For sale - Nobel prize
2013-02-25 21:51
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An old fashioned story by Mary Louisa Molesworth (1836-1921). The author of beloved children's...
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New York - The Nobel prize awarded to Francis Crick in
1962 for discovering the structure of DNA has been put up for auction by his
family along with one of his lab coats, his books and other memorabilia.
It is believed to be the first Nobel prize placed at
auction in more than 70 years and the opening bid is set for $250 000, Heritage
Auctions said on Monday.
Some of the proceeds from the 10 April auction in New
York will help fund research at the new Francis Crick Institute in London set
to be completed in 2015.
His family said Crick was a modest man who preferred to
outfit his office with a big chalkboard and a portrait of Charles Darwin than
to display his many awards.
The Nobel has been in storage for much of the past 50
years and his family hopes to sell it to a museum or institute where it can be
on public display.
"Our hope is that, by having it available for
display, it can be an inspiration to the next generation of scientists,"
said granddaughter Kindra Crick.
Born in England in 1918, Crick's graduate work was
interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.
He returned to research in 1949 with a position at
Cambridge University.
A critical influence in his career was his friendship
with the American zoologist and geneticist James Watson.
Together, they proposed the double-helical structure for
DNA and the replication scheme in 1953. Crick and Watson subsequently suggested
a general theory for the structure of small viruses.
Fond memories
Crick's children have fond memories of the ceremony in
Stockholm where the King of Sweden gave him the award, along with Watson and
Maurice Wilkins, who also contributed to the discovery.
"It was a great honour to be there," said son
Michael Crick, who is also a scientist.
"My dad dressed for the occasion, gave a speech and
danced with my sister Gabrielle."
His father then went right back to work.
"He was a very focused scientist and after DNA he
went on to work on the mechanism of protein synthesis, deciphering the
three-letter nature of the genetic code and determining the origins of life on
earth," Crick said.
"He was a driven scientist his whole life. At 60, he
turned his attention to theoretical neurobiology and for the next 28 years
helped advance the study of human consciousness."
Crick's initials are engraved on the back of medal, along
with the date of the award in Roman numerals.
The two-page Nobel diploma is included with the medal.
His endorsed check for nearly $15 184 is also up for
auction, along with nautical logbooks and gardening journals.
