It's all too easy to dismiss the future. People confuse what's impossible today with what's impossible tomorrow.
George M. ChurchRead
Clearly, we are a species that is well connected to other species. Whether or not we evolve from them, we are certainly very closely related to them. A series of mutations could change us into all kinds of intermediate species. Whether or not those intermediate species are provably in the past, they could easily be in our future.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes our close genetic relationship with other species and the potential for future evolution.
George M. Church's quote reflects the deep connections between our species and other living organisms, highlighting both our evolutionary history and the possibilities of future mutations. It suggests that while we may not directly evolve from certain species, the intricate web of life indicates close relationships that could lead to unforeseen evolutionary paths, allowing for the emergence of new forms of life that resonate with our own.
Themes
EvolutionSpeciesMutationsConnectionFuture
In practice
Example use cases
In a scientific discussion about the interconnectedness of species.
More from George M. Church
All quotes →You can't just hoard your ideas inside the ivory tower. You have to get them out into the world.
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We have a love affair with the idea of the 'natural,' even though we, as a species, are about as unnatural as you can imagine.
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At some point, someone will come up with an airtight argument as to why they should have a cloned child. At that point, cloning will be acceptable.
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Most people are excited about themselves. Personal genome will deliver for inexpensively something about science to which you can relate. Just like computers are becoming something to which you can relate. It should be even easier to relate to your own biology, and I hope that will be one of the ways we get broader literacy in science.
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Every cell in our body, whether it's a bacterial cell or a human cell, has a genome. You can extract that genome - it's kind of like a linear tape - and you can read it by a variety of methods. Similarly, like a string of letters that you can read, you can also change it. You can write, you can edit it, and then you can put it back in the cell.
George M. ChurchRead
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