Ask a Biologist

Hey types,

I wanted to start a video series called Ask a Biologist, where I field biology questions. I will respond to some with video and maybe some in written form, too. So if you have any burning questions or just want to shoot the breeze about something amazing, please respond here or on youtube!

1. What are some topics that are on the frontier of biological science?

2. What's the most interesting thing you've learned as a biologist?

Originally Posted by Adrift

1. What are some topics that are on the frontier of biological science?

2. What's the most interesting thing you've learned as a biologist?

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I have tons of questions about aging, but I'll wait and let someone else ask a question.

I'm a rising sophmore biology major. My question is; what kind of biologist are you? What do you actually do as a biologist? and also, how hard is it to get into feild research in biology? Is a phd necessary?

Can you explain recent revisions in the Genus Aphodius and tell me how many premental setae are found in the larva of Somatochlora incurvata?

Are you single? LOL

What are some sources of endocrine disrupters? When I read about the subject, they always list chemical names such as polygolybiotrichrolinatedmonosulphate. Pesticides? Plastics? Batteries?

How does animal behavior affect humans?

Ooh biology! :)

1. I can't really understand taxonomy. Does a species constitute a group of individual animals that can have fertile offspring? If so, where do ligers put tigers and lions?
2. What do you believe IS junk DNA?
3. Do you believe that with advances in medical technology people have escaped natural selection and are more comfortable in the era of artificial selection? What I mean is, natural selection does not apply anymore when everybody, fit as well as unfit, survives and passes their genes along. What might be a new aspect of natural selection applied to modern humans, what might the new darwinian environment constitute: disease, climate change, war, social ineptitude?

Thank you. :)

Originally Posted by Drea

I'm a rising sophmore biology major. My question is; what kind of biologist are you? What do you actually do as a biologist? and also, how hard is it to get into feild research in biology? Is a phd necessary?

My lab studies protein folding and misfolding, with an emphasis on disease. Most of biology is very multidisciplinary nowadays, so it's hard to categorize. I'd say that I'm a biochemist/biophysicist/cell biologist. I've also had experience in neuroscience.

I'm not sure what you mean by field research? Are you interested in biotech? Clinical research? Outdoorsy research?