Selling Watson's Nobel Prize for $ 4.76 million

Biologist James Watson has just sold his 1962 Nobel Prize medal for a record price of $ 4.76 million at the New York City auction.

>>>Selling Nobel Prize for scientific research grants

Molecular biologist James Watson - (Photo: Reuters)

AP reported that an unnamed person decided to buy Mr. Watson's Nobel Prize on December 4. The New York City auction floor said it was the first living medal of a survivor sold on the auction floor.

This Nobel Prize was awarded to Mr. Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for discovering the double helix structure of DNA - the foundation of life.

The New York Times reported that although Christie's online auction floor in Manhattan predicts Watson's Nobel medal will be offered for $ 2.5-3.5 million, an anonymous buyer bid up to 4, 1 million USD. The total amount to buy medals is up to 4.76 million USD including insurance.

Mr. Watson (85) said the amount of the Nobel medal will be used for scientific research and a portion of the money transferred to the University of Chicago, Clare College of Cambridge, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island Land Trust and other charitable organizations.