--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A big tree seemed even more beautiful to…" description: "\"A big tree seemed even more beautiful to me when I imagined thousands of tiny photosynthesis machines inside every leaf. So I went to MIT and worked on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cynthia-kenyon-17725_about_a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to_1819827.jpg" --- # A big tree seemed even more beautiful to me when I… ![“A big tree seemed even more beautiful to me when I imagined thousands of tiny photosynthesis machines inside every leaf. So I went to MIT and worked on bacteria because that's where people knew the most about these switches, how to control the genetics.” quote by Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cynthia-kenyon-17725_about_a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to_1819827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cynthia-kenyon-17725_about_a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to_1819827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cynthia-kenyon-17725_about_a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to_1819827.jpg) > “A big tree seemed even more beautiful to me when I imagined thousands of tiny photosynthesis machines inside every leaf. So I went to MIT and worked on bacteria because that's where people knew the most about these switches, how to control the genetics.” [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing nature's complexity inspires awe and drives scientific curiosity. **In simple terms:** Nature's detail inspires curiosity. Key Takeaway Explore small wonders to fuel big ideas. Themes curiosity biology inspiration Mood wonder motivational Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - research labs - education outreach - personal motivation Key Concepts photosynthesis genetic engineering synthetic biology Questions to Reflect On - How can you translate natural complexity into practical projects? - What small detail excites you most? A Different Perspective Complex systems can be overwhelming without clear focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bacteria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Genetics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetics/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photosynthesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photosynthesis/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [The planet needs trees. If there is indeed that carbon dioxide out there in the atmosphere, the only species on the planet that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/the-planet-needs-trees-if-there-is-indeed-that-carbon-dioxide-out/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [You cannot increase the efficiency of photosynthesis. We improve the performance of farms by irrigating them and fertilizing them to provide all these nutrients.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-smil/you-cannot-increase-the-efficiency-of-photosynthesis-we-improve-the/) [Vaclav Smil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-smil/) > [Four elements, Hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, also provide an example of the astonishing togetherness of our universe. They make up the "organic" molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/four-elements-hydrogen-carbon-oxygen-and-nitrogen-also-provide-an/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [Biological energy comes from the sun. Light energy harvested by photosynthesis in chloroplasts and phototropic bacteria becomes stored in carbohydrates and fats. This stored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-walker/biological-energy-comes-from-the-sun-light-energy-harvested-by/) [John E. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-walker/) > [ Before the discovery of these \[underwater\] vents, all life on Earth, the key to life on Earth, was believed to be the sun and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-degruy/before-the-discovery-of-these-underwater-vents-all-life-on-earth-the/) [Mike deGruy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-degruy/) > [There are three types of biomimicry - one is copying form and shape, another is copying a process, like photosynthesis in a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/there-are-three-types-of-biomimicry-one-is-copying-form-and-shape/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [We can look at the way of improving the key biochemical processes like photosynthesis itself. A lot of energy is lost to keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marie-lehn/we-can-look-at-the-way-of-improving-the-key-biochemical-processes/) [Jean-Marie Lehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marie-lehn/) > [“I want my words to illuminate like the sun, as I give my daily lecture on photosynthesis to my houseplants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-want-my-words-to-illuminate-like-the-sun-as-i-give-my-daily-lecture/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“We know a great deal more than the Greeks did about the forces of life. But with all our knowledge, no one fully comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-ketchum/we-know-a-great-deal-more-than-the-greeks-did-about-the-forces-of/) [Richard M. Ketchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-ketchum/) > [Originally, the atoms of carbon from which we're made were floating in the air, part of a carbon dioxide molecule. The only way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/originally-the-atoms-of-carbon-from-which-we-re-made-were-floating-in/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“more leaves mean more photosynthesis. Robust leaves also mean more roots, which means more carbon streaming into the soil. Which means, at once, greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-d-schwartz/more-leaves-mean-more-photosynthesis-robust-leaves-also-mean-more/) [Judith D. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-d-schwartz/) > [“It could be expected that further investigations of Plastocyanin dimorphism would reveal new secrets related to photosynthesis – the most significant process, forming the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-mitko-i-dimitrov/it-could-be-expected-that-further-investigations-of-plastocyanin/) Dr. Mitko I. Dimitrov > [When you think about the complexity of our natural world - plants using quantum mechanics for photosynthesis, for example - a smartphone begins to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/when-you-think-about-the-complexity-of-our-natural-world-plants-using/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [Nature has put itself the problem how to catch in flight light streaming to the earth and to store the most elusive of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mayer/nature-has-put-itself-the-problem-how-to-catch-in-flight-light/) [Robert Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mayer/) > [“Regular adult Americans are no more capable of doing math than they are of photosynthesis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/regular-adult-americans-are-no-more-capable-of-doing-math-than-they/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## More by Cynthia Kenyon > [With worms you can just change genes at random and see if you can find a mutant that does what you want it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/with-worms-you-can-just-change-genes-at-random-and-see-if-you-can/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [The idea that ageing was subject to control was completely unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/the-idea-that-ageing-was-subject-to-control-was-completely-unexpected/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [Sugar is the new tobacco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/sugar-is-the-new-tobacco/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [I eat some fruit every day, but not too much and almost no processed food. I stay away from sweets, except 80 per cent chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/i-eat-some-fruit-every-day-but-not-too-much-and-almost-no-processed/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [Age is the single largest risk factor for an enormous number of diseases. So if you can essentially postpone aging, then you can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/age-is-the-single-largest-risk-factor-for-an-enormous-number-of/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [I loved the idea that biology was logical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/i-loved-the-idea-that-biology-was-logical/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [Imagine that: If you could change one of the genes in an experiment, an aging gene, maybe you could slow down aging and extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/imagine-that-if-you-could-change-one-of-the-genes-in-an-experiment-an/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [The public is absolutely fascinated by aging. They don't want to get old. And you can see - read Shakespeare. Read the sonnets. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/the-public-is-absolutely-fascinated-by-aging-they-don-t-want-to-get/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [I have always gotten a thrill, a kick, from learning new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/i-have-always-gotten-a-thrill-a-kick-from-learning-new-things/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [There are lots of different strategies that an animal can use to survive. What a worm does is try to convert food into worms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/there-are-lots-of-different-strategies-that-an-animal-can-use-to/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [Maybe one day we will be able to take a pill that keeps us young and healthy much longer. I believe in my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/maybe-one-day-we-will-be-able-to-take-a-pill-that-keeps-us-young-and/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [If the aging process is controlled in a similar way in worms and humans, then we can use what we learn about worms to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/if-the-aging-process-is-controlled-in-a-similar-way-in-worms-and/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [Perhaps genes did regulate the aging process. Perhaps different organisms had different life spans because a universal regulatory 'clock' was set to run at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/perhaps-genes-did-regulate-the-aging-process-perhaps-different/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [We are trying to find drugs, small molecules, that people could take to make them disease-resistant, more youthful and healthy. Eventually we will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/we-are-trying-to-find-drugs-small-molecules-that-people-could-take-to/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) > [With science it's very important not to go down the wrong path, but the wrong path in science is a path you go down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/with-science-it-s-very-important-not-to-go-down-the-wrong-path-but/) [Cynthia Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) [Explore all 36 Cynthia Kenyon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A big tree seemed even more beautiful to me when I imagined thousands of tiny photosynthesis machines inside every leaf. So I went to MIT and worked on bacteria because that's where people knew the most about these switches, how to control the genetics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cynthia Kenyon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to-me-when-i-imagined-thousands/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to-me-when-i-imagined-thousands/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cynthia-kenyon-17725_about_a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to_1819827.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cynthia-kenyon-17725_about_a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to_1819827.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cynthia-kenyon-17725_about_a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to_1819827.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A big tree seemed even more beautiful to me when I imagined thousands of tiny photosynthesis machines inside…” — Cynthia Kenyon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cynthia Kenyon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kenyon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A big tree seemed even more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to-me-when-i-imagined-thousands/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kenyon/a-big-tree-seemed-even-more-beautiful-to-me-when-i-imagined-thousands/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```