--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the test tube, I can make any DNA I…" description: "\"In the test tube, I can make any DNA I want, recombining it from monkeys, worms, anywhere. So I can explore new rules of breeding with molecules.\" — Fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/frances-arnold-5774_dna_in-the-test-tube-i-can-make-any-dna-i-wa_2020767.jpg" --- # In the test tube, I can make any DNA I want, recombining… ![“In the test tube, I can make any DNA I want, recombining it from monkeys, worms, anywhere. So I can explore new rules of breeding with molecules.” quote by Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/frances-arnold-5774_dna_in-the-test-tube-i-can-make-any-dna-i-wa_2020767.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/frances-arnold-5774_dna_in-the-test-tube-i-can-make-any-dna-i-wa_2020767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/frances-arnold-5774_dna_in-the-test-tube-i-can-make-any-dna-i-wa_2020767.jpg) > “In the test tube, I can make any DNA I want, recombining it from monkeys, worms, anywhere. So I can explore new rules of breeding with molecules.” [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Synthetic biology lets us redesign DNA, opening new possibilities for biology and technology. **In simple terms:** We can redesign DNA for new purposes. Key Takeaway Explore DNA engineering. Themes innovation genetics bioengineering Mood optimistic cautious Type scientific inspirational When to use this quote - medicine - environment - agriculture - industry Key Concepts synthetic biology systems biology Questions to Reflect On - What new applications could engineered DNA enable? - How to balance innovation with biosafety? A Different Perspective Ethical concerns about creating novel organisms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Monkeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkeys/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) ## Related quotes > [Scientists need to invent a way to make DNA work like in cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-north/scientists-need-to-invent-a-way-to-make-dna-work-like-in-cartoons/) [Ryan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-north/) > [Dr. Martinez: "I take it you don't want me to call your parent?" Max: "Uh, no." Hello, lab? May I speak to the test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/dr-martinez-i-take-it-you-don-t-want-me-to-call-your-parent-max-uh-no/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [CHEMISTRY BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN CREATE WITH A TEST TUBE AND BUNSEN BURNER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/chemistry-between-two-people-is-not-something-you-can-create-with-a/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [Our parents were a test tube and a turkey baster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/our-parents-were-a-test-tube-and-a-turkey-baster/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [One of my theme songs is that if you can't do it in a test tube, don't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fleischmann/one-of-my-theme-songs-is-that-if-you-can-t-do-it-in-a-test-tube-don-t/) [Martin Fleischmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fleischmann/) > [“He didn’t know who she was, but she was too crazy to be holding anything in a test tube.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-d-perry/he-didn-t-know-who-she-was-but-she-was-too-crazy-to-be-holding/) S.D. Perry > [I don't come up with ideas in a test tube; I come up with ideas by breaking test tubes. That's how I've always been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-abloh/i-don-t-come-up-with-ideas-in-a-test-tube-i-come-up-with-ideas-by/) [Virgil Abloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-abloh/) > [“Out of sight, out of mind. My philosophy of life in a test tube.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/out-of-sight-out-of-mind-my-philosophy-of-life-in-a-test-tube/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [The Behaviorist cannot find consciousness in the test-tube of his science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-watson/the-behaviorist-cannot-find-consciousness-in-the-test-tube-of-his/) [John B. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-watson/) > [Human beings have been manipulating the biological world for thousands of years without understanding how DNA codes function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/human-beings-have-been-manipulating-the-biological-world-for/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [One glance and I knew exactly who and what he was. The classic alpha male, the kind who had spurred evolution forward about five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/one-glance-and-i-knew-exactly-who-and-what-he-was-the-classic-alpha/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [There are certain things that make restaurants work and a certain kind of DNA that people who excel in restaurants need. But it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/there-are-certain-things-that-make-restaurants-work-and-a-certain/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [“Would a DNA test for love take a sample from the heart or the mind?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/would-a-dna-test-for-love-take-a-sample-from-the-heart-or-the-mind/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Frances Arnold > [The real frontier is making these hybrid systems where you expand the capabilities of biology with chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/the-real-frontier-is-making-these-hybrid-systems-where-you-expand-the/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [Instead of studying what biology has already made, we have to imagine what biology could make. You can say, 'Oh, I want a cure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/instead-of-studying-what-biology-has-already-made-we-have-to-imagine/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [We are going to see a steady stream, I predict, of Nobel prizes coming out of chemistry and given to women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/we-are-going-to-see-a-steady-stream-i-predict-of-nobel-prizes-coming/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [I decided that I wanted to become an engineer of the biological world, specifically a protein engineer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/i-decided-that-i-wanted-to-become-an-engineer-of-the-biological-world/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [There's plenty of ordinary Nobel laureates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/there-s-plenty-of-ordinary-nobel-laureates/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [When I started engineering proteins I didn't know how hard it would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/when-i-started-engineering-proteins-i-didn-t-know-how-hard-it-would-be/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [I get these students who come in and say, I want to help people. I say, people get plenty of help. Why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/i-get-these-students-who-come-in-and-say-i-want-to-help-people-i-say/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [Pittsburgh was a wonderful place to grow up - diverse and complex, one could go from one culture to a completely different one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/pittsburgh-was-a-wonderful-place-to-grow-up-diverse-and-complex-one/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [I wanted to rewrite the code of life, to make new molecular machines that would solve human problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/i-wanted-to-rewrite-the-code-of-life-to-make-new-molecular-machines/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [I was used to being the only woman in everything... I didn't even think about it. Men were my role models - there's nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/i-was-used-to-being-the-only-woman-in-everything-i-didn-t-even-think/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [I feel a responsibility to encourage everyone to excel in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/i-feel-a-responsibility-to-encourage-everyone-to-excel-in-science/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [To survive and even thrive in a changing world, nature offers another great lesson: the survivors are those who at the least adapt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/to-survive-and-even-thrive-in-a-changing-world-nature-offers-another/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [Enzymes are masters of chemistry. They evolved over billions of years to perform specific biological functions. They make complex materials with virtually no waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/enzymes-are-masters-of-chemistry-they-evolved-over-billions-of-years/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [This innovation machine that's evolution, we can use it to do all sorts of interesting things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/this-innovation-machine-that-s-evolution-we-can-use-it-to-do-all/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [Cellulose has physical and chemical properties that make it difficult to access and difficult to break down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/cellulose-has-physical-and-chemical-properties-that-make-it-difficult/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) [Explore all 100 Frances Arnold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) ## More Dna quotes > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Would a DNA test for love take a sample from the heart or the mind?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/would-a-dna-test-for-love-take-a-sample-from-the-heart-or-the-mind/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [There are certain things that make restaurants work and a certain kind of DNA that people who excel in restaurants need. But it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/there-are-certain-things-that-make-restaurants-work-and-a-certain/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [One glance and I knew exactly who and what he was. The classic alpha male, the kind who had spurred evolution forward about five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/one-glance-and-i-knew-exactly-who-and-what-he-was-the-classic-alpha/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [Music is in my DNA!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/music-is-in-my-dna/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When I get really down, I remember that we all share 99.99 per cent of our DNA with Beyonce. And suddenly, the world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/when-i-get-really-down-i-remember-that-we-all-share-99-99-per-cent-of/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [The way we think may be completely different, but you and I are an ancient, archetypal couple, the original man and woman. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/the-way-we-think-may-be-completely-different-but-you-and-i-are-an/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [Retirement is just not in my DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/retirement-is-just-not-in-my-dna/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [Nuclear DNA encodes all the proteins and enzymes that make you you, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-poinar/nuclear-dna-encodes-all-the-proteins-and-enzymes-that-make-you-you/) [Hendrik Poinar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-poinar/) > [If you really want to be a good archaeologist, you have to understand ancient DNA; you have to understand chemical analysis to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parcak/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-good-archaeologist-you-have-to-understand/) [Sarah Parcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parcak/) > [The no-subscription fee was so much in our DNA from the original 'Guild Wars': that we would get a smaller market but willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-grubb/the-no-subscription-fee-was-so-much-in-our-dna-from-the-original/) [Jeff Grubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-grubb/) > [“So while Pauling struggled with his model, Watson and Crick turned theirs inside out, so the negative phosphorus ions wouldn’t touch. This gave them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kean/so-while-pauling-struggled-with-his-model-watson-and-crick-turned/) [Sam Kean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kean/) > [While love is common, true love is rare, and I believe that few people are fortunate enough to experience it. The roads of regular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-buss/while-love-is-common-true-love-is-rare-and-i-believe-that-few-people/) [David Buss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-buss/) [Browse all 749 Dna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the test tube, I can make any DNA I want, recombining it from monkeys, worms, anywhere. 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