Scientist Watson quits post after race remarks

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nobel prize winner James Watson, renowned for describing DNA's structure, quit on Thursday as chancellor of a leading U.S. research facility after being quoted as questioning Africans' intelligence.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory said Watson, 79, retired after nearly 40 years of serving the institution, located in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. He served as president of the laboratory until 2003 and since then had served as chancellor.

"Closer now to 80 than 79, the passing on of my remaining vestiges of leadership is more than overdue. The circumstances in which this transfer is occurring, however, are not those which I could ever have anticipated or desired," Watson said in a statement provided by the laboratory.

Watson said he is retiring immediately from his position as chancellor as well as his post on the laboratory's board.

The laboratory said last week its board had suspended Watson from his duties following his remarks to a British newspaper.

"For over 40 years, Dr. Watson has made immeasurable contributions to the laboratory's research and educational programs," Eduardo Mestre, chairman of the board of the laboratory, said in a statement.

"The board respects his decision to retire at this point in his career," he added.

The laboratory's statement announcing his resignation did not mention the controversy over Watson's comments.