Francis Crick

MATT RIDLEY'S "Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code" is the latest volume in Atlas Books' "Eminent Lives" series, whose previous books have celebrated, among others, Caravaggio, Beethoven, Thomas Jefferson and George Balanchine.

Nobel laureate Francis Crick, who half a century ago with James Watson made one of the seminal discoveries of modern science -- the double-helix structure of DNA -- died Wednesday in San Diego. He was 88. Crick died at Thornton Hospital after a long battle with colon cancer. He remained actively involved in theoretical research until just before his death.

Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of DNA who died last week at the age of 88, seemed from the beginning to have lived above the plane of ordinary human pursuits. Childhood friends say that Crick, when he wasn't musing about the nature of the universe in his bedroom, could often be found concocting chemistry experiments in his parents' attic. He won the Nobel Prize in 1962 for discovering the code of life with James Watson and Maurice Wilkins.

On a dull winter day, a young, gangly American and an older Briton with a booming voice strolled into the Eagle pub in Cambridge, England. The older man flamboyantly proclaimed to the patrons that he and his friend had just uncovered the secret of life. It wasn't the demon drink talking: It was the sheer euphoria of discovery.

Re "Putting Our Faith in Science," Commentary, July 25: Thanks to Andrew Klavan for showing that eminent scientists like Francis Crick and Richard Dawkins miss the point. When I drive my car I want it to operate without problems; it's nice to know how all its parts work, but my ultimate purpose in turning on the ignition is to get where I want to go. As a physician I'm always fascinated by "neuro-bio-physical" information about how my body works. It's the vehicle that takes me where I want to go, which for me is toward greater understanding of myself and a more serene life.