Want to know more about the big names who regularly feature on those seminal papers? Well, look no further, because Incyte Genomics has collected a series of in-depth conversations on its web site, “with committed, passionate scientists who are shaping the world of genomics”. Those featured include Gerry Rubin, Mina Bissell, David Botstein and Walter Gilbert.

So what can you expect of these interviews? Well, after the obligatory, praise-filled introduction to the featured scientist's career and achievements, the Incyte interviewers do actually pose some hard-hitting questions and, in some instances, have received some refreshingly candid answers. For example, how did Gerry Rubin's colleagues react to his collaboration with Craig Venter to sequence the fly genome? Rubin replies, “A good friend whom I've known for over 20 years said, 'I hated you for three months ... but then I got over it.' I don't think that everyone has gotten over it.” And Mina Bissell, on how her upbringing and curiosity helped her to find original answers to biological questions, says “I grew up having political debates with my father ... I was raised to question things, ... and I have always gotten myself into a bit of trouble by doing things that aren't quite predictable.”

What I liked about these interviews was that — if you don't have time to read the whole thing — you can browse a list of questions each interviewee was asked to select interesting topics. The more recent interviews also carry a box of choice quotes from the featured scientist. So, if you want to find out what David Botstein thinks about patents or how Walter Gilbert relaxes, visit http://www.incyte.com.