I get curious about new things. My real strength is going into a field that has not been investigated before, and finding new approaches to it.

By the time I was 12 or 13, I was studying biochemistry textbooks.

If it takes you 20 or 25 years to establish yourself in one field, you really ought to be careful not to stray too far.

A Swedish newspaper reporter called and said, You've been awarded the Prize. I was quite sure it was a practical joke.

I did get a very fine education, and not just in science. It took some pressure on the part of my elders to convince me that I really should take an interest in humanities.

I'd like to put in a vote for the intrinsic fascination of science.

The single biggest threat to man's continued dominance on the planet is the virus.