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Algae (Phycology) Phycology is the study of algae, eukaryotic organisms (each cell has a nucleus containing chromosomes), which are non-flowering and are capable of photosynthesis. However, algae are not plants. Some algae are classified Monera, while others are considered to be Protista. Algae range from small single-celled organisms, such as some plankton, to large multicellular forms, such as seaweeds (most of which are green, brown or red algae). Algae are important as they produce much of the organic matter at the bottom of the food chain. In the ocean, algae also produce oxygen used by other marine life. Hint: If you have trouble recalling the definition of algae, just remember: algae = seaweed + some plankton + pond scum. Web:
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Bioethics No science is complete without well-developed ethical traditions. The biological sciences are driven by research imperatives and a priority on preserving and enhancing human life. However, it is important that someone take the time to define and debate the ethical issues. For example, how should scarce resources be allotted? Are there any kinds of biological research that should not be allowed? How does society establish research priorities? So, what happens when you cross a philosopher with a biologist? You can find out by visiting the bioethics resources on the Net. Web:
Bioinformatics The techniques of bioinformatics deal with using computers to manipulate and manage biological information. In particular, much of bioinformatics deals with the sort of computational demands generated by the Human Genome Project. Bioinformatics specialists are experts in both molecular biology and computer science, a melding of disciplines which is becoming increasingly valuable. Web:
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Biology Dictionary Are you one of those people who have trouble remembering the difference between cytoplasm, ectoplasm and endoplasm? Do you have trouble recalling the exact definition of all your favorite organelles? If so, an online biology dictionary can help. Use the Net, and it won't be long before you are the life of the biological party. ("Is that chromatin in your nucleolus, or are you just glad to see me?") Web:
Biology Funding and Grants Don't wait for your million dollar sweepstakes check to come in. Where are some of the funding agencies in biology? Who's giving out research grants? Find out who has the money and how you can get some too. Web:
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Biology Job Opportunities Why be a telemarketer when you can have a job in the exciting field of biology? See cells reproduce right before your eyes, cut up small unsuspecting microorganisms with lightning speed, and create new life forms seemingly from scratch. Opportunities abound for pre- or post-docs, undergraduates looking for something to keep themselves out of trouble for the summer, assistant professors who don't mind grading papers, and upwardly mobile, tenure-track seekers. Web:
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Biology Journals If you like biological journals (or even if you don't, but you have to read them anyway), you can do a lot of your reading on the Internet. A large number of research papers are available online, and many print journals also publish on the Net. The biological world moves fast, and these resources will help you find what you need to stay current. Web:
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Biology-Related Sciences Unbutton your top button and roll up your sleeves in preparation for some lively biological bantering. While informative and educational, subjects are never strictly hard-core science. Debate is sparked by such topics as evolution, the ethics of cloning, and the instinctual mating habits of animals and humans. Usenet:
Biology Resources Whatever you are looking for in the world of biology, these Web sites can help you. They contain vast collections of links that will lead you to just about anything you need. These are the places I use when I need to fulfill my biological needs. Web:
Biology Software If you have the right tools, computers lighten your workload, and the right tools are available if you know where to look. These Web sites are good places to look when you are searching for biological software. The Usenet groups are useful if you have questions or you want to keep up on new products. Web:
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Biology Talk and General Discussion For many years, biologists have used the Internet extensively, more so than any other scientific discipline. In particular, there are a great many biology-oriented Usenet groups and mailing lists. This Web site is the home of Biosci, where all of this discussion is coordinated. (This is the home of all the bionet discussion groups.) If you are looking for a group or mailing list devoted to a particular topic, this Web site is the place to start. For miscellaneous biology talk, visit the Usenet discussion groups. Web: Usenet:
Biotechnology Biotechnology is a broad area: it refers to using technology within the biological sciences (for research and so on), as well as using elements of biology to create new technology (such as genetic engineering). The advances in biotechnology in the last several decades have profoundly influenced our economy and our culture. For example, even the man on the street is familiar with DNA testing. (He may not know what it is, but at least he knows it's something cool.) If you have an interest in biology, you can use these resources to keep up on the latest biotechnology advances. Web:
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Cell Biology This is where life happens, in tiny units of protoplasm. Unless you are a robot, cell biology concerns you. Cell scholars from all over the world dissect studies, research and experiments that relate to cell biology. The .cytonet group is for the discussion of cytoskeletons such as cell walls and plasma membranes. Web:
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Developmental Biology Developmental biology is the study of how multicellular organisms develop from their early forms (such as embryos and larvae) into adults. In particular, developmental biology embraces the study of embryology. It seems like a miracle that a complex organism can grow from just a single fertilized cell, but it's not a miracle at all. Miracles are just phenomena you don't yet understand, so let the Net help you fill in the gaps. Web:
Ecology The term "ecology" was coined in 1869 by the German zoologist Ernst Heinrich Haeckel, who used the word to refer to "environmental balance". Today, ecology has developed into a complex biological science dealing with the interrelationships of living organisms and the physical environment. Ecologists observe and analyze systems of organisms: their communities, population patterns, and dependence upon their environment. (By the way, Haeckel was also the biologist who developed the idea that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny", that is, the embryonic development of a higher animal mimics the evolutionary development of its species.) Web:
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Evolution Evolution didn't stop when the apes climbed out of the trees and learned to drive sports cars. It's a constant process that goes on from the tiniest bacteria to the largest plants and animals. Get together with other people interested in evolution and discuss where we came from and where we might be going. Web:
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Genetics Genetics, the science of inheritance, is devoted to the study of how biological characteristics are passed on from one generation to the next. In most types of cells, genetic material is stored in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, long molecules made up of four different types of building blocks called nucleotides. Within a strand of DNA, sequences of nucleotides (genes) contain "instructions" for creating specific proteins that act as enzymes. Since enzymes control biochemical reactions, the DNA, indirectly, contains the blueprint for much of what happens within the cells of the organism. The mechanisms of inheritance apply to all plants and animals, and, as such, genetics commands a central position in the world of biology. In particular, it is crucial to the study of evolution, embryology, animal and plant breeding, anthropology and pathology, as well as the practice of medicine. Web:
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Human Genome Project The Human Genome Project is a massively ambitious global project to ferret out and document all of the genes in the full complement of human chromosomes. These resources will point you to a great deal of data and keep you up-to-date on the progress of this project. For ongoing discussion, you can take a look at the Usenet group. (My hope is that, one day, someone will find the gene for TV watching, and we'll all be saved.) Web:
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Infomine Searchable Database Here is a huge database of biological, agricultural and medical information. Just the place to do some research when you have to decide whether you should sever your anterior or posterior commissure, and you haven't got a lot of time to make up your mind. Web:
Microbiology Microbiology is the study of microorganisms: organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria, viruses, yeasts, fungi, protozoans and the smaller algae. Once you start to study microbiology, you come to a startling realization: most of life is too small to see without a microscope. When I was in medical school, I studied microbiology, and, believe me, there is a lot to know. Web:
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Molecular Biology Molecular biology is the study of biochemical and molecular reactions within cells. As such, molecular biology deals with the macromolecules upon which life depends (nucleic acids, proteins, and so on) as well as the basic processes that take place within a cell (such as respiration, reproduction and excretion). Today, much of molecular biology focuses on the study of genetic material (DNA, RNA, nucleotides, and so on) and how it transmits genetic information. Web:
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Mycology Mycology is the study of the organisms within the Fungi kingdom, including yeasts, molds, smuts and mushrooms. Fungi are characterized by a lack of chlorophyll and vascular tissue. They range from small, single cells to large masses of branched filaments. Here is a great resource containing a collection of material relating to fungi organisms and cultivation, research, publications, discussion groups and taxonomy (naming systems), as well as a Usenet group for mycological discussion. By the way, we commonly divide the world of biology into five separate kingdoms: Plants, Animals, Fungi, Protista (one-celled protozoans and some algae) and Monera (bacteria and blue-green algae). Thus, properly speaking, fungi, protozoa and bacteria are neither plants nor animals. Web:
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Neuroscience Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system, encompassing neuroanatomy (one of my favorite areas of science) and neurobiology. When I was younger, I studied neuroscience in between graduate computer science and medical school. I got to dissect brains, and I took a neuroscience course in which I was able to carry out a variety of strange experiments. If you have an interest in learning how your brain functions, you will find neuroscience fascinating: it's all just a matter of mind over matter over mind. Web:
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Taxonomy Taxonomy is the systematic classification of living things. Modern taxonomy originated with the work of the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), who, in 1735, published Genera Plantarum, a work dealing with botanic classification. There are, of course, a vast number of different types of living things, and today's taxonomy systems are complex indeed. Although various systems are used (there is no one definitive scheme), the most common classifications are, from most to least general: kingdom, phylum, subphylum, class, subclass, order, family, genus, species and (for plants only) variety. When we talk about a particular organism, we often use the scientific name consisting of the genus (which is capitalized) followed by the species. For example, the next time someone offers you some Myrichthys maculosus soup, don't worry. It's just a common tiger snake eel. Web:
Virology Virology is the study of viruses: tiny infectious agents (most viruses are between 10-200 nanometers) consisting of a length of DNA or RNA wrapped in a protein coat called a capsid. In human beings, viruses cause a large number of diseases, including colds, measles, mumps, yellow fever, polio, flu, AIDS and some types of cancer. Viruses also infect many other kinds of organisms, including plants and bacteria. In order to reproduce, a virus must infect a host cell. The virus then uses the cell's own biochemical mechanisms to create replica viruses. Outside of the host cell, the virus is inert with no active metabolism. Thus, strictly speaking, viruses are not actually alive (although that is not much consolation when you are sick in bed with a fever). Web:
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