--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question is not whether but how do…" description: "\"The question is not whether but how do the actions of a given gene influence some interesting aspect of behavior.\" — Jeffrey C. Hall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/jeffrey-c-hall-39669_behavior_the-question-is-not-whether-but-how-do-t_2607968.jpg" --- # The question is not whether but how do the actions of a… ![“The question is not whether but how do the actions of a given gene influence some interesting aspect of behavior.” quote by Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/jeffrey-c-hall-39669_behavior_the-question-is-not-whether-but-how-do-t_2607968.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/jeffrey-c-hall-39669_behavior_the-question-is-not-whether-but-how-do-t_2607968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/jeffrey-c-hall-39669_behavior_the-question-is-not-whether-but-how-do-t_2607968.jpg) > “The question is not whether but how do the actions of a given gene influence some interesting aspect of behavior.” [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The impact of a gene is defined by how it influences behavior, not just its presence. **In simple terms:** Genes affect behavior, not just existence. Key Takeaway Study gene‑behavior links. Themes genetics behavior biology Mood analytical curious Type scientific educational When to use this quote - research labs - clinical studies - educational curricula Key Concepts neuroscience evolution psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do genes shape behavior? - What methods reveal gene effects? A Different Perspective Complex interactions can be hard to isolate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Gene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gene/) [Gene Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gene-influence-2002064/) [Given Gene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-gene-2002066/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Influence Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence-interesting-2002065/) [Interesting Aspect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-aspect-2002067/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) ## Related quotes > [“What’s a heritability score? “What does a gene do?” is at least two questions. 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Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-grant/) > [“Why talk about something you can't do anything about?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/why-talk-about-something-you-can-t-do-anything-about/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) ## More by Jeffrey C. Hall > [Cryptochrome harnesses the energy of incoming blue light, but other molecules are probably needed to absorb light of other colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/cryptochrome-harnesses-the-energy-of-incoming-blue-light-but-other/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [It is very unlikely that the genetics of homosexuality will ever devolve to a single factor in humans with such major effects as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/it-is-very-unlikely-that-the-genetics-of-homosexuality-will-ever/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [I admit that I resent running out of research money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/i-admit-that-i-resent-running-out-of-research-money/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [In my day, you could get a faculty job with zero post-doc papers, as in the case of yours truly; but now, the CV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/in-my-day-you-could-get-a-faculty-job-with-zero-post-doc-papers-as-in/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [A functional biological clock has three components: input from the outside world to set the clock, the timekeeping mechanism itself, and genetic machinery that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/a-functional-biological-clock-has-three-components-input-from-the/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [In any complex organism, brain formation and function must be controlled in part by genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/in-any-complex-organism-brain-formation-and-function-must-be/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [People used to think that biological clocks were not only mysterious, they were seen almost as miracles. This is no longer the case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/people-used-to-think-that-biological-clocks-were-not-only-mysterious/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [What props up biological research, at least in the vaunted U.S. of A., involves a situation so deeply imbued with entitlement mentality that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/what-props-up-biological-research-at-least-in-the-vaunted-u-s-of-a/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [Brandeis is so fast and loose and informal, I didn't have any problem offering a history course as a biologist. The barriers would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/brandeis-is-so-fast-and-loose-and-informal-i-didn-t-have-any-problem/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) > [People always think I'm Jewish. Actually, I'm a lapsed Catholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-c-hall/people-always-think-i-m-jewish-actually-i-m-a-lapsed-catholic/) [Jeffrey C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) [Explore all 11 Jeffrey C. Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-c-hall/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. 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