I'm basically a libertarian. I don't want to restrict anyone from doing anything unless it's going to harm me. I don't want [to] pass a law stopping someone from smoking. It's just too dangerous. You lose the concept of a free society. Since we are genetically so diverse and our brains are so different, we're going to have different aspirations.

Take young researchers, put them together in virtual seclusion, give them an unprecedented degree of freedom and turn up the pressure by fostering competitiveness.

There are many people of color who are very talented.

I have been much blessed.

I never dreamed that in my lifetime my own genome would be sequenced.

As an educator, I have always striven to see that the fruits of the American Dream are available to all.

If we don't play God, who will?