Next big step in Animal Biology

[u04tl2]

This is the title given to an essay I have to write.
As this is my first time at this forum, I hope that I could get some creative input from this intellectual lot! I am currently studying marine biology in Scotland.

Personally I've think that genetic work like that done by Graig Venter might be a place too start. He is trying to find the minimum genome for a bacteria. This will give us an indication of why animals are so much more evolved than fungi.
Any suggestions are welcome, the essay doesn't have to be in until the 2nd of November:D
Cheers

[Ohmer]

As a non-biologist, I found this:

Nova - Artificial Life (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3214/01.html)

very interesting. It may not quite fit your topic.

[Dymanic]

My first suggestion:
Gould's Full House might be a better place to start.

[Soapy Sam]

You're not on Bute by any chance?

I'm puzzled by the title. "Big step" immediately calls to mind the idea of saltation, which makes me think "punctuated equilibrium", which makes me fall asleep.
By biology, I suppose they mean "The STUDY OF Biology". I mean you're not supposed to propose that elephants are poised to take to the wing or anything?
For a different perspective, can I suggest talking to a vet? ( BadlyShavedMonkey, Dogdoctor and Rolfe are all vets on this board), or a farmer? Or phone the Roslyn Institute and ask someone there for thirty seconds worth of top-of-the-head ideas. (Don't talk to the Jannie).

For my money , trans specific, or trans generic gene movement is something that will be big, but by "animal biology" do you mean ethology, zoology, microbiology or what? (I'm into rocks. Things that move confuse me.)

And I have to add, that as a big mushroom fan, I find that bacterial crack rather hurtful.
And just to be pedantic- it's A bacteriUM, singular, bacteriA , plural. Lack of a classical education , you see? I blame comprehensive schooling.

Welcome to the forum.

Edit to add- "The next big step in animal biology is the one it's been taking for 40,000 years- the emergence of consciousness and the adaptation of all other animal species to the one species burdened by / gifted with same." That will be $10.00.

Mass extinction.

Decrease in variety of species, increase in individual numbers within species. (Crows for example). Can animals exist without an ecosystem?

I'm on a roll now. Enough. best of luck with it.

[u04tl2]

cheers guys! that should get me started

[u04tl2]

The actual title is: speculate on the next big step in animal biology

[Soapy Sam]

There you go. Consciousness. Speculate on the ability to speculate.
Dennet has a good book on consciousness, forget the title.

[u04tl2]

The way I understand the title, they want us to discuss what will be the scientific "breakthrough" in Animal Biology. As a pointer I would suggest that the discovery of the double helix, the human genome project, all were great breakthrough.
I agree with what you said on consciousness. Before the discovery of DNA, scientists were suggesting that there might have been such a thing as "the essence of life". If we can dispel the mysteries of consciousness, then we could also disprove what so many people claim is "the soul".

[Dymanic]

The way I understand the title, they want us to discuss what will be the scientific "breakthrough" in Animal Biology. As a pointer I would suggest that the discovery of the double helix, the human genome project, all were great breakthroughs.
In that case, I'd suggest: protein folding.

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

Control over cell differentiation- stem cells, organ regrowth, neurone regeneration. Who knows when and if this will live up to the hype.

[mummymonkey]

"speculate on the next big step in animal biology"

Near-instant genome sequencing.

Are animals really 'more evolved' than fungi?

[athon]

The next 'big step' depends on anticipating changes in various environments, and looking at the organisms that will be selected in such changes.

Humans play an incredibly big evolutionary pressure role on other organisms, due to their ability to influence the environment. So as people have pointed out, large evolutionary steps might well involve human interaction.

But other progressions could occur. Given a large enough change, or the opening of new niches through extinction, you will get exploitation by modern species. It just takes some imagination to explore the ideas.

Athon

[CapelDodger]

Control over cell differentiation- stem cells, organ regrowth, neurone regeneration.I'd suggest signal-pathways - intra- and extra-cellular - which pertains to this suggestion. At the moment it's a very laborious process working these out. New techniques and a better understanding of principles could lead to a breakthrough. They could tell us a lot about the history of life as well - perhaps putting paid to the myth that fungi are less-evolved than animals :) .

[Dr Adequate]

Humans play an incredibly big evolutionary pressure role on other organisms, due to their ability to influence the environment. So as people have pointed out, large evolutionary steps might well involve human interaction. One of the silliest things I've ever read was a radio astronomer explaining why it was OK to build an observatory on top of a mountain which was the last refuge of the Lesser Spotted Obscurity.

"These envoronmentalists are so ignorant," he explained. "The Theory of Evolution says that eventually a new species will arise adapted to the habitat. So in the long term there's nothing to worry about."

I can still get a kick out of trying to imagine what sort of creature nests in giant parabolic dishes and feeds on radio astronomers.

[athon]

I can still get a kick out of trying to imagine what sort of creature nests in giant parabolic dishes and feeds on radio astronomers.

Hehe, Mothra lives!!!

Athon