François Jacob
A molecular biologist who, with Jacques Monod, discovered the operon model of gene regulation, explaining how genes are turned on and off.
Most quoted
"A theory is a good theory if it satisfies two requirements: It must accurately describe a large class of observations on the basis of a model that contains only a few arbitrary elements, and it must make definite predictions about the results of future observations."
— from Attributed
"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."
— from The Logic of Life: A History of Heredity
"The dream of the biologist is to understand the living world, to grasp its essence, to unravel its secrets. But the living world is not a simple mechanism; it is a history."
— from La logique du vivant, une histoire de l'hérédité, 1970
All quotes by François Jacob (362)
The living world is a continuous process of creation and destruction.
The most profound questions in biology are still unanswered.
The cell is a microcosm of the universe.
The living world is a tapestry of interconnectedness.
The genetic code is a universal language.
Science is a human endeavor.
The living world is a symphony of life.
The most exciting discoveries are yet to come.
The cell is a testament to the power of self-organization.
Science is a quest for understanding.
The living world is a continuous process of adaptation.
The genetic program is a dynamic and flexible system.
The cell is a complex and intricate machine.
Science is a way of looking at the world.
The living world is a testament to the power of evolution.
The most important thing in science is to keep an open mind.
The cell is a living entity.
Science is a never-ending story.
Science is a dialogue between the possible and the actual.
What is not forbidden is compulsory.
Contemporaries of François Jacob
Other Biologys born within 50 years of François Jacob (1920–2013).