OSF: Quote Master Chapter 8-10

"The question wasn't what makes cells multiply; it's what makes them stop. The complex organisms that appeared later in the history of life cannot survive unless their cells maintain a certain disciple. If these cells start multiplying continuously in the way bacteria do, the organism will rapidly turn into little more than one big disorganized tumor. For Soto and Sonnenschien, the goal was to find an inhibitor." (123)

This quote shows me that cells multiplying wasn't the big idea, but rather what made them stop. Thus, this question made Soto and Sonnenschien set out to find the answer

"This had to be it. The orange-capped Corning tubes. Something must be leaching from the tubes into the blood serum they used in their experiments, something that acted like estrogen. The plastic, which they had always regarded as benign, inert substance must contain chemicals that can cause significant, worrisome changes in human cells. Far from inert, the plastic appeared biologically active." (127)

This quote is important because it shows me that plastic contained an estrogen-like substance in which caused many disruptions in not only labs but also human cells.

"Through further investigation, Soto and Sonnenschien learned that p-nonylphenol is one of a family of synthetic chemicals known as alkylphenols. Manufacturers add nonylphenols to polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride, known commonly as PVC, as an antioxidant to make these plastics more stable and less breakable. The plastic centrifuge tubes in which they stored blood serum had been of polystyrene-a plastic that, depending on the manufacturer, may or may not include nonylphenols." (128)

This quote is significant because it shows that the plastics back then contained PVC, which made the plastic more stable and less breakable. However, due to these additional chemicals, they possibly disrupted many hormones of people who used these plastics.

"The amounts of potentially harmful chemical compounds produced each year are truly staggering-thousands upon thousands of chemicals and billions of pounds. Five billion pounds of pesticides alone are spread far and wide not only on agricultural fields but in parks, schools, restaurants, supermarkets, homes, and gardens." (139)

This quote is vital because it emphasizes the effect as well as the spread of these harmful chemical compounds produced each year. The pesticides ,in fact, are spread not only on the agricultural fields but even areas near us.

"In light of the growing evidence that many synthetic chemicals disrupt hormones, impair reproduction, interfere with development, and undermine the immune system, we must now ask to what degree contaminants are responsible for dwindling animal population." (147)

This quote is significant because it emphasizes the numerous of  harmful effects that synthetic chemicals may cause to wildlife.