Born in 1934, Struther was educated at Hamilton Academy, Glasgow University (BSc Chemistry and Mathematics and PhD Chemistry) and worked at MRC Biophysics Unit, calculating the diffraction pattern of the double helical model built by Wilkins that confirmed the Watson and Crick model as correct. 

He was appointed successively Professor of Molecular Biology, Chair of Biological Sciences and Dean of Graduate School at Purdue University, Indiana, USA where he studied DNA, RNA and carbohydrate structure, then Vice Chancellor University of St Andrews 1986-1999).  He was also a member of the Advisory Board of the Campaign for Science and Engineering. Struther died in 2013.