Bacteria Quote by Lewis Thomas
“My mitochondria comprise a very large proportion of me. I cannot do the calculation, but I suppose there is almost as much of them in sheer dry bulk as there is the rest of me. Looked at in this way, I could be taken for a very large, motile colony of respiring bacteria, operating a complex system of nuclei, microtubules, and neurons for the pleasure and sustenance of their families, and running, at the moment, a typewriter.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Lives of a Cell, 1974
The quote highlights how the human body is a massive community of mitochondria, likening it to a colony of bacteria that collectively power our functions.
In simple terms: Our cells are mostly mitochondria, acting like tiny power plants.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the collective power of tiny components.
Themes
biology
interconnectedness
scale
cellular life
Mood
wonder
awe
reflective
Type
scientific
metaphorical
When to use this quote
- medical research
- education
- personal health
- environmental biology
Key Concepts
bioenergetics
emergent systems
symbiosis
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing the body as a community change your health habits?
- What other tiny components drive large-scale processes?
A Different Perspective
Mitochondria are just one part of a larger system; focusing solely on them can overlook other crucial elements.
