--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the transforming principle could not be…" description: "\"“the transforming principle could not be made of DNA because nucleic acids were all alike. As”\" — Matthew Cobb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/matthew-cobb-32875_evolution_the-transforming-principle-could-not-be_187345.jpg" --- # the transforming principle could not be made of DNA… ![“the transforming principle could not be made of DNA because nucleic acids were all alike. As” quote by Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/matthew-cobb-32875_evolution_the-transforming-principle-could-not-be_187345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/matthew-cobb-32875_evolution_the-transforming-principle-could-not-be_187345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/matthew-cobb-32875_evolution_the-transforming-principle-could-not-be_187345.jpg) > ““the transforming principle could not be made of DNA because nucleic acids were all alike. As”” [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early DNA research dismissed nucleic acids as uniform, delaying recognition of DNA’s unique role in genetics. **In simple terms:** Initial misconceptions about DNA’s uniqueness. Key Takeaway Embrace open‑minded scientific inquiry. Themes science history DNA discovery Mood inquisitive reflective Type historical educational When to use this quote - lab work - education - public communication Key Concepts genetics research methodology paradigm shift Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions limit current research? - How can we foster flexibility in scientific thinking? A Different Perspective Bias can stall scientific progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Transforming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transforming/) ## Related quotes > [“Every result converged on the same conclusion: the transforming principle was composed of DNA. The discussion section of the article outlined the genetic context…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/every-result-converged-on-the-same-conclusion-the-transforming/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“By the end of the 1940s, it was widely known that the levels of protein in the transforming principle were effectively zero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/by-the-end-of-the-1940s-it-was-widely-known-that-the-levels-of/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [If the results of the present study on the chemical nature of the transforming principle are confirmed, then nucleic acids must be regarded as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-results-of-the-present-study-on-the-chemical-nature-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are now witnessing, after the slow fermentation of fifty years, a concentration of technical power aimed at the essential determinants of heredity, development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-darlington/we-are-now-witnessing-after-the-slow-fermentation-of-fifty-years-a/) C. D. Darlington > [The results serve to disprove the tetranucleotide hypothesis. It is, however, noteworthy-whether this is more than accidental, cannot yet be said-that in all desoxypentose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-chargaff/the-results-serve-to-disprove-the-tetranucleotide-hypothesis-it-is/) [Erwin Chargaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-chargaff/) > [The nucleic acids, as constituents of living organisms, are comparable In importance to proteins. There is evidence that they are Involved In the processes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-nucleic-acids-as-constituents-of-living-organisms-are-comparable/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [In this atmosphere I soon became interested in nucleic acids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-sanger/in-this-atmosphere-i-soon-became-interested-in-nucleic-acids/) [Frederick Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sanger/) > [Nucleic acids are the main information-carrying molecules of the cell, and, by directing the process of protein synthesis, they determine the inherited characteristics of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-roberts/nucleic-acids-are-the-main-information-carrying-molecules-of-the-cell/) [Richard J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-roberts/) > [“We humans look rather different from a tree. Without a doubt we perceive the world differently than a tree does. But down deep, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-humans-look-rather-different-from-a-tree-without-a-doubt-we-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are, in a way, temporary ambulatory repositories for our nucleic acids. This does not deny our humanity; it does not prevent us from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-are-in-a-way-temporary-ambulatory-repositories-for-our-nucleic/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [I think you can say that life is a system in which proteins and nucleic acids interact in ways that allow the structure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-h-knoll/i-think-you-can-say-that-life-is-a-system-in-which-proteins-and/) Andrew H. Knoll > [The nucleic acids have considerable biological importance because of their role in cell growth and in the transmission of hereditary characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severo-ochoa/the-nucleic-acids-have-considerable-biological-importance-because-of/) Severo Ochoa > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [One of the Internet's highest-profile companies, Priceline once dreamed of transforming the way consumer goods are bought and sold by offering customers the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/one-of-the-internet-s-highest-profile-companies-priceline-once/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) ## More by Matthew Cobb > [“DNA composition was constant in all tissues of a given species, but each species had its own profile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/dna-composition-was-constant-in-all-tissues-of-a-given-species-but/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“The genetic code is a product of biology and is messy, illogical and inelegant. It is highly redundant, but to bewilderingly varied degrees: one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/the-genetic-code-is-a-product-of-biology-and-is-messy-illogical-and/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“Wiener and Rosenblueth showed that purposeful, goal-directed behaviour can be seen in organisms and machines, and that it operates through what is known as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/wiener-and-rosenblueth-showed-that-purposeful-goal-directed-behaviour/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“As Jacob put it in 1977, natural selection does not design, it tinkers with what is available.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/as-jacob-put-it-in-1977-natural-selection-does-not-design-it-tinkers/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“Genes were no longer mysterious embodiments of specificity, they were information – a code – that could be transmitted (another word from the electronic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/genes-were-no-longer-mysterious-embodiments-of-specificity-they-were/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“In fact they are historical, carrying the baggage of their evolutionary past, and have not been designed at all. They are often far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/in-fact-they-are-historical-carrying-the-baggage-of-their/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“In the discussion, Gulland was asked about the possibility that a DNA molecule might be a helix, held together by the presence of evenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/in-the-discussion-gulland-was-asked-about-the-possibility-that-a-dna/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“By the end of the 1940s, support for the hypothesis that DNA had a fundamental role in heredity had grown much stronger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/by-the-end-of-the-1940s-support-for-the-hypothesis-that-dna-had-a/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“In typically generous fashion, Crick was offering Nirenberg the opportunity to step into history as the man who had cracked the genetic code.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/in-typically-generous-fashion-crick-was-offering-nirenberg-the/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“Every result converged on the same conclusion: the transforming principle was composed of DNA. The discussion section of the article outlined the genetic context…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/every-result-converged-on-the-same-conclusion-the-transforming/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“Avery had described one of the most momentous discoveries in the history of science, and no one could think of anything to say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/avery-had-described-one-of-the-most-momentous-discoveries-in-the/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“By the end of the 1940s, it was widely known that the levels of protein in the transforming principle were effectively zero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/by-the-end-of-the-1940s-it-was-widely-known-that-the-levels-of/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“If the adaptor hypothesis were true (and it was), this meant that the role of DNA and RNA would be reduced to simply carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/if-the-adaptor-hypothesis-were-true-and-it-was-this-meant-that-the/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) > [“Part of the problem was that no one knew exactly how a cell took a nucleic acid sequence and turned it into a blob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cobb/part-of-the-problem-was-that-no-one-knew-exactly-how-a-cell-took-a/) [Matthew Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) [Explore all 15 Matthew Cobb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cobb/) ## More Evolution quotes > [I rap when I'm rich. I rap when I'm broke. I rap when I'm bullshit in the street. I rap about only having one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-rap-when-i-m-rich-i-rap-when-i-m-broke-i-rap-when-i-m-bullshit-in/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [If the polymer chain assumes a helicoidal conformation in the crystalline state, and if it does not contain asymmetric carbon atoms, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-natta/if-the-polymer-chain-assumes-a-helicoidal-conformation-in-the/) Giulio Natta > [“Genetics is a science full of gods, Mr. Sanchez.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-luiselli/genetics-is-a-science-full-of-gods-mr-sanchez/) [Valeria Luiselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-luiselli/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [The true nature of soul is right knowledge, right faith and right conduct. The soul, so long as it is subject to transmigration, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/the-true-nature-of-soul-is-right-knowledge-right-faith-and-right/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [“Toshiaki learned that all living organisms were governed by their DNA. He was impressed by perfection of this system.Why did existence have the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideaki-sena/toshiaki-learned-that-all-living-organisms-were-governed-by-their-dna/) Hideaki Sena > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I'm all about evolution. I'm the first person to judge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-all-about-evolution-i-m-the-first-person-to-judge-myself/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [The next evolution of content marketing is not more content; it's better distribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-penn/the-next-evolution-of-content-marketing-is-not-more-content-it-s/) [Chris Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-penn/) [Browse all 6,185 Evolution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the transforming principle could not be made of DNA because nucleic acids were all alike. 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