James Watson, DoctorHonoris Causa by theAutonomous University ofBarcelona

摘要

On May 24, 2005 the Autonomous University of Barcelona conferred the academic title of Doctor Honoris Causa to James Watson, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA in 1953 -he was a 24-year old researcher- and awarded with 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which he shared with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins. In his doctoral address, Watson defended therapeutic donation and stated his opinion that both governments and churches must be away and out from genetics, because only the mother can set the limits to the manipulation of embrionary genes. Watson reminded that the role of research is to "cure diseases"; therefore, the fear of non quantified dangers cannot delay experiments that might bring benefits to humankind.