Ada Yonath

I don't walk into the lab in the morning thinking, 'I am a woman, and I will carry out an experiment that will conquer the world.' I am a scientist, not male or female. A scientist.

My neighborhood didn't really encourage women, though it didn't prevent women from progressing, either.

I wanted to reveal how genetic code is translated into protein. I knew a great application could be for antibiotics, since half of the useful ones target the ribosomes, but I didn't believe I could contribute to it. It was like the next Mount Everest to conquer. It was my dream to contribute something to humanity.

During my time I had some very difficult years, and I had very pronounced competition, all by men.

For quite a while, I didn't receive a higher academic status. I didn't feel any discrimination against me as a woman scientist, but I hadn't produced a lot of science journal articles.

If one has curiosity, then one stands the chance of attain a high level of scientific inquiry.

I'm truly glad I've managed to get the public interested in questions about basic research.

After I spent my compulsory army service in the 'top secret office' of the Medical Forces, where I was fortunate to be exposed to clinical and medical issues, I enrolled to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

There are over 7,000 different types of proteins in typical eukaryotic cells; the total number depends on the cell class and function.

Problems should be solved by talking and not in an aggressive manner.

Proteins are constantly being degraded. Therefore, simultaneous production of proteins is required.

I used ribosomes from very, very robust bacteria under very, very active conditions and found a way - I actually took advantage of research done before me at the Weizmann, the same institute I am now - how to preserve their activity and their integrity while they crystallized.