--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What the public needs to understand is…" description: "\"What the public needs to understand is that these new technologies, especially in recombinant DNA technology, allow scientists to bypass biological bou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/jeremy-rifkin-6615_boundaries_what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-t_2562315.jpg" --- # What the public needs to understand is that these new… ![“What the public needs to understand is that these new technologies, especially in recombinant DNA technology, allow scientists to bypass biological boundaries altogether.” quote by Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/jeremy-rifkin-6615_boundaries_what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-t_2562315.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/jeremy-rifkin-6615_boundaries_what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-t_2562315.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/jeremy-rifkin-6615_boundaries_what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-t_2562315.jpg) > “What the public needs to understand is that these new technologies, especially in recombinant DNA technology, allow scientists to bypass biological boundaries altogether.” [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. New biotech lets scientists ignore natural limits, reshaping biology. **In simple terms:** Scientists can bypass natural limits. Key Takeaway Consider ethical implications. Themes technology ethics biology Mood thoughtful concerned Type ethical scientific When to use this quote - research labs - policy making - public health - education Key Concepts recombinant DNA boundary crossing innovation Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards are needed? - How might society adapt? A Different Perspective Ethical frameworks may lag behind scientific advances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Dna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [New technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-technology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [That work led to the emergence of the recombinant DNA technology thereby providing a major tool for analyzing mammalian gene structure and function and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-berg/that-work-led-to-the-emergence-of-the-recombinant-dna-technology/) [Paul Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-berg/) > [Ever since we achieved a breakthrough in the area of recombinant DNA in 1973, left-wing nuts and environmental kooks have been screaming that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/ever-since-we-achieved-a-breakthrough-in-the-area-of-recombinant-dna/) [James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/) > [“The cloning of human genes allowed scientists to manufacture proteins-and the synthesis of proteins opened the possibility of targeting the millions of biochemical reactions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/the-cloning-of-human-genes-allowed-scientists-to-manufacture-proteins/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Here at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, we have genetically rearranged various viruses and bacteria as part of our medical research. In fact, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/here-at-the-cold-spring-harbor-laboratory-we-have-genetically/) [James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/) > [What's different here is that we have now technologies that allow these life science companies to bypass classical breeding. That's what makes it both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/what-s-different-here-is-that-we-have-now-technologies-that-allow/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [We've been playing games since humanity had civilization - there is something primal about our desire and our ability to play games. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/we-ve-been-playing-games-since-humanity-had-civilization-there-is/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [While I was gone, I had quintuple bypass surgery on my heart. Plus, I got a haircut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/while-i-was-gone-i-had-quintuple-bypass-surgery-on-my-heart-plus-i/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The ideal situation would be to bypass all of the drama and mayhem and just get the music right to the people. 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These Internet surfers are using direct navigation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/many-people-bypass-search-engines-altogether-and-still-find-what-they/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I'm 49, I've had a brain haemorrhage and a triple bypass and I could still go out and play a reasonable game of rugby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-lowe/i-m-49-i-ve-had-a-brain-haemorrhage-and-a-triple-bypass-and-i-could/) Graham Lowe > [Finding a mechanism does not bypass the problem of induction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-blackburn/finding-a-mechanism-does-not-bypass-the-problem-of-induction/) [Simon Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-blackburn/) > [If you try to live that which is past, that which IS will bypass you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/if-you-try-to-live-that-which-is-past-that-which-is-will-bypass-you/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-try-to-be-the-clown-and-court-jester-and-make-people-laugh-at-the/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## More by Jeremy Rifkin > [Here we are 17 years later. Those agencies never did come through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/here-we-are-17-years-later-those-agencies-never-did-come-through/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [“raises an interesting question about the new corporate giants that are colonizing large swaths of virtual space. He asks, “how hard would it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/raises-an-interesting-question-about-the-new-corporate-giants-that/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [“It is not uncommon in the modern world for people to retreat into the world of books to escape from the realities of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/it-is-not-uncommon-in-the-modern-world-for-people-to-retreat-into-the/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [Using less of the Earth’s resources more efficiently and productively in a circular economy and making the transition from carbon-based fuels to renewable energies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/using-less-of-the-earth-s-resources-more-efficiently-and-productively/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [The greenhouse crisis is the bill coming due for the Industrial Revolution. It's not an accident. It's the logical outcome of our world view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/the-greenhouse-crisis-is-the-bill-coming-due-for-the-industrial/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [President Obama, I voted for him. I think he's a mature politician, but here's what happened. Obama wanted a green economy. He spent billions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/president-obama-i-voted-for-him-i-think-he-s-a-mature-politician-but/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [The EU Constitution is something new in human history. Though it is not as eloquent as the French and U.S. constitutions, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/the-eu-constitution-is-something-new-in-human-history-though-it-is/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [Many of the mainstream agricultural scientists, especially at the agricultural schools, but at all of our major universities, are tied into all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/many-of-the-mainstream-agricultural-scientists-especially-at-the/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [The prospect of cheap fusion energy is the worst thing that could happen to the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/the-prospect-of-cheap-fusion-energy-is-the-worst-thing-that-could/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [Turning points in human consciousness occur when new energy regimes converge with new communications revolutions, creating new economic eras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/turning-points-in-human-consciousness-occur-when-new-energy-regimes/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [“consider the fact that a journey from New York to Chicago by stagecoach would have taken three weeks or more in 1847. By 1857,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/consider-the-fact-that-a-journey-from-new-york-to-chicago-by/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [Humanity cannot afford to acknowledge all of the blood that it spills and the destruction it inflicts on the world in its effort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/humanity-cannot-afford-to-acknowledge-all-of-the-blood-that-it-spills/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [“When I empathize, I feel the frailty and transitory nature of another's existence. To empathize is to root for the other to flourish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/when-i-empathize-i-feel-the-frailty-and-transitory-nature-of-another/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [Many of the genetically modified foods will be safe, I'm sure. Will most of them be safe? Nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/many-of-the-genetically-modified-foods-will-be-safe-i-m-sure-will/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [What type of new economical system can organize this system? There is another sector in our life, that we rely on every single day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/what-type-of-new-economical-system-can-organize-this-system-there-is/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) [Explore all 98 Jeremy Rifkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) ## More Boundaries quotes > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [While the world of reality has its limits, the world of your imagination is without boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/while-the-world-of-reality-has-its-limits-the-world-of-your/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [As a kid, in the Runaways, I would see the interviewers start to ask about our personal lives and what we did — and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/as-a-kid-in-the-runaways-i-would-see-the-interviewers-start-to-ask/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [Understanding science and pushing the boundaries of science is what makes me immensely satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/understanding-science-and-pushing-the-boundaries-of-science-is-what/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [A language possesses utility only insofar as it can construct conventional boundaries. A language of no boundaries is no language at all, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/a-language-possesses-utility-only-insofar-as-it-can-construct/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [“Let us not subside into a single mandatory way of thinking or feeling, immersed by a spirit of self-gratification. But let’s dig into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/let-us-not-subside-into-a-single-mandatory-way-of-thinking-or-feeling/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [The question of boundaries is a major question of the Jewish people because the Jews are the great experts of crossing boundaries. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/the-question-of-boundaries-is-a-major-question-of-the-jewish-people/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [Working against a restriction - for me - often produces greater things than getting rid of all boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lord/working-against-a-restriction-for-me-often-produces-greater-things/) [Jon Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lord/) > [That's what all art's about - a sense of moving away from boundaries that you can't in real life. Like a dancer is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/that-s-what-all-art-s-about-a-sense-of-moving-away-from-boundaries/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [The boundaries between contemporary art and cinema are so rigid. It's unbelievable. The film critics don't know my artwork and the art world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/the-boundaries-between-contemporary-art-and-cinema-are-so-rigid-it-s/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) [Browse all 2,012 Boundaries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What the public needs to understand is that these new technologies, especially in recombinant DNA technology, allow scientists to bypass biological boundaries altogether.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeremy Rifkin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-that-these-new-technologies/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boundaries" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-that-these-new-technologies/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/jeremy-rifkin-6615_boundaries_what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-t_2562315.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/jeremy-rifkin-6615_boundaries_what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-t_2562315.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/jeremy-rifkin-6615_boundaries_what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-t_2562315.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What the public needs to understand is that these new technologies, especially in recombinant DNA…” — Jeremy Rifkin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeremy Rifkin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What the public needs to understand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-that-these-new-technologies/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/what-the-public-needs-to-understand-is-that-these-new-technologies/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```