The Status of Biology and the Meaning of Biodiversity

Abstract

During the past 40 years or so genetics and molecular biology have played a major role in the study of living systems. There is some substance to the belief of many biologists that the molecular approach supplies us with the key to an understanding of life. At the same time other biological disciplines have been unfairly neglected. More recently, however, alarmed by the loss of species around the world, many researchers have turned to ecological problems and rediscovered the importance of systematics and taxonomy. It has become apparent that the number of still unknown species is enormous, and the very dimensions of biodiversity are a great challenge to biologists. Moreover, the preservation of species has become an important task for ethical as well as economic reasons. In this contribution biodiversity research is discussed as an essential interdisciplinary enterprise of contemporary biology which compels us to critically reconsider and reflect the status of the science of life and its anthropological and ethical implications. It is also argued that recognizing biodiversity gives a fresh impetus to biology teaching.

Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants

“…Biodiversity research is important not only for the discovery and classification of new species, but also for the preservation of species. 9 …”

“…Currently, there are probably about 20-80 million species, with many of them listed as endangered. 9 About 1.4 million species have been morphologically described, 8 265,000 of which are flowering plants. 1 The extinction rate at present is estimated to be about three species per hour.…”

“…1 The extinction rate at present is estimated to be about three species per hour. 9 Natural selection has resulted in a huge genetic variation favoring the generation of new species. 9 The actual number of species in a given geographic region depends on speciation, extinction, and immigration and emigration rates of the species in the area.…”

“…9 Natural selection has resulted in a huge genetic variation favoring the generation of new species. 9 The actual number of species in a given geographic region depends on speciation, extinction, and immigration and emigration rates of the species in the area. 10 organisms and ecological processes, which play a major role in defining an ecosystem.…”

Τα Ζώα Στο Σχολικό Πλαίσιο: Αντιλήψεις Παιδιών Και Εκπαιδευτικών Της Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης Για Τα Ζώα

“…Tsuzuki et al 1998, Everett 2000. Η Βιολογία, παρά τη σημαντική ερευνητική μετατόπιση στο μοριακό επίπεδο, παραμένει η μελέτη της ζωής και η ζωή ως φαινόμενο εκδηλώνεται στο επίπεδο του οργανισμού, του φυτού, του ζώου, του μύκητα, του πρωτόζωου και του μικροβίου (Lock 1994, Wuketits 1997 (Pratt 1980, Schrock 1990, Sapontzis 1995, Knight 2002. (Selby 1994a(Selby , 1994b.…”