(source)
|
Walter Gilbert
(21 Mar 1932 - )
American microbiologist.
|
Science Quotes by Walter Gilbert (7 quotes)
I have the same sense of the power and virtue of knowledge that some people get from a religious background.
— Walter Gilbert
From interview with Anthony Liversidge, in 'Walter Gilbert', Omni (Nov 1992), 15, No. 2.
Science doesn’t in the slightest depend on trust. It depends completely on the belief that you can demonstrate something for yourself. I don’t have to trust anybody, though I can choose to.
— Walter Gilbert
From interview with Anthony Liversidge, in 'Walter Gilbert', Omni (Nov 1992), 15, No. 2.
Scientists tend to be skeptical, but the weakness of the community of science is that it tends to move into preformed establishment modes that say this is the only way of doing science, the only valid view.
— Walter Gilbert
From interview with Anthony Liversidge, in 'Walter Gilbert', Omni (Nov 1992), 15, No. 2.
The virtues of science are skepticism and independence of thought.
— Walter Gilbert
From interview with Anthony Liversidge, in 'Walter Gilbert', Omni (Nov 1992), 15, No. 2.
The Zebra fish is a vertebrate like us, but unlike mammals, you can get at the embryo which grows fast and hatches within three days. The fish lays lots of transparent eggs, so you have a lot of material to work with. One can watch everything developing: the formation of the nervous system, eyes, brain, and body. … We can see that embryo, follow its growth, and see effects of mutations immediately.
— Walter Gilbert
From interview with Anthony Liversidge, in 'Walter Gilbert', Omni (Nov 1992), 15, No. 2.
Today we try to identify a gene and then study its properties. That is fruitful when you look at an important gene, but mostly you’re looking at one that happens to be under your nose for some reason. Today you can't take a global view—can’t ask what are the genes that make up the heart, the brain. The list of genes that will come out of the genome project will be the tool that turns our questions into global ones.
— Walter Gilbert
From interview with Anthony Liversidge, in 'Walter Gilbert', Omni (Nov 1992), 15, No. 2.
Why do we do basic research? To learn about ourselves.
— Walter Gilbert
From interview with Anthony Liversidge, in 'Walter Gilbert', Omni (Nov 1992), 15, No. 2.
See also:
- 21 Mar - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Gilbert's birth.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
