DNA pioneer's Nobel Prize auctioned

11 April 2013 Last updated at 13:54 ET

The Nobel Prize won by British scientist Francis Crick for his discovery of DNA has sold for $2.27m (1.47m) at auction in New York.

It was bought by Jack Wang, CEO of a Shanghai-based biomedical firm, who had flown in specially for the sale.

Professor Crick won the prize in 1962 for his discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule, making it possible to decode how living beings function.

It was one of 10 lots put up for sale by Crick's heirs.

On Wednesday a letter written by Crick, describing for his 12-year-old son his discovery of the double helix shape of DNA, sold for $5.3m - far exceeding its estimate.

The sales will in part benefit scientific research.

Much of the bidding at Thursday's auction happened remotely, by telephone and internet - but Jack Wang was so determined to buy the Nobel Prize medal that he flew in from California, and was prepared to offer double what he ended up paying, reports the BBC's Barbara Plett from New York.

He said he was looking for ways to encourage research into his own company's technology.

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DNA pioneer's Nobel Prize auctioned