Interrelationship Between Various Fields of Biology, Essay Example

The field of biology is rapidly expanding. New advances are being made in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and environmental science. More information is obtained about the development of plant and animal life, ecology, and evolution. The purpose of this paper is to analyze new developments in various biological fields and to examine their interrelationship and interdependence on one another.

DNA in Forensic Science

DNA in forensic science can be used in criminal investigations, medical and biological research, and to form more accurate medical diagnoses. When using genetic material in criminal investigations, DNA databases are used to “identify, track, catalogue, apprehend, and prosecute perpetrators of crimes” (Moreau, 2015). Law enforcement agencies are able to exchange DNA profiles found at crime scenes to identify serial perpetrators and help to solve crimes. In addition to solving crimes, DNA forensics provides a source of national and international news and resources concerning the latest developments in DNA databases. DNA is reliable and has a high degree of certainty when identifying the innocence or guilt of an accused individual (Moreau, 2015).

Traditional methods of extracting DNA for DNA sequencing include the use of a centrifuge and exposure to toxic chemicals. Newer advances have made DNA sequencing faster, less cumbersome, and less exposure to toxic materials. Graphene is a one-atom thick sheet of hexagonally arranged carbon that can detect the four nucleobases that make DNA: cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine (University of Melbourne, 2015). Graphene can be used to electrically sequence DNA to improve the speed, throughput, reliability, and accuracy. The University of Melbourne found that each nucleobase influences the electronic structure of graphene in a different way. Another example occurred in 2013 when engineers at the University of Washington and NanoFacture company created a device that can extract human DNA from fluid samples in a more efficient way than traditional methods. The new device is a microscopic probe that dips into a fluid sample of saliva, sputum, or blood. An electric field is then applied within the liquid that draws particles to concentrate around the surface of the probe. The DNA molecules adhere to the probe and are trapped on the surface in minutes.

Population Evolution and Microbial Life

Like DNA, microbial life are important components in medical and biological research. Their metabolic capabilities make them ideal for developing many major biotechnological advances. For example, microbes are currently being used to study the resistance to antibiotics in humans. Microbial life can be used to show how populations evolve over time due to their short generation periods. Microbiological diversity is exploited by selection of engineering single strains. There has been attention turned towards multiple groups of microbes, consortia, in the field of synthetic ecology (Escalante, Rebolleda-Gomez, Benitez, & Travisano 2015). By studying the effects of consortia, scientists are better able to predict the population evolution of larger species, such as humans.

Biological Diversity Evolution

Biological diversity is the variety and variability of plants, animals, and micro-organisms living on Earth. It is inclusive of diverse genetics, species, and ecosystems. Biodiversity is an important matter because it contributes to the condition of ecological resources that are necessary for life to exist on Earth, such as oxygen production and climate regulation. Because biodiversity provides raw materials necessary for the development of food, medicine, science, and technology, it is an important resource to conserve for future generations (UNESCO, 2015). There has been a significant decrease in biodiversity due to the negative aspects of human influence. The population growth of humans has increased, while at the same time, they have exploited natural resources that caused problems. A decrease in biodiversity results in the loss of genetic capital, and species of plants and animals becoming extinct (UNESCO, 2015). Biodiversity is also threatened by rapid desertification, a process where fertile lands are transformed into deserts that are not fit for cultivations. Organisms that cannot adapt, do not survive, and become extinct. While extinction often occurs by natural means, scientists are studying biodiversity in attempts to preserve endangered species.

Plant and Animal Evolution

According to Understanding Evolution (2015), it is commonly accepted that life on earth has continuously evolved and different species share common ancestors. The study of DNA and microbial life is providing more information and clarity on the origins of Earth’s species. The problem that biologists face is trying to discover the exact process of the evolution of plants and animals. The investigation into the evolutionary process of plants and animals helps scientists to discover the origins life on Earth. In addition, a better understanding about the planet’s origins allows insight into how to conserve different biomes, various species, and biodiversity.

Population Growth

Population growth studies how different populations on Earth grow and develop. It can be applied to controlling over-population, and promoting the growth of endangered species. Studying population growth is especially relevant in the field of conservation biology. Population growth is the central tool in population projection, where data from contemporary studies are used to say what the potential growth rate of an organism’s population is, assuming that present schedules of birth, death, immigration, emigration remain unchanged (Godfray & Rees, 2002). There are many techniques that can be used to explore how population growth rate is influenced by age, size-specific entries in the organism’s life table, or by variables that determine multiple entries. Microbial life and other organisms with short generation spans are often used in studying how populations grow and develop. Population growth is used routinely in applied areas of ecology such as conservation, pest management, and ecotoxicology. Additionally, population growth rate is often the most natural response variable for the statistical analysis of the factors influencing a species’ population dynamics (Godfray & Rees, 2002). Studying population growth is important for the preservation of Earth’s biomes and ecosystems.

Biomes and Ecosystems

Biomes are large groups of related ecosystems that have similar factors such as temperature, precipitation, and species of animals and plants. There are aquatic biomes, which include marine, freshwater, and coral reef. There are also terrestrial biomes, which include desert, grasslands, savanna, tundra, tropical rainforests, temperate forests, taiga forests (McGinley, 2014). It is important to understand biomes in order to grow food and sustain life.

Because humans have had an overall harmful effect on the Earth with their habits, they have altered the natural global patterns of biodiversity (McGinley, 2014). According to McGinley (2014), anthropogenic biomes may provide a new alternative to natural terrestrial biomes based on

global patterns of sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems. They present new opportunities in ecology and conservation by “recognizing the irreversible coupling of human and ecological systems at global scales, and how to move us to understand how to live and manage our biosphere (McGinley, 2014).

Conclusion

The fields of evolution and ecology encompass a broad spectrum of the biological disciplines, but have the same goal of understanding and preserving life on Earth. Technology is rapidly increasing and providing greater information on DNA and microbial life. Understanding these disciplines provides scientist with more information on how life began, evolved, and continues to develop. The more information obtained about the Earth and its species, the more chance that scientists will be able to save the planet.

References

Escalante, A.E., Rebolleda-Gomez, M., Benitez, M., & Travisano M. (2015). Ecological perspectives on synthetic biology: Insights from microbial population biology. Frontiers in Microbiology. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00143

Godfray, H.C.J., Rees, M. (2002). Population growth rates: Issues and an application. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society. 357, 1307-1319, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1098/rstb.2002.1131

McGinley, M. (2014). Biome. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150661

Moreau, R. (2015). DNA forensics. DNA Forensics: News and Information about DNA Databases. Retrieved from http://www.dnaforensics.com.

Understanding Evolution (2015). The big issues. Retrieved from http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/evo_50

UNESCO. (2015). Biological diversity. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/mab/doc/ekocd/chapter10.html

University of Melbourne. (2015, March 30). ‘Atomic chicken-wire’ is key to faster DNA sequencing. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 11, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150330095403.htm

University of Washington. (2013, May 6). New device can extract human DNA with full genetic data in minutes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 11, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130506132100.htm