Based Quote by Francis Collins
“If you are looking for a needle in a haystack, and somebody has already cataloged all the straw in the haystack, when you get to that needle you will recognize it's different than what was supposed to be there based on all that computerized haystack information that had been predetermined for you.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Genomics and Data Science, 2015
When exhaustive data predefines expectations, unexpected findings become apparent as anomalies.
In simple terms: Data can hide surprises; look for the unexpected.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions when data seems complete.
Themes
science
data
unexpectedness
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
informational
reflective
When to use this quote
- research
- clinical diagnostics
- policy making
- education
- technology development
Key Concepts
genomics
information overload
bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify data-driven expectations?
- When should you trust intuition over data?
A Different Perspective
Predefined data may limit creative insight.
![“[Decoding the human genome sequence] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science. I believe that reading our blueprints, cataloguing our own instruction book, will be judged by history as more significant than even splitting the atom or…” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c6/francis-collins-5281_atoms_decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-th_15604.jpg)
![“As you kind of get over the anxiety about [science and evolution], it actually adds to your sense of awe about this amazing universe that we live in, it doesn't subtract from it at all.” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/caa/francis-collins-5281_add_as-you-kind-of-get-over-the-anxiety-abou_75250.jpg)
