One of my theme songs is that if you can't do it in a test tube, don't do it.

Usually, if you have a new idea, you very rarely break through to anything like recognizable development or implementation of that idea the first time around - it takes two or three goes for the research community to return to the topic.

I don't suppose I'll ever retire completely.

One of my theme songs is that if you can't do it in a test tube, don't do it.

I think you know that I classify science as British science, American science, and everybody else.

American science is much more organized, much more hierarchical than British science has been.

If it had been anything else, we would have said, 'People don't want us to do it. Forget it. Let's just leave it alone.' But this is not in that category. This is interesting science. New science. With a hint of a possibility of a very useful technology. Therefore, if you've got any integrity, you don't give up. You only give up if you find you are wrong. But as long as you believe that you are right, you have to continue. And you have to take the consequences.