One of the greatest scientists of the 20th Century, Dr. James Watson discovered the secrets of DNA and won a Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking research.

In 1953, at the tender age of 24, he, along with Dr. Francis Crick, discovered the molecular structure of the gene and unleashing the power of modern genetics. Everything from the now common pregnancy tests for Down's Syndrome through genetically modified animals to the brave new world of human genetic selection can be traced back to that one great discovery.

It has been called the "scientific discovery of the century," a description with which Dr. Watson himself has been known to agree, and in 1962, he along with Dr. Crick was awarded the Nobel Prize.

At 70, he is a towering figure on the intellectual landscape. But he is also a highly controversial figure. He speaks his mind, loudly and often. He has used his fame to promote the cause of genetics and has sponsored significant work in the field, particularly in his role as President of the Cold Spring Harbor molecular biology laboratory in the United States.

Most famously and most recently he has been the central figure in the Human Genome Project, a massive international project that aims to crack the whole of the human genetic code, opening up the possibility of gene based therapies for a host of diseases from breast cancer to depression.