Watson resigns, genome project open to change: will leave immediately, acting head named; smaller centres, more research anticipated

Article Abstract:

James D. Watson's resignation as National Center for Human Genome Research director will affect the genome project's future, with the use of cDNA sequencing being the immediate result. Watson's disputes with National Institutes of Health director Bernadine Healy over the patenting of cDNA and other issues hastened his decision to leave. Most genome researchers regret Watson's departure and praise him for getting the much-disputed project started. Healy named Michael Gottesman to be the project's acting director.

Research, Management, Antisense DNA, United States. National Human Genome Research Institute

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Healy in a hurry

Article Abstract:

National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Bernadine Healy's questionable use of conflict of interest charges as a pretext for forcing Human Genome Project director James D. Watson to resign will damage her reputation more than his. The two had long clashed both in personal style and over issues such as the patenting of nucleotide sequences, which Healy favored and Watson opposed. Healy's willingness to besmirch Watson, a distinguished scientist, will haunt her by deterring other scientists from serving NIH.

Editorial, United States. National Institutes of Health

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US genome head faces charges of conflict: Watson expected to leave this summer; feud with Healy, Bourke led to showdown

Article Abstract:

James Watson will probably give up directing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) genome project due to conflict of interest charges. NIH director Bernadine Healy's investigation revealed that Watson's purchases of stock from biotechnology and gene sequencing firms may have created a conflict. However, Watson's defenders contend that he is actually being pressured to leave due to his objections to Healy's plan to patent cDNA sequences and to entrepreneur Frederick Bourke's plan for a gene sequencing firm.

Investigations, Conflict of interests (Public office), Conflicts of interest (Public office), United States. National Institutes of Health. Office of Human Genome Research

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