What's become of biology? Options

[Admin]

Biochemistry and molecular genetics have become the primary focus of most biology curricula. Traditional subjects in biology such as zoology, botony, ecology and evolution have been relegated to the fringes due to a lack of time to cover the topics of applied biology. Pure science is taking a beating.

Why are these traditional subjects still important?

[cgilliam]

Biochemistry and molecular genetics have become the primary focus of most biology curricula. Traditional subjects in biology such as zoology, botony, ecology and evolution have been relegated to the fringes due to a lack of time to cover the topics of applied biology. Pure science is taking a beating.

Why are these traditional subjects still important?

Education curriculum tends to follow trends, and what society wants. With the progression of stem cell research, cloning, genetic engineering, etc., biochemistry and molecular genetics are the primary focus of most biology curricula because it is not right now.

Yes, the traditional subjects are still important because they are relative and affect our lives. Botany is the study of plants, those of which we as humans need to breathe and live. We need to discover ways to make sure that plants still populate our earth at the same rate, or faster than humans. We need to also study plants for medicinal purposes. Ecology helps with understanding the abundance and distribution of living organisms and how they interact in their ecosystems. Zoology is the study of animals, and evolution is the change in a populations' inherited traits from generation to generation. These three disciplines of science all influence how we live presently, and how people will live in the future. The study will assist in human survival.

[Admin]

"Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution." - Theodosius Dobzhansky

The human genome project will only produce useful applications through the lens of evolution. Breakthroughs in epigenetics, developmental biology, microbiology, immunology, and other biotech and health fields will all be made through the lens of evolutionary biology.

Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.

[jarishm2]

Biochemistry and molecular genetics have become the primary focus of most biology curricula. Traditional subjects in biology such as zoology, botony, ecology and evolution have been relegated to the fringes due to a lack of time to cover the topics of applied biology. Pure science is taking a beating.

Why are these traditional subjects still important?

In my opinion biochemestry and molecular genetics have become so popular because many science programs are driven by preparing students to research in the most modern fields. These field are also in demand to help cure diseases, solve crimes through forensics, and solve various other world problems. While we do need these fields, we are also in need of persons with knowledge in the traditional sciences. How can you understand molecular genetics without understanding the biology of cells and their evolution to what they are today (Yes, the word evolution was said. It implies a change over a period of time, nothing more). How can we understand how to genetically program and alter plants without understanding them first? How can we find cures for diseases when we don;t truly understand the chemistry of the body? To me this sounds like putting the cart before the horse. I don't think that a lack of fundamental science knowledge helps to futther scientific efforts in any field. I feel in the long run a lack of basic knowledge will deter scientific discoveries and progress in some of the most important areas of our lives.

[dlaycock]

Biochemistry and molecular genetics have become the primary focus of biology curriculum because they are the new "frontier"--unchartered territory to explore. However, fields in biology such as zoology and botony are still important, especially in undertanding the biodiversity of the planet, the effects of humans on the enviornment and other speicies, or continued evolution of species due to various factors. It could also be that the "old" stand-bys of biology do not have the financial future for students who desire to enter those fields. Research monies may be focused on biochemsitry and molecular genetics. Finally, students may be attracted by the salaries offered from positions in biochemistry and molecular genetics.

[george sayegh]

According to the molecular basis of obesity the same diets make some people gain more weight than others. The answer is a molecule called BSX. BSX is the molecular link between spontaneous physical activity and the intake of food. Mice that do not have any molecule show physical activity that is less spontaneous which are percived as hunger signals and have a less concentration of feeding hormones in their brain than normal mice. Being conserved across species, BSX could be a promising target for controlling diet-induced obesity in humans. BSX brings about its effect by controlling feeding. Scientists say that without BSX it is impossible to enable brain cells to sense and respond to specific hunger signals from the body. A study has shown that mice who did not have any BSX in their hypothalamus are a lot lazier than normal mice. BSX plays a similar role in controlling body weight in humans. Research shows that BSX activity may explain why some people are active than others and less susceptible to diets. BSX might be the reason why diets make some people fat and others loose weight. BSX is a promising candidate drug target and more research could suggest how it should be used to modulate basic physical activity as a way to protect against diet-induced obesity.

[george sayegh]

Biochemistry and molecular genetics should always be important because they will always affect our lives by contributing to the advacement of medical science which progresses the cure for life threatening ilnesses such as cancer,aids and heart disease. Traditonal subjects such as botony,ecology ,zoology and evolution also play a role on our health and how the human race will survive.

The biochemistry and molecular genetics should be popular because it really has opened up unchartered territory into solving crimes that have not been solved in years. Forensics is so credible that convicts on that were falsely on death row for several years have been vindicated. Even if we really do not this field of science in our lives it really does help if somebody has knowledge of it.

Biochemistry and molecular gentics have become the primary focus of biology curriculum because understanding the biodiversity of our planet is still important , it is the world that we live in and that effects the environment that humans and other species live in. That is why zoology and botony are still important.