The movie Race for the Double Helix

¶ … Life Story (the Race for the Double Helix)

Science -- competiveness vs. cooperation

Mick Jackson's 1987 motion picture Life Story (The Race for the Double Helix) presents the steps that preceded the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953. The film manages to captivate audiences through showing that there is much more to science than most people like to think. Jackson's final product breaks away from the traditional image of a scientist, demonstrating that scientists are basically the same as everyone, only that they prefer to direct their passion toward their field of work.

Life Story is not necessarily concentrated on the discovery of the structure of DNA, as it pays more importance to the diverging convictions of the people engaged in the process of discovery and how each of them was influenced by their competitive character. The world of science appears to be filled with disdain, as each of the characters in the movies is unwilling to cooperate with the other because they think they have different goals. In spite of the fact that each of them had been egotistical in their struggle to achieve their mission, James Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, and Maurice Wilkins are all portrayed as pleasant individuals in the film, this obviously being a contradiction to the harsh and emotionless stereotype of a scientist.

The discovery of the structure of DNA was made possible because of the ruthless competition between Watson and Crick's Cambridge University laboratory and Wilkins and Franklin's King's College laboratory. These people virtually proved that science is one of the domains that require competiveness in order to progress. Certainly, the fact that Watson and Crick eventually discovered the structure could not have been possible if they did not cooperate with Wilkins and Franklin. One can observe that Watson (in particular) and Crick were more interested in the material value of their research, even though both had been extremely enthusiastic about being involved in the process of discovering the structure of DNA. In spite of the fact that Franklin is disregarded by society because of her gender, her expertise compensates for her so-called flaw. Wilkins himself tends to ignore Franklin's value merely because he feels that the fact that she is a woman will harm their collaboration.

Watson and Crick perceive the association between Wilkins and Franklin as a direct threat to their chance of success. Thus, this fuels their determination to be the first to discover the structure of DNA. In contrast to the Cambridge scientists, Wilkins and Franklin considered that their activity necessitated less competiveness and that it simply required that they would do their jobs properly.

It is difficult to determine whether the Cambridge team's approach on the structure of DNA was more effective than the one put across by the King's College team. History generally dictates that progress was in most cases made possible because certain people wanted to be better. However, taking into account society's most praised values, it appears that cooperation is essential in order for technology to advance.

While the general public typically likes to believe that scientists are devoted to cooperate with each-other regardless of the circumstances, this movie proves that one of the greatest advancements in the history of science is owed to the fierce rivalry that existed between scientists during the early 1950s. Watson's passion clearly knows no limits, considering that he is even willing to give up his sister to Wilkins in hope that this would influence the latter in cooperating.

Watson sees cooperating as a form of exploiting others, while Wilkins sees it as a method of gaining more experience while sharing his own. What Watson does is surely immoral, but the fact that he ultimately achieves success compensates for his dishonest character. Employing a competitive position in dealing with science generates results faster and more effective. It is extremely difficult to cooperate in science, since most individuals are either interested in their own well-being or are certain that they are superior in intelligence.

One could say that Watson's experience in science taught him that he did not have to behave honorably in order for his studies to advance. Wilkins' reluctance to assist Watson determined the latter to want to start of a race, rather than to cooperate, given that he was aware of the arrogance displayed by Wilkins.