A sculpture of the double helix structure of DNA is to be unveiled in Cambridge by one of the two scientists who first revealed it to the world.

Professor James D. Watson, who won a joint Nobel Prize for his discovery in 1962, will unveil the sculpture in front of University dignitaries and students at 3.30pm on Wednesday November 9.

James Watson was a graduate student with rooms on R staircase of Memorial Court, Clare College when he and fellow student Francis Crick made the 1953 breakthrough which was to unlock the key of life. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Clare College in 1967.

The aluminium sculpture by landscape designer and artist Charles Jencks is one of a number across the world which commemorate the discovery and has been donated to the college by Watson himself.

Master of Clare College Tony Badger said: “We are both pleased and honoured that James Watson has donated this magnificent sculpture, and that he has been able to return to College for this unveiling. It is wonderful to have this lasting reminder of his achievements while he was at Clare and the enormous contribution he and Francis Crick have made to our understanding of life on earth.”

Charles Jencks is a landscape designer, architectural critic, sculptor and artist who divides his time between lecturing, writing and building in USA and UK. Born in Baltimore in 1939, Jencks studied under the modern architectural historians Siegfried Giedon and Reyner Banham.

James Watson is now Chancellor and former President of Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory in the USA.

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