Cotton candy Quote by Timothy Ferris
““I placed some of the DNA on the ends of my fingers and rubbed them together. The stuff was sticky. It began to dissolve on my skin. 'It's melting -- like cotton candy.' 'Sure. That's the sugar in the DNA,' Smith said. 'Would it taste sweet?' 'No. DNA is an acid, and it's got salts in it. Actually, I've never tasted it.' Later, I got some dried calf DNA. I placed a bit of the fluff on my tongue. It melted into a gluey ooze that stuck to the roof of my mouth in a blob. The blob felt slippery on my tongue, and the taste of pure DNA appeared. It had a soft taste, unsweet, rather bland, with a touch of acid and a hint of salt. Perhaps like the earth's primordial sea. It faded away. Page 67, in Richard Preston's biographical essay on Craig Venter , "The Genome Warrior" (originally published in The New Yorker in 2000). ””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Genome Warrior, Richard Preston, 2000 (originally in The New Yorker)
Exploring DNA physically reveals its mundane, slightly acidic, salty nature, contrasting with its profound biological significance.
In simple terms: DNA tastes bland and acidic, not sweet.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the ordinary aspects of scientific wonders.
Themes
science
curiosity
perception
Mood
wonderful
thought‑provoking
Type
informative
narrative
When to use this quote
- laboratory work
- science communication
- education
- public outreach
Key Concepts
biochemistry
sensory experience
Questions to Reflect On
- What does tasting DNA teach about scientific curiosity?
- How does sensory experience affect our view of biology?
A Different Perspective
Sensory description may oversimplify complex molecular properties.
![“I don't like how you smell like honey and cotton candy. I dislike your blue eyes that I don't get lost in. I really dislike the seventeen freckles on your face [...] I haven't thought about you every day since we met that one night[...] In your eyes I don't see the missing pieces I've been…” quote by Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/587/brittainy-c-cherry-1904_cotton-candy_i-don-t-like-how-you-smell-like-honey-an_221993.jpg)
