To produce a really good biological theory one must try to see through the clutter produced by evolution to the basic mechanisms lying beneath them, realizing that they are likely to be overlaid by other, secondary mechanisms. What seems to physicists to be a hopelessly complicated process may have been what nature found simplest, because nature could only build on what was already there.
Interpretation
Producing a good biological theory requires understanding the fundamental mechanisms of evolution despite their complexity.
In this quote, Francis Crick emphasizes the need for scientists to navigate through the complexities introduced by evolutionary processes in order to identify the fundamental principles that govern biological systems. He notes that while the processes may appear intricate to physicists, they are often the result of simpler, foundational mechanisms that nature has built upon over time, suggesting that what seems complex may have evolved from straightforward origins.
In practice
In a lecture on evolutionary biology, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of foundational mechanisms in understanding life.
One can say, looking at the papers in this symposium, that the elucidation of the genetic code is indeed a great achievement. It is, in a sense, the key to molecular biology because it shows how the great polymer languages, the nucleic acid language and the protein language, are linked together.
Exact knowledge is the enemy of vitalism.
A theory should not attempt to explain all the facts, because some of the facts are wrong
It is essential to understand our brains in some detail if we are to assess correctly our place in this vast and complicated universe we see all around us.
It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material.
In the fullness of time, educated people will believe there is no soul independent of the body, and hence no life after death.
Biologically inspired materials could revolutionize materials science. People looking at spider silk and abalone shells are looking for new ways to make materials better, cheaper, and with less toxic byproducts.
We must alter theory to adapt it to nature, but not nature to adapt it to theory.
The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture. --The Fruit Hunters
Studies show that organically grown crops produce more of the things (ascorbic acid, lycopenes, resveratrol, flavonols in general, etc) that our bodies need and also have less toxic residue. Science is still catching up with this. J. Agric. Food. Chem. Vol. 51, no. 5, 2003.
What is the difference between a 2°C world and a 4°C world? Human civilisation!
Since we proposed punctuated equilibria to explain trends, it is infuriating to be quoted again and again by creationists-whether through design or stupidity, I do not know-as admitting that the fossil record includes no transitional forms. Transitional forms are generally lacking at the species level, but they are abundant between larger groups.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.