I thought to myself: What are the most important problems that society faces that I could contribute to? And it was clear that finding new sustainable sources of energy was the most important.
Frances ArnoldRead
I'd like to see what fraction of things that chemists have figured out we could actually teach nature to do. Then we really could replace chemical factories with bacteria.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the potential of using nature, specifically bacteria, to perform functions that have traditionally required chemical factories.
Frances Arnold highlights the idea that by understanding the capabilities of nature, especially at the microbial level, we can unlock sustainable methods to synthesize chemicals. This perspective promotes a shift from industrial chemical processes to biologically-inspired approaches, potentially leading to more environmentally friendly and efficient production methods.
Themes
NatureBacteriaChemistrySustainabilityInnovation
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the future of sustainable energy.
More from Frances Arnold
All quotes βI see a future in which nature gives us a helping hand. Instead of destroying the natural world, why can't we use it to solve the kinds of problems that we are facing?
Frances ArnoldRead
The DNA-encoded catalytic machinery of the cell can rapidly learn to promote new chemical reactions when we provide new reagents and the appropriate incentive in the form of artificial selection.
Frances ArnoldRead
My whole interest is, how do you use evolution as an innovation engine? How does evolution solve new problems that life faces? And to have a system that can create a whole new chemical bond that biology hasn't done before, to me, demonstrates the power of nature to innovate.
Frances ArnoldRead
Most innovative things are not obvious to other people at the time. You have to believe in yourself. If you've got a good idea, follow it even though others tell you it's not.
Frances ArnoldRead
We've been modifying the biological world at the level of DNA for thousands of years. Somehow there is this new fear of what we already have been doing and that fear has limited our ability to provide real solutions.
Frances ArnoldRead
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