--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We haven't been able yet to determine in…" description: "\"We haven't been able yet to determine in terms of genes what makes a human being a human and not another mammal.\" — Walter Gilbert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/walter-gilbert-24058_able_we-haven-t-been-able-yet-to-determine-in_2307422.png" --- # We haven't been able yet to determine in terms of genes… ![“We haven't been able yet to determine in terms of genes what makes a human being a human and not another mammal.” quote by Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/walter-gilbert-24058_able_we-haven-t-been-able-yet-to-determine-in_2307422.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/walter-gilbert-24058_able_we-haven-t-been-able-yet-to-determine-in_2307422.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/walter-gilbert-24058_able_we-haven-t-been-able-yet-to-determine-in_2307422.png) > “We haven't been able yet to determine in terms of genes what makes a human being a human and not another mammal.” [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The genetic basis distinguishing humans from other mammals remains unknown. **In simple terms:** Human uniqueness not fully explained by genes. Key Takeaway Explore non‑genetic aspects of humanity. Themes biology philosophy identity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - medical research - ethical debates - education curricula Key Concepts genetics evolution consciousness Questions to Reflect On - What defines humanity beyond DNA? - Can we ever fully map human uniqueness? A Different Perspective Genetic focus may overlook cultural factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes/) [Genes Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes-makes-5468289/) [Human Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-human-300637/) [Human Mammal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mammal-3043504/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Makes Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-human-300636/) [Mammals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mammals/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) ## Related quotes > [“The human will be the only mammal in history to fully understand that its own self inflicted extinction is well underway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-human-will-be-the-only-mammal-in-history-to-fully-understand-that/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [That's what makes a human a human, if we store information outside our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/that-s-what-makes-a-human-a-human-if-we-store-information-outside-our/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [No sleep makes a human into another human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rm/no-sleep-makes-a-human-into-another-human/) [RM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rm/) > [The urgency to mate persists in all people as in all other mammals because of the evolutionary drive to continue the species, the inborn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-margulis/the-urgency-to-mate-persists-in-all-people-as-in-all-other-mammals/) [Lynn Margulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-margulis/) > [The interaction of the variation in our genes is what's responsible for lots of our attributes and vigor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-interaction-of-the-variation-in-our-genes-is-what-s-responsible/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Today we try to identify a gene and then study its properties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/today-we-try-to-identify-a-gene-and-then-study-its-properties/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [We know specific genes are turned on in specific cells, but we don't know to what extent this happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/we-know-specific-genes-are-turned-on-in-specific-cells-but-we-don-t/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Biology will relate every human gene to the genes of other animals and bacteria, to this great chain of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/biology-will-relate-every-human-gene-to-the-genes-of-other-animals/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Nothing captures human interest more than human tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/nothing-captures-human-interest-more-than-human-tragedy/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“I’m human and every human makes mistakes. 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Through the power of thought it can mirror everything it experiences. Through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/a-human-being-what-is-a-human-being-everything-and-nothing-through/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [I'm a human. Every human is flawed. I might be flawed in different ways than some people, or worse ways than some people, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/i-m-a-human-every-human-is-flawed-i-might-be-flawed-in-different-ways/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [I'm human, you're human. So they said, but inside we're all animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-kim/i-m-human-you-re-human-so-they-said-but-inside-we-re-all-animals/) [Lil' Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-kim/) ## More by Walter Gilbert > [Why do we do basic research? To learn about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/why-do-we-do-basic-research-to-learn-about-ourselves/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Three billion bases of DNA sequence can be put on a single compact disc and one will be able to pull a CD out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/three-billion-bases-of-dna-sequence-can-be-put-on-a-single-compact/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [We know specific genes are turned on in specific cells, but we don't know to what extent this happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/we-know-specific-genes-are-turned-on-in-specific-cells-but-we-don-t/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Early on, it's good to develop the ability to write. 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At that time I was a skeptic - the argument based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/i-am-afraid-that-those-comments-go-back-to-the-late-80-s-at-that-time/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Biology will tell you a lot of things, but there are many that it can not explain and you need to look at physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/biology-will-tell-you-a-lot-of-things-but-there-are-many-that-it-can/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Error is far more common than fraud which probably comprises 1 percent or a tenth of a percent of the literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/error-is-far-more-common-than-fraud-which-probably-comprises-1/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [The interaction of the variation in our genes is what's responsible for lots of our attributes and vigor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-interaction-of-the-variation-in-our-genes-is-what-s-responsible/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Here is a human being; it's me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/here-is-a-human-being-it-s-me/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) [Explore all 25 Walter Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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