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No matter how counter-intuitive it may seem, basic research has proven over and over to be the lifeline of practical advances in medicine.
Arthur Kornberg
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Basic research is essential for making significant medical advancements.

Arthur Kornberg emphasizes the importance of fundamental research in medicine, asserting that practical breakthroughs and improvements in medical practices often stem from basic scientific inquiries. This highlights the necessity of investing in foundational studies, as they provide the groundwork for innovative solutions and medical advancements.

Themes

ResearchMedicineAdvancementScienceBasic

In practice

Example use cases

A scientist could use this quote in a presentation to advocate for funding basic research.

More from Arthur Kornberg

Half of what we know is wrong, the purpose of science is to determine which half.
Arthur KornbergRead
As in biomedical science, pioneering industrial inventions have not been mothered by necessity. Rather, inventions for which there was no commercial use only later became the commercial airplanes, xerography and lasers on which modern society depends.
Arthur KornbergRead

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