Interview with Thomas R. Cech (29 minutes)

Interview with Professor Thomas R. Cech by science writer Peter Sylwan, October 2004. Thomas Cech discusses why studying RNA catalysis in the 'curious pond animal' Tetrahymena thermophila safeguarded his research from early censure, why the discovery of only 35,000 genes through the human genome project invites further research in RNA coding (9:08), why recapitulating the steps for the origin of life falls to scientists (14:20), why the United States education system needs improvement (15:57), why the Howard Hughes Medical Institute holds promise (20:58), and, finally, why there is value in exploring the unknown (26:50).

Credits: Ladda Productions AB (webcasting)