“People have always asked whether evolution is constantly driving onwar...” — Sydney Brenner Quote

“People have always asked whether evolution is constantly driving onwards and upwards. Is there always going to be improvement? The answer is no: evolution is a progression of form and function, but it is not purposeful.”

“Today, the Americans have developed a new culture in science based on the slavery of graduate students. Now, graduate students of American institutions are afraid... He's got to perform. The post-doc is an indentured labourer.”

“The art of doing science is doing the important things first.”

“Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.”

“Our own genomes carry the story of evolution, written in DNA, the language of molecular genetics, and the narrative is unmistakable.”

“Evolution is not an even process. There are surges, and there are micromoments. Certainly a career as an artist is that way.”