--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The human genome will not help us to…" description: "\"The human genome will not help us to understand the spiritual side of humankind, or to know who God is or what love is. The well-heeled couple who deci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/francis-collins-5281_children_the-human-genome-will-not-help-us-to-und_2096398.png" --- # The human genome will not help us to understand the… ![“The human genome will not help us to understand the spiritual side of humankind, or to know who God is or what love is. The well-heeled couple who decide they want to use genetics to have a child that is a gifted musician may end up with a sullen adolescent who smokes marijuana and doesn't talk to…” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/francis-collins-5281_children_the-human-genome-will-not-help-us-to-und_2096398.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/francis-collins-5281_children_the-human-genome-will-not-help-us-to-und_2096398.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/francis-collins-5281_children_the-human-genome-will-not-help-us-to-und_2096398.png) > “The human genome will not help us to understand the spiritual side of humankind, or to know who God is or what love is. The well-heeled couple who decide they want to use genetics to have a child that is a gifted musician may end up with a sullen adolescent who smokes marijuana and doesn't talk to them.” [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Genetics cannot explain or predict spiritual experiences, love, or complex human behavior, and attempts to design traits may produce unintended outcomes. **In simple terms:** Science has limits on spirituality and personality. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of genetic engineering. Themes ethics science human nature parenting Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - family planning - genetic counseling - education - mental health Key Concepts genetics free will spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What ethical guidelines should govern trait selection? - How do we balance scientific ambition with humility? A Different Perspective Genetic influence is not deterministic; environment and choice matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Genetics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetics/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Marijuana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marijuana/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [As a Christian, but also as a scientist responsible for overseeing the Human Genome Project, one of my concerns has been the limits on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/as-a-christian-but-also-as-a-scientist-responsible-for-overseeing-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [A lot of people think PMI is the genome project 2.0. No. This is about all the influences on disease - genetics is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/a-lot-of-people-think-pmi-is-the-genome-project-2-0-no-this-is-about/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The Human Genome Project has given us a genetic parts list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/the-human-genome-project-has-given-us-a-genetic-parts-list/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [Ours is not a dumb species. We have put a man on the moon. We have unlocked the secrets of the human genome. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/ours-is-not-a-dumb-species-we-have-put-a-man-on-the-moon-we-have/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [If you're looking for your own idea of your own identity you know the human genome may not be the best place to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/if-you-re-looking-for-your-own-idea-of-your-own-identity-you-know-the/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) > [As was predicted at the beginning of the Human Genome Project, getting the sequence will be the easy part as only technical issues are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-brenner/as-was-predicted-at-the-beginning-of-the-human-genome-project-getting/) [Sydney Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-brenner/) > [The human genome contains so much data that, it has been calculated, it would fill 43 volumes of Webster's International Dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-mcgilchrist/the-human-genome-contains-so-much-data-that-it-has-been-calculated-it/) [Iain McGilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-mcgilchrist/) > [When burned on a CD, the human genome is smaller than Microsoft Office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/when-burned-on-a-cd-the-human-genome-is-smaller-than-microsoft-office/) [Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/) > [The convergence of information technology and biology allows scientists to translate the human genome into digital data that can accelerate diagnoses and cures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/the-convergence-of-information-technology-and-biology-allows/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [One of the big challenges now is to figure out just how many viruses there really are in the human genome. So far the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/one-of-the-big-challenges-now-is-to-figure-out-just-how-many-viruses/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) > [“The decoding of the human genome tells us that we are indeed related to the animals, the insects, and the plants, and that, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mccallum/the-decoding-of-the-human-genome-tells-us-that-we-are-indeed-related/) Ian McCallum > [Eventually we'll be able to sequence the human genome and replicate how nature did intelligence in a carbon-based system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/eventually-we-ll-be-able-to-sequence-the-human-genome-and-replicate/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [“Science has discovered that, like any work of literature, the human genome is a text in need of commentary, for what Eliot said of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/science-has-discovered-that-like-any-work-of-literature-the-human/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [The overall view of the human genome project has been one of great excitement and positive press, but there are people who have concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-overall-view-of-the-human-genome-project-has-been-one-of-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Francis Collins > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [By committing the scientific method to religious claims you're committing a logical fallacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/by-committing-the-scientific-method-to-religious-claims-you-re/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [All illnesses have some heredity contribution. It's been said that genetics loads the gun and environment pulls the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/all-illnesses-have-some-heredity-contribution-it-s-been-said-that/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [ As you kind of get over the anxiety about \[science and evolution\], it actually adds to your sense of awe about this amazing universe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/as-you-kind-of-get-over-the-anxiety-about-science-and-evolution-it/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Successful weight management really means a permanent change in lifestyle - and success in this arena provides that person with a great opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/successful-weight-management-really-means-a-permanent-change-in/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I trained initially as a physical chemist, and then, after becoming interested in biology, I went to medical school and learned how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-trained-initially-as-a-physical-chemist-and-then-after-becoming/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I think there are people who's lives have been saved because of the study of the genome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-think-there-are-people-who-s-lives-have-been-saved-because-of-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I finished up my graduate degree in quantum mechanics, but underwent a bit of a personal crisis, recognizing that I didn't want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-finished-up-my-graduate-degree-in-quantum-mechanics-but-underwent-a/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [One must dig deeply into opposing points of view in order to know whether your own position remains defensible. Iron sharpens iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/one-must-dig-deeply-into-opposing-points-of-view-in-order-to-know/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Genes are effectively one-dimensional. If you write down the sequence of A, C, G and T, that's kind of what you need to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/genes-are-effectively-one-dimensional-if-you-write-down-the-sequence/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [By investigating God's majestic and awesome creation, science can actually be a means of worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/by-investigating-god-s-majestic-and-awesome-creation-science-can/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Science is...a powerful way, indeed - to study the natural world. Science is not particularly effective...in making commentary about the supernatural world. Both worlds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/science-is-a-powerful-way-indeed-to-study-the-natural-world-science/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I became an atheist because, as a graduate student studying quantum physics, life seemed to be reducible to second-order differential equations. Mathematics, chemistry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/i-became-an-atheist-because-as-a-graduate-student-studying-quantum/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [We give our kids vaccinations. That's a biological enhancement that's considered not just acceptable but actually admirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/we-give-our-kids-vaccinations-that-s-a-biological-enhancement-that-s/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) [Explore all 102 Francis Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The human genome will not help us to understand the spiritual side of humankind, or to know who God is or what love is. 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