--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's been gratifying is to live long…" description: "\"What's been gratifying is to live long enough to see molecular biology and evolutionary biology growing toward each other and uniting in research effor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/e-o-wilson-1348_biology_what-s-been-gratifying-is-to-live-long-e_1993749.png" --- # What's been gratifying is to live long enough to see… ![“What's been gratifying is to live long enough to see molecular biology and evolutionary biology growing toward each other and uniting in research efforts.” quote by E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/e-o-wilson-1348_biology_what-s-been-gratifying-is-to-live-long-e_1993749.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/e-o-wilson-1348_biology_what-s-been-gratifying-is-to-live-long-e_1993749.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/e-o-wilson-1348_biology_what-s-been-gratifying-is-to-live-long-e_1993749.png) > “What's been gratifying is to live long enough to see molecular biology and evolutionary biology growing toward each other and uniting in research efforts.” [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the convergence of molecular and evolutionary biology, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration that deepens understanding of life. **In simple terms:** Two fields are merging to better study life. Key Takeaway Embrace cross‑disciplinary research. Themes science collaboration interdisciplinarity Mood optimistic inquisitive Type scientific reflective When to use this quote - academic research - grant proposals - curriculum design - policy making Key Concepts evolution molecular genetics systems biology Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions foster true interdisciplinary work? - What barriers exist between these fields? A Different Perspective Integration can be slowed by differing methodologies and funding structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Biology Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology-growing-3470812/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Evolutionary biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolutionary-biology/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing Uniting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-uniting-3470813/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Molecular biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/molecular-biology/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Uniting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniting/) [Uniting Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniting-research-3470814/) ## Related quotes > [If belief in evolution is a requirement to be a real scientist, it’s interesting to consider a quote from Dr. Marc Kirschner, founding chair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-kirschner/if-belief-in-evolution-is-a-requirement-to-be-a-real-scientist-it-s/) [Marc Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-kirschner/) > [The students of biodiversity, the ones we most need in science today, have an enormous task ahead of molecular biology and the medical scientists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-students-of-biodiversity-the-ones-we-most-need-in-science-today/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The second half of the 20th century was a golden age of molecular biology, and it was one of the golden ages of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-second-half-of-the-20th-century-was-a-golden-age-of-molecular/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Molecular biology has routinely taken problematic things under its wing without altering core ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hacking/molecular-biology-has-routinely-taken-problematic-things-under-its/) [Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/) > [There are living systems; there is no'living matter'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-monod/there-are-living-systems-there-is-no-living-matter/) [Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-monod/) > [Molecular biology has shown that even the simplest of all living systems on the earth today, bacterial cells, are exceedingly complex objects. 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Admittedly, I was on the lookout for anything unusual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-narby/when-i-started-reading-the-literature-of-molecular-biology-i-was/) [Jeremy Narby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-narby/) > [We know from astronomy that the universe had a beginning, from physics that the future is both open and unpredictable, from geology and paleontology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/we-know-from-astronomy-that-the-universe-had-a-beginning-from-physics/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [It's terrifying the way molecular biology has become more and more jargon ridden. But I strongly believe that my book can be read by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/it-s-terrifying-the-way-molecular-biology-has-become-more-and-more/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [The major credit I think Jim and I deserve ... is for selecting the right problem and sticking to it. It's true that by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/the-major-credit-i-think-jim-and-i-deserve-is-for-selecting-the-right/) [Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/) > [The idea would be in my mind - and I know it sounds strange - is that the most important advances in medicine would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-soon-shiong/the-idea-would-be-in-my-mind-and-i-know-it-sounds-strange-is-that-the/) [Patrick Soon-Shiong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-soon-shiong/) > [We know evolution happened not because of transitional fossils such as A. natans but because of the convergence of evidence from such diverse fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/we-know-evolution-happened-not-because-of-transitional-fossils-such/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [“We are at the dawn of a new era, the era of 'molecular biology' as I like to call it, and there is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-astbury/we-are-at-the-dawn-of-a-new-era-the-era-of-molecular-biology-as-i/) [William Astbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-astbury/) ## More by E. O. Wilson > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [It's always been a dream of mine, of exploring the living world, of classifying all the species and finding out what makes up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/it-s-always-been-a-dream-of-mine-of-exploring-the-living-world-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Competing is intense among humans, and within a group, selfish individuals always win. But in contests between groups, groups of altruists always beat groups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/competing-is-intense-among-humans-and-within-a-group-selfish/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [When all else fails, men turn to reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/when-all-else-fails-men-turn-to-reason/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The commitment must be much deeper - to let no species knowingly die; to take all reasonable action to protect every species and race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-commitment-must-be-much-deeper-to-let-no-species-knowingly-die-to/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Science is not marginal. Like art, it is a universal possession of humanity, and scientific knowledge has become a vital part of our species'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/science-is-not-marginal-like-art-it-is-a-universal-possession-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The living environment is the biosphere, the thin layer around the world of living organisms. We're part of that. Our existence is dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-living-environment-is-the-biosphere-the-thin-layer-around-the/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The biological evolutionary perception of life and of human qualities is radically different from that of traditional religion, whether it's Southern Baptist or Islam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-biological-evolutionary-perception-of-life-and-of-human-qualities/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/we-should-preserve-every-scrap-of-biodiversity-as-priceless-while-we/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [In many environments, take away the ants and there would be partial collapses in many of the land ecosystems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/in-many-environments-take-away-the-ants-and-there-would-be-partial/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [If those committed to the quest fail, they will be forgiven. When lost, they will find another way. The moral imperative of humanism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/if-those-committed-to-the-quest-fail-they-will-be-forgiven-when-lost/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The extinctions ongoing worldwide promise to be at least as great as the mass extinction that occurred at the end of the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-extinctions-ongoing-worldwide-promise-to-be-at-least-as-great-as/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Most people are surprised when they hear my somber figures: we know of 2 million species of plants, animals and microorganisms, and we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/most-people-are-surprised-when-they-hear-my-somber-figures-we-know-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Because the living environment is what really sustains us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/because-the-living-environment-is-what-really-sustains-us/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The variety of genes on the planet in viruses exceeds, or is likely to exceed, that in all of the rest of life combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-variety-of-genes-on-the-planet-in-viruses-exceeds-or-is-likely-to/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) [Explore all 253 E. O. Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) ## More Biology quotes > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [“Genetics is a science full of gods, Mr. Sanchez.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-luiselli/genetics-is-a-science-full-of-gods-mr-sanchez/) [Valeria Luiselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-luiselli/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [“Toshiaki learned that all living organisms were governed by their DNA. He was impressed by perfection of this system.Why did existence have the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideaki-sena/toshiaki-learned-that-all-living-organisms-were-governed-by-their-dna/) [Hideaki Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideaki-sena/) > [I'm all about evolution. I'm the first person to judge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-all-about-evolution-i-m-the-first-person-to-judge-myself/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [“A note of caution: epigenetics is also on the verge of transforming into a dangerous idea. Epigenetic modifications of genes can potentially superpose historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-note-of-caution-epigenetics-is-also-on-the-verge-of-transforming/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [We are coming to a place where the road ends. From here on out, we will be making the road as we walk it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-atlee/we-are-coming-to-a-place-where-the-road-ends-from-here-on-out-we-will/) [Tom Atlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-atlee/) > [I've always been interested in medicine and was pleased when my brother became a doctor. But after thinking seriously about that field, I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-medicine-and-was-pleased-when-my/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [Evolution... is the most powerful and the most comprehensive idea that has ever arisen on Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/evolution-is-the-most-powerful-and-the-most-comprehensive-idea-that/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [History employs evolution to structure biological events in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/history-employs-evolution-to-structure-biological-events-in-time/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) [Browse all 3,034 Biology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's been gratifying is to live long enough to see molecular biology and evolutionary biology growing toward each other and uniting in research efforts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. 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