Week 4 Day 4 History of Biology Case Study

Today's discussion focuses on pages 71-133 from The Double Helix. I intended to finish reading the book before I commented on any of it, and fourtunately was able to. In these pages Watson and Crick are facing starts and stops in their drive to elucidate the structure of DNA. Personal infighting, administrative delays, and lack of some of the necessary data among other things are making their task difficult, to say the least, before they finally triumph. The reactions of Bragg, Wilkins, Franklin and others are telling, in my opinion. Watson continues to make things interesting with his humor and writing style, and his descriptions of Crick's behavior in particular are both illuminating and wry. It's also interesting that Linus Pauling published a paper with a fundamental chemical error.

I think there is definitely room for "personal styles" of research in science, and they are glaringly obvious in this book. Franklin seemed to be introverted, dedicated, and somewhat of a "techie" as she kept to herself in the lab, and also held her work closely. Watson's asides about her, including those about her appearance, were intriguing. Crick was the "idea man", the theorotician whose intellect kept him bounding from one problem to another, and was usually in conflict with Bragg. It seems he never stopped talking, and usually his ideas were fruitful ones, at least in the long run. Watson seemed to lurk around, taking ideas and data when and where he could find them, and yet he always seemed to be able to help fit those pieces together. Linus Pauling is one of the most fascinating characters in the book, and I intend to read more about him. He almost seemed to be the larger than life "scientist as showman" with his personality and tremendous intellect. Wilkins, Bragg, and others featured in the book all seem to have their own personal styles of research as well. I am also seeing the point in reading Bauer and Watson simultaneously, as I can relate many points Bauer makes to the real life scientists in The Double Helix. Watson also explains how attitudes and social mores vary from country to country, because the more genteel British wouldn't think of usurping someone else's work, but the crude Americans and wily French have no problems with it, as the goal is to beat everyone else to the punch, by whatever means necessary. It's interesting in this light that Watson is the only American in the group!

I think in the cases of Wilkins and Franklin, their particular research styles ultimately held them back to a certain extent, especially their tendency to withhold ideas and data, and cling to a specific hypothesis or technique. Crick's talkativeness seemed to help him draw ideas from others, and Watson was sort of the ultimate puzzle-solver, who was open-minded and willing and able to cobble together the pieces of data and ideas he glommed from others. "Personal styles"of research show us that there really is no one, tried and true "scientific method" that has always been applied by everyone. The fact that this reading, highlighting some of the greatest minds of the 20th century, exhibits such a diversity of thinking and research styles is about the best evidence possible of this.

As an aside, I remember using Luria broth in the microbiology lab, now I am more familiar with the gentlemann for whom it is named!

Bibliographic Note:

James D. Watson, The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA, (New York, Simon & Schuster, 1968). "By identifying the structure of DNA, the molecule of life, Francis Crick and James Watson revolutionized biochemistry and won themselves a Nobel Prize. At the time, Watson was only twenty-four, a brilliant young zoologist hungry to make his mark. His uncompromisingly honest account of the heady days of their thrilling sprint against other world-class researchers to solve one of science's greatest unsolved mysteries gives a dazzlingly clear picture of a world of brilliant scientists with great gifts, very human ambitions, and bitter rivalries. With humility unspoiled by false modesty, Watson relates his and Crick's desperate efforts to beat Linus Pauling to the Holy Grail of the life sciences, the identification of the basic building block of life. He is impressed by the achievements of the young man he was, but clear-eyed about his limitations. Never has such a brilliant scientist also been so gifted, and so truthful, in capturing in words the flavor of his work."

Further Reading Note:

I intend to read The Molecular Biology of the Gene, by Watson. I would also like to review works by Franklin, Pauling, Wilkins and other contemporaries, competitors, and workers who Watson and Crick drew from in their own studies.