Nobel prize for discovering DNA up for auction

NEW YORK - Agence France-Presse

This handout image provided February 25, 2013 by Heritage Auctions in New York shows obverse side of the 1962 Nobel Prize medal awarded to Dr. Francis Crick. Dr. Francis Crick?s 1962 Nobel Prize for discovering DNA structure and other items will go up for auction April 10, 2013 at Heritage Auctionsin New York. AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT / Heritage Auctions

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 Monday. Some of the proceeds from the April 10 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.

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 honor 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 86,000 kroners is also up for auction, along with nautical logbooks and gardening journals.