Thinking about BiologyThinking about Biology is intended for biology students who are interested in reflecting on the wider contexts of their studies. This 2003 book encourages students to see that biology does not deliver certainties; it discusses how biological ideas become established facts; it uses history to examine how ideas change, and to show that the biological facts that form the basis of a biology course are likely to change too. Each chapter is based on biological topics, and examines them for their philosophical, social and political implications. Topics covered include the role of natural selection in evolution, the history of ideas about fertilisation and inheritance, vivisection, and reductionism. Genetically modified foods, xenotransplantation, eugenics, and genetic testing are some of the controversial subjects discussed. Thinking About Biology should be essential reading for all college students already taking a biology course, and for those contemplating such a course in the future. |
Contents
III | 7 |
IV | 9 |
V | 19 |
VI | 24 |
VII | 31 |
VIII | 42 |
IX | 44 |
X | 50 |
XXX | 121 |
XXXI | 137 |
XXXII | 140 |
XXXIII | 150 |
XXXIV | 156 |
XXXV | 163 |
XXXVII | 166 |
XXXVIII | 170 |
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Common terms and phrases
adaptation altruism amoeba amongst animals argued argument bacteria become behaviour beliefs biologists biology BRCA1 British beef cannabis causal causes cells century chapter chromosomes coelacanth complex considered controversy Darwin Darwinian debate deontology Déprat Descartes described discussed disease environment epigenesis eugenics eukaryotic evidence evolution evolutionary evolutionary psychology evolved example experiments explanation fact favoured fish fossils French genes genetic testing GM foods Human Genome Project Huntington's Huntington's disease idea important inheritance interest involved issue knowledge laboratory living microscope mitochondria modern molecular molecules moral mutation natural selection Nazi organisms patient perhaps philosophical physical pigs political politicians population problem prokaryotic proteins question reason reductionism reductionist research ethics risk scientific scientists sequencing simply slime mould society species sperm story suffer suggested theory things thinking tion transplant trilobites University Press vivisection xenotransplantation