Standard Grade

Why Should One Study Biology? It is an exciting time to study biology. The last 30 years have brought an enormous insight into the dynamic interactions of the millions of species existing on our planet. The field of cell and molecular biology has explored the intricacy of DNA – the molecule of heredity. The human genome has recently been sequenced giving us the possibility of peering into the molecular machinery of the cell in even more detail. The potential changes in the field of medicine are enormous. An understanding of our own anatomy and physiology combined with an understanding of the recent advances in molecular biology would give you the tools to make decisions in the everchanging field of medicine.
     We live in a difficult and challenging time. The human population level on planet Earth has now passed 6.6 billion individuals. More than five children are born every second! For every day that goes by our species puts even more pressure on the species that we share the planet with. The glaciers and ice fields of our poles are breaking up contributing to the evidence that global warming is a fact.  Wildlife habitats on the continents is disappearing at an alarming rate. Even the great Amazonian rainforest is predicted to be depleted within the next few decades.  Life on Earth is under great pressure and many species are going extinct. The fields of ecology and organismal biology would give you an awareness that could lead to a change in your perception of these problems. The environmental challenge of this century is a difficult one that we all need to meet with hope and energy.