How is the base sequence, divided into codons? There is nothing in the backbone of the nucleic acid, which is perfectly regular, to show us how to group the bases into codons.
Francis CrickTrying to determine the structure of a protein by UV spectroscopy was like trying to determine the structure of a piano by listening to the sound it made while being dropped down a flight of stairs.
Francis CrickBiologists must constantly keep in mind that what they see was not designed, but rather evolved.
Francis CrickMy own prejudices are exactly the opposite of the functionalists': "If you want to understand function, study structure".
Francis CrickConsciousness is somehow a by-product of the simultaneous, high frequency firing of neurons in different parts of the brain. It's the meshing of these frequencies that generates consciousness, just as tones from individual instruments produce the rich, complex, & seamless sounds of a symphony orchestra
Francis Crick