Frederick Sanger
A two-time Nobel laureate, he developed methods for sequencing DNA and proteins.
Most quoted
"Scientific research is one of the most exciting and rewarding of occupations. It is like a voyage of discovery into unknown lands, seeking not for new territory but for new knowledge."
— from Writings/Speech
"Our work on insulin was really the first time that a protein was shown to have a definite chemical structure, and this opened the way for all subsequent work on protein sequencing."
— from Interview, 1980
"Our results suggest that the primary structure of a protein, the sequence of amino acids, determines its three-dimensional structure and thus its biological function."
— from The Structure of Insulin, 1955
All quotes by Frederick Sanger (419)
The double helix was a beautiful structure, but it didn't tell you how the genetic information was encoded.
The development of rapid sequencing methods has revolutionized biology.
It's a great privilege to be a scientist, to be able to explore the unknown.
The most important thing is to have a good problem and to be persistent.
The ability to read the genetic code has opened up entirely new avenues of research.
Science is a collaborative effort. You can't do it all by yourself.
The sequence of insulin was the first time anyone had determined the complete amino acid sequence of a protein.
The idea that all proteins have a defined sequence was a very bold statement at the time.
We were trying to solve a puzzle, and it was a very satisfying feeling when we finally put all the pieces together.
The development of the dideoxy method for DNA sequencing was a breakthrough.
I think it's important to encourage young people to go into science.
The genetic code is universal, which is a remarkable thing.
My work was always driven by curiosity, by wanting to understand how things work.
The sequencing of the first complete genome, that of bacteriophage ΦX174, was a significant milestone.
The future of biology lies in understanding the complex interactions between molecules.
I was never afraid to try new things, even if they seemed a bit crazy at first.
The ability to manipulate DNA has opened up the field of genetic engineering.
Science is a journey, not a destination.
I was fortunate to work with some very talented people.
The sequencing of the human genome was a monumental achievement, and it all started with our early work.
Contemporaries of Frederick Sanger
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Frederick Sanger (1918–2013).