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AUDIO
& VIDEO
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 Francis
Crick talking about his collaboration with James Watson
Recorded in 1962 (Real 56k, 2'13")
Francis
Crick on how long it took to work out the molecular structure
of DNA Recorded in 1962 (Real 56k, 1'32")
Francis
Crick on the properties of life and what a virus is
Recorded in 1962 (Real 56k, 2.20")
Francis
Crick talking about his interest in developmental biology and
embryology Recorded in 1974 (Real 56k, 4'37")
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ALSO
SEE
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Sense
of Place homepage
Audio
interviews with Crick & Watson
BBC FOUR website with more interviews with Francis Crick and
James Watson.
DNA
50
BBC News looks at 50 years since the discovery of the structure
of DNA |
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WEBSITE
LINKS
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The
Human Genome Project
An introduction to the project that is trying to find
out how we are all made.
DNA
from the beginning
A detailed history of genetics, covering the genome, DNA
molecules and sex cells.
Nature: Genome
gateway
Nature magazine's in-depth feature on the human genome.
The
BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
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FACT
FILE
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8
June 1916: Francis Harry Compton Crick, born in Northampton
1931: Leaves Northampton School for Boys when he moves
to London.
1934: Studies physics at University College, London,
graduating in 1937.
1940: Joins the British Admiralty Research Laboratory.
Married Ruth Dodd.
1947: Moves to Cambridge to work on the physical properties
of cytoplasm in cultured fibroblast cells.
Divorces Ruth.
1949: Moves to the Medical Research Centre, Cambridge
to work on using X-ray crystallography to discover the three-dimensional
structure of proteins.
Marries Odile Speed.
1950: Crick and Watson begin work on their first DNA
Model.
1953: Crick and Watson publish their paper on the structure
of DNA.
1959: Made a Fellow of the Royal Society.
1962: Crick and Watson are jointly awarded the Nobel
Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
1976: Crick moves to California to become the Kieckhefer
Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
1991: Appointed an Order of Merit
1994: Publishes his views on consciousness - 'The Scientific
Search for the Soul'.
July 1994: Francis Crick dies at Thornton Hospital,
San Diego where he'd been battling colon cancer.
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Francis
Crick, who helped discover the double helix shape of DNA along with
James Watson, has died aged 88.
Professor Crick died at Thornton Hospital in San Diego, US, where
he had been battling colon cancer.
We look back at his work and his life:
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| A
model of a human DNA strand |
Francis
Crick, together with an American, James Watson, were the first to
describe the double-helix structure of DNA.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is "the stuff of life". It's
found in nearly all living things and is responsible for all the
characteristics we inherit from our parents, such as looks, health
and personality traits.
That
discovery - back in 1953 - has opened the doors to a new world of
science. Not only have we now a better understanding of what makes
us all tick, but we have new treatments for diseases.
Theatricals
The
Nobel Prize-winning scientist was born in Holmfield Way, Northampton
on 8 June, 1916. The family didn't have a car, so the young Francis
Crick used the garage "for amateur theatricals and chemical
experiments".
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| Birth
place: Holmfield Way, Northampton as it is today |
His
grandfather, Walter Drawbridge Crick, had started a boot and shoe
factory on St Giles' Street. Francis later recalled: "He was
a successful businessman, as well as an amateur geologist and biologist.
He published several scientific papers on geology. Two new forms
of gastropods are named after him."
Experiments
Francis's
Uncle Walter lived on Abington Avenue. "He had a shed at the
bottom of his little garden where he taught me to blow glass, do
chemical experiments and to make photographic prints."
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| Old
school: Northampton School for Boys |
Francis
attended Northampton Grammar School (now Northampton School for
Boys) but in 1931, his family moved to London and Francis got a
place at Mill Hill School, North London. He later studied physics
at University College, London.
During
the Second World War he worked for the Admiralty but in 1947 returned
to his studies, this time biology, which was a subject he knew little
about. He went to Cambridge and joined the Medical Research Council
Unit. In 1950, he became a research student for the second time
when he was accepted by Caius College, Cambridge.
Watson
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| Co-discoverer:
James Watson |
It
was this year that Francis first got to know a 23-year-old from
the United States, James Watson.
Together,
Crick and Watson tried to work out the structure of DNA. In 1953,
they jointly proposed a double-helix structure. This was a breakthrough
science had been hoping for.
That
was not the end of his research. Francis went on to make important
contributions to the development of molecular biology.
Brains
In
1976, he moved to the United States, joining the Salk Institute
for Biological Studies in San Diego, California. There he switched
his focus to neuroscience and brain research.
Francis
had come a long way since experimenting with chemicals in his Northampton
garage. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Nobel Prize winner
for Medicine, and in 1991 was appointed the Order of Merit - a position
restricted to 24 people, plus the sovereign.
Following
his groundbreaking work on DNA, it's quite appropriate that his
house in America was called 'The Golden Helix'.
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us your comments about Francis Crick. Please use the form
below to send us your comments.
sue
wat does the sculpture mean?
Rob Jones BC Canada
Nice Job Northampton wih the commemorative sculpture, looks like a positive addition to Abington Street.....
Martin D. Packer
"Following his groundbreaking work on DNA, it's quite appropriate that his house in America was called 'The Golden Helix'." More to the point his house in Portugal Place, Cambridge, UK was actually called "The Golden Helix"! M.D.Packer
BrendanConnolly
We people of Northampton do not need reconition for all our achievements, We are just proud that we have helped the World progress to new height;s that;s reconition in it self.
John Baker, Christrchurch, New Zealand
Additional to my comments below, I was born in Northampton, but left the town and have lived in Aotearoa-New Zealand for 40 years. So I feel qualified to make the comments I did.
John Baker, Christchurch, New Zealand
Wake Up Northampton - the world does not know you exist, taking an infrequent look at happenings in the town through the BBC Website, I have a different view to you who live there. Make something of the people who have contributed to our planet. Bang the Drum about Crick, Washington etc. Do GM and Ford still have their high performance engine builders in the County eg Cosworth Ford? If so shout it from the rooftops
John Baker, Christchurch, New Zealand
Wake Up Northampton - the world does not know you exist, taking an infrequent look at happenings in the town through the BBC Website, I have a different view to you who live there. Make something of the people who have contributed to our planet. Bang the Drum about Crick, Washington etc. Do GM and Ford still have their high performance engine builders in the County eg Cosworth Ford? If so shout it from the rooftops
Dom
What a shame this brilliant man was not honoured by his home town before his death. Typical!noured
Sally Marshall
Had it not been for the sad death of this great man I wouldn't even have known he was Northampton. Shame on you Northampton for not commemorating his acheivements.
mollie lyon
find somewhere prominent to place a plaque in francis cricks honour
tony lyon
offer francis crick the freedom of the borough
Jase
Has Northampton ever offered Francis Crick the freedom of the borough? If not, why not? Surely he deserves it. We should celebrate our achievers, not forget them!
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