Barbara McClintock

The science was so exciting that nothing else really mattered.

There's no such thing as a central dogma into which everything will fit.

They thought I was crazy, absolutely mad.

The more I worked with the chromosomes, the more I became aware of their individuality.

You let the material tell you where to go, and you follow that lead.

It might seem unfair to reward a person for having so much pleasure over the years, asking the maize plant to solve specific problems and then watching its responses.

I was just interested in solving problems, not in making a big discovery.

The chromosome is a highly differentiated organ of the cell, not just a string of genes.

The genome is a highly sensitive organ of the cell, that in times of stress can reorganize itself.

I learned to have respect for the unexpected.

Don't be afraid to be different. If you have a strong feeling about something, follow it.

The maize plant is a wonderful teacher. It has so much to tell you if you are willing to listen.

Things are much more marvelous than the scientific method allows us to conceive.

You cannot force an organism to fit your preconceived ideas. You must listen to what it has to tell you.

I was so devoted to my work that I didn't think about anything else. I didn't think about recognition. I didn't think about money. I just thought about the work.

The truly extraordinary person is one who can think and act independently, who can go against the current of popular opinion.

The genes were not fixed on the chromosome like beads on a string; they could move.

My work has been a source of great joy to me, and I can think of no better reward than the joy of discovery.

The nucleus is not just a bag of enzymes and DNA; it is a highly structured and dynamic entity.

To understand the living cell, one must appreciate its history and its potential for change.