--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we think of what is necessary for…" description: "\"When we think of what is necessary for the phenomenon that we call life, we think of compartmentalization, keeping the molecules which are important fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/dimitar-sasselov-30227_actually_when-we-think-of-what-is-necessary-for-t_2247054.jpg" --- # When we think of what is necessary for the phenomenon that… ![“When we think of what is necessary for the phenomenon that we call life, we think of compartmentalization, keeping the molecules which are important for life in a membrane, isolated from the rest of the environment, but yet, in an environment in which they actually could originate together.” quote by Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/dimitar-sasselov-30227_actually_when-we-think-of-what-is-necessary-for-t_2247054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/dimitar-sasselov-30227_actually_when-we-think-of-what-is-necessary-for-t_2247054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/dimitar-sasselov-30227_actually_when-we-think-of-what-is-necessary-for-t_2247054.jpg) > “When we think of what is necessary for the phenomenon that we call life, we think of compartmentalization, keeping the molecules which are important for life in a membrane, isolated from the rest of the environment, but yet, in an environment in which they actually could originate together.” [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s emergence depends on separating essential molecules within membranes while allowing interaction in a shared environment. **In simple terms:** Life needs compartmentalization and interaction. Key Takeaway Recognize the balance of isolation and exchange. Themes biology origin of life systems theory Mood analytical inquisitive Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - origin of life research - synthetic biology - ecology - nanotechnology Key Concepts compartmentalization membrane dynamics emergent properties Questions to Reflect On - How do membranes form spontaneously? - What conditions favor compartmentalization? A Different Perspective Complex to to model experimentally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compartmentalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compartmentalization/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Originate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originate/) [Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenon/) ## Related quotes > [We do care about planets like the Earth because by now we understood that life as a chemical system really needs a smaller planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-sasselov/we-do-care-about-planets-like-the-earth-because-by-now-we-understood/) [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) > [“Professional life. Personal life. Social life. They are often treated as separate entities, but our lives and insights cannot be segregated. 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So that's how I ended up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-sasselov/my-parents-gave-me-a-small-telescope-then-i-built-my-own-and-one/) [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) > [The question we ask is - if there is life on other planets, should we expect it to be based on the same molecules,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-sasselov/the-question-we-ask-is-if-there-is-life-on-other-planets-should-we/) [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) > [I grew up in Bulgaria in a small city on the Black Sea Coast, so I was very interested in the sea, marine life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-sasselov/i-grew-up-in-bulgaria-in-a-small-city-on-the-black-sea-coast-so-i-was/) [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) > [Life and the universe compare to each other like a child and a parent, parent and offspring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-sasselov/life-and-the-universe-compare-to-each-other-like-a-child-and-a-parent/) [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) > [It's feasible that we'll meet other sentient life forms and conduct commerce with them. 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The comparative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-sasselov/life-is-extremely-resilient-once-it-takes-hold-but-it-requires-rich/) [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) > [In science, it is rare that a transformational change occurs during our lifetimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-sasselov/in-science-it-is-rare-that-a-transformational-change-occurs-during/) [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) > [We do care about planets like the Earth because by now we understood that life as a chemical system really needs a smaller planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitar-sasselov/we-do-care-about-planets-like-the-earth-because-by-now-we-understood/) [Dimitar Sasselov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitar-sasselov/) > [Ocean planets might be very common in the universe because water is very common in the low-temperature environments where planets form and evolve. 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