--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've been modifying the biological world…" description: "\"We've been modifying the biological world at the level of DNA for thousands of years. Somehow there is this new fear of what we already have been doing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/frances-arnold-5774_ability_we-ve-been-modifying-the-biological-worl_3029988.jpg" --- # We've been modifying the biological world at the level of… ![“We've been modifying the biological world at the level of DNA for thousands of years. Somehow there is this new fear of what we already have been doing and that fear has limited our ability to provide real solutions.” quote by Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/frances-arnold-5774_ability_we-ve-been-modifying-the-biological-worl_3029988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/frances-arnold-5774_ability_we-ve-been-modifying-the-biological-worl_3029988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/frances-arnold-5774_ability_we-ve-been-modifying-the-biological-worl_3029988.jpg) > “We've been modifying the biological world at the level of DNA for thousands of years. Somehow there is this new fear of what we already have been doing and that fear has limited our ability to provide real solutions.” [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. DNA manipulation is ancient, yet new fears hinder innovative solutions to real problems. **In simple terms:** Old DNA work meets new fear, limiting solutions. Key Takeaway Address fear to unlock innovation. Themes science ethics innovation Mood cautious optimistic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - biotech research - education - public health Key Concepts DNA editing public perception risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What fears are most prevalent? - How to communicate benefits responsibly? A Different Perspective Fear can stall progress despite benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Biological World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biological-world-1048724/) [Dna Thousands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna-thousands-4944476/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Level Dna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-dna-4944477/) [Modifying Biological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modifying-biological-4944475/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-fear-2202485/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Engineering the biological world was even more interesting than engineering the mechanical world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/engineering-the-biological-world-was-even-more-interesting-than/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [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/) > [The biological world always seems poised to innovate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/the-biological-world-always-seems-poised-to-innovate/) [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/) > [“I don't know how to accomplish such a look. I find myself with a new fear: that I shall never, ever be this lovely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-don-t-know-how-to-accomplish-such-a-look-i-find-myself-with-a-new/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Every moment is brand new, but we often fill the new with fear of the future or pain of the past instead of simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-amis/every-moment-is-brand-new-but-we-often-fill-the-new-with-fear-of-the/) [Vivian Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-amis/) > [“A specific new fear—that a whole city could just disappear in an instant—permeated the American consciousness in the wake of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-m-graff/a-specific-new-fear-that-a-whole-city-could-just-disappear-in-an/) [Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/) > [A distaste for the new is not always fear of the unknown, but sometimes ambition. Some people don't like the new way simply because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/a-distaste-for-the-new-is-not-always-fear-of-the-unknown-but/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Of course language arose in a Darwinian biological world, because that's all there is, but that world relates only superficially to the pop-biology that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/of-course-language-arose-in-a-darwinian-biological-world-because-that/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“If artificial selection can make such major changes in so short a period of time, what must natural selection, working over billions of years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/if-artificial-selection-can-make-such-major-changes-in-so-short-a/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [There is nothing more mysterious about the concept human nature than about the concept bee or chicken nature, at least for those who regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-is-nothing-more-mysterious-about-the-concept-human-nature-than/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We are embedded in a biological world and related to the organisms around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/we-are-embedded-in-a-biological-world-and-related-to-the-organisms/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [“Nature is the birthright of everyone on Earth. The millions of species we have allowed to survive are our phylogenetic kin. Their long-term history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/nature-is-the-birthright-of-everyone-on-earth-the-millions-of-species/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“In the biological world children are the sole purpose. Nothing else matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/in-the-biological-world-children-are-the-sole-purpose-nothing-else/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [ \[Bacteria are the\] dark matter of the biological world \[with 4 million mostly unknown species in a ton of soil\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/bacteria-are-the-dark-matter-of-the-biological-world-with-4-million/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) ## 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 Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've been modifying the biological world at the level of DNA for thousands of years. 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