--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge acquired in biological research…" description: "\"Knowledge acquired in biological research is seldom directly applicable to human beings ... The results of scientific research, obtained under these co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-boyd-orr-21695_animal_knowledge-acquired-in-biological-researc_2182119.png" --- # Knowledge acquired in biological research is seldom… ![“Knowledge acquired in biological research is seldom directly applicable to human beings ... The results of scientific research, obtained under these conditions, cannot be applied directly to human beings who vary widely in their hereditary make-up, in their environment, and in their past health…” quote by John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-boyd-orr-21695_animal_knowledge-acquired-in-biological-researc_2182119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-boyd-orr-21695_animal_knowledge-acquired-in-biological-researc_2182119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-boyd-orr-21695_animal_knowledge-acquired-in-biological-researc_2182119.png) > “Knowledge acquired in biological research is seldom directly applicable to human beings ... The results of scientific research, obtained under these conditions, cannot be applied directly to human beings who vary widely in their hereditary make-up, in their environment, and in their past health record.” [John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyd-orr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific findings from animal studies often cannot be transferred directly to humans because of genetic, environmental, and health differences. **In simple terms:** Animal research doesn’t always match human reality. Key Takeaway Consider human variability when applying research. Themes science biology translation health ethics Mood cautious analytical Type informative critical When to use this quote - drug development - public health policy - personalized medicine - risk assessment Key Concepts genetics environmental factors clinical relevance Questions to Reflect On - How can we bridge the gap between animal models and human outcomes? - What safeguards ensure safe translation? A Different Perspective Human diversity may limit applicability of animal data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquired Biological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquired-biological-4718779/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-cruelty/) [Biological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biological/) [Biological Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biological-research-1473323/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Experimentation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experimentation/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Hereditary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hereditary/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Knowledge Acquired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-acquired-364515/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Research Obtained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research-obtained-4718780/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-research/) [Vary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vary/) ## Related quotes > [Ants offer special advantages for some important kinds of basic biological research. The colony is a superorganism. It can be analyzed as a coherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-holldobler/ants-offer-special-advantages-for-some-important-kinds-of-basic/) [Bert Holldobler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-holldobler/) > [The knowledge which we have acquired ought not to resemble a great shop without order, and without an inventory; we ought to know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/the-knowledge-which-we-have-acquired-ought-not-to-resemble-a-great/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [“There are too many literati, yet very few are smart; knowledge is acquired far too easily.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/there-are-too-many-literati-yet-very-few-are-smart-knowledge-is/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Information is acquired by being told, whereas knowledge can be acquired by thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-machlup/information-is-acquired-by-being-told-whereas-knowledge-can-be/) [Fritz Machlup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-machlup/) > [“Generally in life, knowledge is acquired to be used. 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I owe it to many men and women to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-knowledge-that-i-have-acquired-must-not-remain-imprisoned-in-my/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Knowledge will not be acquired without pains and application. It is troublesome and deep, digging for pure waters; but when once you come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/knowledge-will-not-be-acquired-without-pains-and-application-it-is/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [“There are those who believe knowledge is something that is acquired - a precious ore hacked, as it were, from the grey strata of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-are-those-who-believe-knowledge-is-something-that-is-acquired-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I should say that the useful results of science had accumulated, but that there had been no accumulation of knowledge, strictly speaking, for posterity;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-should-say-that-the-useful-results-of-science-had-accumulated-but/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Science is often misrepresented as "the body of knowledge acquired by performing replicated controlled experiments in the laboratory." Actually, science is something broader: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/science-is-often-misrepresented-as-the-body-of-knowledge-acquired-by/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [Knowledge can be acquired by a suitable and complete study, no matter what the starting point is. Only one must know how to 'learn.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowledge-can-be-acquired-by-a-suitable-and-complete-study-no-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life consists in penetrating the unknown, and fashioning our actions in accord with the new knowledge thus acquired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/life-consists-in-penetrating-the-unknown-and-fashioning-our-actions/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by John Boyd Orr > [Though the general principles of statecraft have survived the rise and fall of empires, every increase in knowledge has brought about changes in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyd-orr/though-the-general-principles-of-statecraft-have-survived-the-rise/) [John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyd-orr/) > [It is said that those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad. 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He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. 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It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowledge acquired in biological research is seldom directly applicable to human beings ... 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