Biology is the science of life. It is concerned with the characteristics and behaviors of organisms, how species and individuals come into existence, and what interactions they have with each other and with their environments.
What are our priorities for writing in this area? To help develop a list of the most basic topics in biology, please see Wikipedia:biology basic topics.
The classification of living things is called systematics, or taxonomy, and should reflect the evolutionary trees (phylogenetic trees) of the different organisms. Taxonomy piles up organisms in groups called taxa, while systematics seeks their relationships. The dominant system is called Linnaean taxonomy, which includes ranks and binomial nomenclature. How organisms are named is governed by international agreements such as the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), and the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (ICNB). A fourth Draft BioCode was published in 1997 in an attempt to standardize naming in the three areas, but it does not appear to have yet been formally adopted. The International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature (ICVCN) remains outside the BioCode.
Traditionally, living things were divided into five kingdoms:
The Tree of Life, http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html : A multi-authored, distributed Internet project containing information about phylogeny and biodiversity.
The Journal of Biology, http://www.jbiol.com : A small, but free, research journal
The Public Library of Science: Biology, http://www.plosbiology.org : A newer, but more ambitious free research journal.
Neil Campbell, Biology: Concepts & Connections (4th edition), Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company, 2002, hardcover, 781 pages, ISBN 080536627X A college-level textbook.
In the News
Lifespan Of HIV-infected Cells Might Be Shorter Than Previously Believ Researchers have used mathematical models to demonstrate that cells infected with HIV could die sooner than was thought until now. If infected cells have a shorter lifespan then this increases the chances of the virus escaping the attention of the immune system.
Scientists Study Sun's Radiation To Track Pollution Sources Scientists are studying the reduction of solar ultraviolet radiation by atmospheric particles to learn how the various sources of pollution - biomass burning, auto exhaust and oil refining - affect the atmospheric chemistry and air quality of Mexico City. This particular technique will be used along with data retrieval from satellites around the world to study the influence of pollution on global warming and climate change.
Doctor Who’s maverick side-kick Captain Jack, played by big show-tunes fan John Barrowman, took time out from his busy schedule to indulge a passion for mini big bangs with a visit to CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory and home of the large hadron collider (LHC). I suspect that Barrowman has not read my earlier post on the LHCand misread the title, but you never know.
Anyway, Barrowman took Manchester-CERN high-energy physicist, Brian Cox, along for the ride, and yes, there really are just far too many lewd puns to be made in the context of Cox, hadrons and Barrowman to be worth the effort. Actually, Cox was a ray of Sunshine, he was one of the scientific advisers on the recent sci-fi flick of that name. Barrowman, apparently, is genuinely interested in exploring the boundaries between science fact and science fiction. His fascinating response when confronted with the notion that a speeding proton in the particle accelerator experiences every second of our time as a seven thousandth of a second is illuminating to say the least - “Holey Moley”, he exclaimed. But, at least he went and donned the hard hat in the name of science.
Check out the video. Dig the groovy tune. And if you’re into that kind of thing you get to see Barrowman’s teeth, which are a miracle of modern science in themselves.
NASA tech zooms in on water and land A pilot project could help better manage the planet's strained natural resources by using space-age technologies to help manage natural resources like land and water. In Sequim, Wash., the North Olympic Peninsula Solutions Network is using NASA satellites and sensors to provide the information needed to make more accurate, daily flow predictions for the Dungeness River. Now four other communities across the country are looking at similar technologies to help manage their unique water and land use needs.
Two Studies Find Evidence That Sunlight May Have Beneficial Influence Two new studies in the February 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute have found that sun exposure may have a beneficial influence on some types of cancer. One study found an association between sun exposure and increased survival from melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer for which sun exposure is a risk factor, while the other found an association between sun exposure and a reduced risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
California Public Utilities Commission: Information on Area Codes and Official notices about area codes in California and potential changes to the area codes due to shortages of available phone numbers. Includes press releases, public meeting announcements, proposals, decisions, and other documents about the affected areas. Also provides area code boundary maps for the state, reports and audits, a FAQ, a chart comparing area code splits and overlays, and more. Some materials available in Spanish. From the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
Depleted Uranium: PSR Publications and Related Links on Depleted Urani Commentary and links to information about depleted uranium (DU), "uranium from which the more highly radioactive isotopes have been removed for use in weapons or reactor fuel."Publications discuss the health and environmental effects of DU. Links to websites provide other viewpoints; "PSR does not necessarily endorse the content or opinions contained on these sites."From Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR).
Smoking Associated With Increased Risk Of Diabetes, Study Finds A review of previous studies indicates that people who currently smoke have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, compared with nonsmokers, according to an article in the Dec. 12 issue of JAMA.
Explosive Discovery On Genetically Engineered Tobacco Plant Tobacco may be bad for human health, but a new study reports that a genetically engineered tobacco plant may be very good for the environment. It shows promise for cleaning up soil contaminated with TNT, a widely used military explosive.
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Doctor Who’s maverick side-kick Captain Jack, played by big show-tunes fan 
