizable names in biology, in 1962. The Nobel rules preclude Health as Associate Director for Crick is third from the left and James Watson is second from the right. Wilkins and Franklin perhaps less posthumous awards, but they also Human Genome Research and © Bettmann/CORBIS. so, but what happened to these preclude prizes being shared by subsequently as Director of the

50TH ANNIVERSARY Watson had put together a model of the double helix. Consequently, DNA models feature in several celebratory events including the Watson-adorned DNA50 Twisting the night away events at the International Centre for Life (14–17 April, Newcastle, UK). Maurice Wilkins is also a man in demand DNA’s big anniversary has not been allowed in a historical and social context in this anniversary year, with appearances at to slip away with only a few geneticists (New York Public Library, 25 February– public events in Cambridge (‘Who Twists the raising a cheer: the public are also being 29 August). Helix?’,The University Centre, 17–19 March) involved. Some events are considerably less public: and London (‘DNA Past, Present and Future’, Celebrations got off to a serious start in the DNA gala dinner at the Waldorf Astoria King’s College, 22 April). the UK with a public forum on ‘Genetics (28 February, New York) was an invite-only Anyone not able to attend these events and the Search for Safer Drugs’ (6 February, affair. Similarly, the flagship celebratory will still be able to get into the spirit of the Royal College of Physicians, London). dinner in the UK (23 April, Guildhall, celebration:‘National DNA Day’ (25 April) Science festivals in March (24–30, London) will have a restricted guest list, will be celebrated by high schools through- Wrexham) and April (17–22, Edinburgh, probably featuring the prime minister, out the USA, and in the UK a special DNA Scotland) promise to be more light-hearted, members of the royal family, Nobel laureates £2 coin will be a nice souvenir for any with DNA-based public lectures, discussion and, if guest of honour James Watson has his double helix buff. forums and interactive workshops. way, Michael Caine, Sean Connery and So, there is no excuse for the public not to Interaction is also a big part of Kew Garden’s soccer-star David Beckham! be involved in the party this year, and let us celebratory event ‘DNA in the Garden’ Watson, surely the busiest man in the hope that they do get involved because, as (29 March–11 May, London). world this year, has also been invited to Watson says,“DNA is for the world, not Double helix fever is also gripping the US, unveil a plaque at the Eagle public house just science”. particularly in New York, where numerous where Francis Crick famously declared to Nick Campbell organizations are taking part in a host of puzzled drinkers on 28 February 1953 activities under the DNA festival banner. ‘We have uncovered the secret of life’ References and links WEB SITE One exhibition promises to tell the story of (25 April, Cambridge, UK). Of course, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA anniversary site: New York and DNA, placing the discovery Crick’s exclamation came after he and http://www.dna50.org/main.htm

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National Center for Human 50TH ANNIVERSARY Genome Research, he has remained at the forefront of research and policy-making in genetics and molecular biology. The art of the helix Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins has been less publicly prominent than Watson since 1953. In a way The beauty of the DNA double helix, together with this is surprising, given that as well the social and ethical issues that developments in as his work on the structure of DNA genetics have raised, are the source of inspiration he was also involved with the devel- for many artists. The celebration of the 50th opment of the nuclear bomb — an anniversary of the discovery of the DNA structure innovation that might even dwarf has catalysed the organization of several art the profile of the double helix in the exhibitions with the theme of genetics. public’s perception of science in the Art can help scientists to communicate the twentieth century. Wilkins contin- advances that have been made in genetics, and ues to teach and pursue his interest to engage the public in debate about topics such in social responsibility in science, as cloning, genetic modification and gene and, at the age of 86, remains patenting. For example, an exhibition on the an active staff member at King’s impact of the Human Genome Project — ‘How College, London. Human: Life in the Post-Genome Era’ Nick Campbell (International Center of Photography, New York, 28 February–25 May) — that includes References and links works by more than 30 artists and FURTHER READING Watson, J. The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the photographers, will reach more people than Structure of DNA (Atheneum, New York, 1968) | would ever visit the labs that are responsible Maddox, B. Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of for sequencing the human genome. DNA (Harper Collins, London, 2002) | Crick, F. & Koch, C. A framework for consciousness. New York hosts a number of other exhibitions, Nature Neurosci. 6, 119–126 (2003) including ‘Genetic Expressions: Art after DNA’ Image by Luisa Estanislao 2002 (Hecksher Museum of Art, Huntington, 28 June–7 September) and ‘From Code to Commodity: Genetics and Visual Art’ (The New York Academy Harvey, who use grass to produce wonderful, but of Sciences; until 11 April). The Graduate Center short-lived, images. Photographic negatives are laid Art Gallery in New York also marks the on grass and, over time, an image develops as the anniversary of Watson and Crick’s discovery with level of green photosynthetic pigments in the grass an exhibition in April entitled ‘Genomic Issue(s): alters in response to the amount of light Art and Science’. penetrating the negative. Geneticists at the Institute In February and March, the Universal of Grassland and Environmental Research,Wales Concepts Unlimited Gallery, New York, (UK) have produced a genetically modified ‘stay- presented the work of five female artists in green’rye-grass that enables the artists to dry their ‘Women in Science: Genomically Yours’ — grass pictures, so that they last for longer. an exhibition that was dedicated to Rosalind At the University of Cambridge (UK) — a short Franklin, who is also the subject of a play that distance from where Watson and Crick solved the was shown at the City University of New York structure of DNA — the Whipple Museum of the in March. Artwork from The Santa Barbara History of Science will host the ‘Representations of Museum of Art’s exhibition ‘PhotoGENEsis: the Double Helix’ exhibition throughout the year. Opus 2’,which aims to provide an artist’s As well as being a source of enjoyment and response to the genetic information age, discussion for scientists, artists and members of was also exhibited in New York in February, the public, these exhibitions might promote links coinciding with the Watson and Crick between scientists and artists. Such links can only celebrations. improve the ability of scientists to communicate Outside New York, the ‘Paradise Now’ their research and explore the ethical implications exhibition, which is the product of collaborations of their work. between artists and scientists, can be seen at the Catherine Baxter Tulane Museum, New Orleans (until May) and the References and links McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas (June to FURTHER READING Kemp, M. The Mona Lisa of modern science. Nature 421, 416–420 (2003) | Nelkin, D. & Anker, S. The influence of July). The works presented in this exhibition, genetics on contemporary art. Nature Rev. Genet. 3, 967–971 (2002) including an interesting example of how genetics WEB SITES can be used to develop technologies that are useful Genomic Art: http://www.geneart.org/genehome.htm to the artist, can also be seen at the Paradise Now Paradise Now: web site.Among the exhibitors are Ackroyd and http://www.geneart.org/pn-home.htm

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