Assembly Quote by Bruce Alberts
“We have always underestimated the cell...The entire cell can be viewed as a factory that contains an elaborate network of interlocking assembly lines, each of which is composed of a set of large protein machines...Why do we call [them] machines? Precisely because, like machines invented by humans to deal efficiently with the macroscopic world, these protein assemblies contain highly coordinated moving parts.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “Molecular Biology of the Cell” by Bruce Alberts et al., 2002
Cells operate like factories with coordinated protein machines, highlighting biological efficiency.
In simple terms: Cells are tiny factories.
Study cellular mechanisms for bio‑engineering insights.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- medical research
- biotech design
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the limits of comparing cells to machines?
- How does this view affect ethical decisions in biotech?
Complexity can oversimplify living systems.