DNA anniversary celebrations

Fifty years after the structure of DNA was first published, the Royal Mint is to produce a new £2 coin featuring the famous double helix. A special gold and silver version will also be produced, for 'collectors and wealthy biologists', reports last week's Nature. James Watson and Francis Crick published their description of the chemical deoxyribonucleic acid on 25 April 1953, in the journal Nature. It was the culmination of work carried out by Crick and Watson in Cambridge, UK, along with scientists Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin, working in London.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary, the Medical Research Council (which funded the original work), the Royal Society and Nature have organised a programme of events in 2003. They include a scientific conference, and the unveiling of a plaque at the Eagle pub, Cambridge, where Crick and Watson apparently did much of their talking. Further information can be found on the 50 year celebration websites.