"PCR is a technology looking for a disease."
Kary Mullis, inventor of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, alluded to potential misuse or over-reliance on his invention in this quote. PCR is a powerful tool used to amplify specific DNA sequences exponentially, making it possible to detect even minute amounts of genetic material. However, if not properly utilized or misunderstood, it could lead to the search for diseases where none exist or an increased focus on rare cases rather than common health issues, potentially skewing public health priorities and resources. The quote is a cautionary reminder about the responsible use of technology in medicine and science.
"Life doesn't make sense without contradiction."
This quote suggests that the complexities and intricacies of life require contrasting elements for it to be meaningful and comprehensible. Contradictions, or opposites, present challenges, questions, and debates which ultimately propel growth, learning, and understanding in various aspects of our lives. In essence, it's through these contradictions that we find a deeper sense of purpose, significance, and the desire to seek answers about ourselves and the world around us.
"If you're going to try to figure out the meaning of life, it probably won't help to know too much about science."
This quote suggests that a deep understanding of scientific principles may not necessarily provide answers to the philosophical questions surrounding the purpose or meaning of life. Instead, Mullis implies that seeking the meaning of life might be more about personal experiences, introspection, and other non-scientific aspects. Essentially, he's encouraging people to explore beyond scientific facts in their quest for understanding life's bigger questions.
"It's not only that we don't understand where we come from, but also where we are going."
This quote by Kary Mullis highlights our collective human curiosity and lack of understanding regarding both our origins and our future destiny. It suggests that while we may have a vague idea about how life began (where we come from), our knowledge is still incomplete, leaving many questions unanswered. Similarly, it implies that despite our best efforts to predict or control the direction of human society and technological advancement (where we are going), there remains an element of uncertainty and unpredictability in our future trajectory. Overall, the quote serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing nature of scientific exploration and philosophical speculation.
"I've spent my life shaking hands with my shadow."
This quote by Kary Mullis suggests that he has spent a significant portion of his life in introspection, grappling with his own thoughts, ideas, or subconscious mind - symbolized as one's "shadow" - as much as engaging with the external world and interacting with others. In other words, he was deeply self-aware and often found himself reflecting on his inner world, which mirrored or complemented (i.e., shook hands) with his outer persona.
My grandfather milked several cows twice a day and supplied the neighbours with dairy products. He liked to go visiting around the county on Saturdays, and he also enjoyed the neighbours when they came by once a week with their empty milk jars. He walked them out to their cars and hung over the driver's side window until they drove off.
- Kary Mullis
I went to high school in Columbia. I met my first wife, Richards, whom I married while I was working on a B.S. in chemistry at Georgia Tech. She bore Louise, and I studied. I learned most of the useful technical things - math, physics, chemistry - that I now use during those four years.
- Kary Mullis
My father, Cecil Banks Mullis, and mother, formerly Bernice Alberta Barker, grew up in rural North Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. My dad's family had a general store, which I never saw. My grandparents on his side had already died before I started noticing things.
- Kary Mullis
My mother often mailed me articles from 'Reader's Digest' about advances in DNA chemistry. No matter how I tried to explain it to her, she never grasped the concept that I could have been writing those articles, that something I had invented made most of those DNA discoveries possible.
- Kary Mullis
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