* Challenging the accepted view of viruses: At the time, viruses were thought to be too small and simple to be crystallized, a process typically associated with larger molecules. Stanley's work challenged this notion and suggested that viruses had a more complex structure than previously believed.
* Providing evidence for the protein nature of viruses: Stanley's crystallization of TMV allowed him to isolate and study the virus's components. He found that the virus was primarily composed of protein, furthering the understanding of its structure.
* Paving the way for further research: The ability to crystallize viruses opened up new avenues for research, allowing scientists to study their structure, composition, and replication in greater detail.
While Stanley's work initially suggested that TMV was purely protein, later research revealed that it also contains RNA. Nevertheless, his achievement in crystallizing the virus marked a major breakthrough in virology, leading to a deeper understanding of the nature and structure of these infectious agents.