Wake M., 2008 - Integrative Biology

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Integrative Biology: Science for the 21st Century

Wake M., 2008

Description of Integrative Biology by M H Wake

See “Integrative Biology”

At the very first, Wake claims that Integrative Biology is essential & effective approach to ‘fix issues of 21st century’.

Way of |‘Perceiving’, ‘Practicing’ and ‘transforming’| the science, its processes and results.

She links Integrative Biology (IB) with ‘integrative science’ - providing glimpse that IB is integrative science where the concepts of biology are involved. Wake M. 2008 - Integrative Biology, page 1

Describes IB as bridging disciplines, spanning levels of biological organization, taxa and over short (e.g. physiological) & long (e.g. evolutionary) time. Wake M. 2008 - Integrative Biology, page 1

Integrative Approach can be there individually as well as collaboratively - Wake M. 2008 - Integrative Biology, page 2

What is not IB?

Even if the prof. or dept has a broad knowledge, but if the students (including graduate students - PhD or Masters) are exposed only to single technique, taxon or narrow problem - then the new learners doesn't become integrative biologists. Wake M. 2008 - Integrative Biology, page 2

Contrasting from Systems Biology

She contrasts systems biology (SB) from integrative biology in following manner, based on some (Henry, 2003) work:

Systems Biology is 'interative approach' in which scientists study pathways & networks...

Prior Knowledge

Systems Biology is, in modern time, in a way - ‘computational’ modeling of pathways and networks

And adds that integrative biology approach includes systems approach but not the other way around. Wake M. 2008 - Integrative Biology, page 2

graph TB
    subgraph UniversalSet ["Integrative Biology"]
        
            ElementA["Systems Biology"]
        
    end

Question for Self: What else is there? in addition to SB?

Steps to Develop Integrative Approach in Societal Level

  1. Research across diverse areas (verbat. expertise) - individually or collectively (Wake M. 2008 - Integrative Biology, page 2)
  2. Changing the models of education, to support individual thinking as well as effectively participating in team-based scientific research and teaching (Wake M. 2008 - Integrative Biology, page 2)

How can IB be done in Education?

Introduce learners at the very early age with the biology scoping all elements of hierarchy of levels of biological organisation, other sciences & humanities.

Students should be trained to think independently as well as effectively engage with others for learning.

Learners should be engaged in hands-on science as early as possible, while they are still curious about world around them.

Maintaining Critical Thinking and skepticism at all levels

Claims

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