James Watson: In some cultures it’s really very hard to disagree with your elders. Everyone is saying the Japanese are so good. In science they haven’t been very innovative, and I think it’s partly because it’s so hard for their younger people to actually disagree with the people on top. If you’re 30, it’s almost political suicide to disagree with someone who is 50. So they’re very good at doing things once it’s clear it can be done, but totally striking out on their own carries so many recipes for social disaster. That’s been the strength of America. In science, at least, there isn’t much respect for age — which is very good — anymore than there should be respect for age in baseball. There’s only one Nolan Ryan, and there’s no one else. And eventually he’ll have to stop.