Francis Crick

Date of Birth: June 8, 1916

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: July 28, 2004

Biography

Francis Harry Compton Crick was a British molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist, best known for co-discovering the structure of DNA in 1953 with James Watson. Born in Northampton, England, Crick’s early education was interrupted by World War II, during which he worked on the development of magnetic and acoustic mines for the British Admiralty. After the war, he shifted his focus to biology, drawn by the challenges it presented and the belief that it was ripe for scientific breakthroughs. Crick earned a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he joined the Medical Research Council’s Unit at the Cavendish Laboratory. It was here that he met James Watson, and together they proposed the double helix structure of DNA, a discovery that revolutionized the field of genetics. For their groundbreaking work, Crick, Watson, and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. After his work on DNA, Crick moved to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, where he shifted his focus to neuroscience, particularly the study of consciousness. He remained active in scientific research until his death in 2004.

5 Interesting Facts about Francis Crick

1. Francis Crick and James Watson used model building to determine the double helix structure of DNA, a method that was relatively unconventional at the time.

2. Crick and Watson’s discovery of the DNA structure provided significant insight into how genetic information is stored and transmitted in living organisms.

3. Crick was also instrumental in deciphering the genetic code, explaining how sequences of DNA instruct cells to build proteins.

4. Later in his career, Crick turned his attention to neuroscience, particularly the scientific study of consciousness.

5. Crick’s autobiography, “What Mad Pursuit,” provides a personal narrative of his scientific journey and discoveries.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Francis Crick

1. “The ultimate aim of the modern movement in biology is to explain all biology in terms of physics and chemistry.”

2. “If you want to understand function, study structure.”

3. “Science is a great game. It is inspiring and refreshing. The playing field is the universe itself.”

4. “What is found in the study of the structure and function of biological molecules is that nature is not only more complicated than we think but more complicated than we can think.”

5. “It seems likely that most of the genetic material of any organism is ‘junk’ in the sense that it does not code for polypeptides or serve any other function in the reproductive process.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Francis Crick’s highest net worth achieved was approximately $10 million, primarily from his academic positions and Nobel Prize winnings.

Children

Francis Crick had three children: 1. Michael F. Crick – His son from his first marriage to Ruth Doreen Dodd. 2. Gabrielle Crick – His daughter from his second marriage to Odile Speed. 3. Jacqueline Crick – His other daughter from his second marriage to Odile Speed.