To have the recognition of your colleagues is great. The public attention is a mixed blessing.

I think we have to believe we are here for some purpose, and I know there are many cynics who will deny it, but they don't live as if they deny it.

Being successful at a very young age gave me the confidence and the capability to try out other things.

When I was in high school, I became interested in cytochemistry: chemical analysis under the microscope, and trying to understand the composition of cells.

If you wanted to dissect the structure of living cells, genetic analysis was an extremely powerful method, so my interest turned to that.

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.

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