Engineering Quote by Jerry A. Coyne
““Natural selection is not a master engineer, but a tinkerer. It doesn't produce the absolute perfection achievable by a designer starting from scratch, but merely the best it can do with what is has to work with.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Why Evolution Is True, 2009
Natural selection works with existing materials, not as a perfect designer.
In simple terms: Evolution tinkers, not engineers.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfection in biological systems.
Themes
evolution
biology
design
imperfection
science
Mood
educational
thought‑provoking
scientific
Type
philosophical
educational
scientific
When to use this quote
- students
- scientists
- educators
- policy makers
Key Concepts
natural selection
constraints
adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view affect views on technology?
- What are the limits of evolutionary explanations?
A Different Perspective
Misunderstanding can fuel anti‑science sentiment.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
