About seven years later I was given a book about the periodic table of the elements. For the first time I saw the elegance of scientific theory and its predictive power.

I was born in Montreal in 1939, the second son of poor immigrants.

I spent eighteen months as a graduate student in physics at Columbia University, waiting unhappily for an opportunity to work in a laboratory and wondering if I should continue in physics.

I should mention that while I was growing up, Einstein was presented as a worthy role model for a young boy who was good at his studies.

However, it was made clear to the first generation of Canadian-born children that the path to opportunity was through education.

Furthermore, neither of our research groups set out in search of RNA catalysis.