Meaningful crosstalk between biologists and physical scientists is essential for modern biology to progress.
The advances in biological sciences have been phenomenal since the structure of DNA was decoded, especially if one considers the input from physical sciences, not only in terms of analytical tools, but also understanding and solving some of the key problems in biology. In this article, I trace briefly the history of this transition, from physical sciences to biology, and argue that progress in modern biology can be accelerated if there is far more meaningful crosstalk between the biologists and the physical scientists, simply because biology has become far more complex and interdisciplinary, and the need for such crosstalk cannot be overemphasized. Without a concerted effort in this area progress will be hindered, and the two camps will continue to work on their own, using their own specialized language, thus making communication highly ineffective. I support my argument giving a vast array of examples and also quoting leading authorities.
Dev
Sukhendu B
SB
Gene Delivery & Expression Sciences, 9115 Judical Dr., Unit 4118, San Diego, CA 91222, USA. ken.dev@gmail.com
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001690:Biological Science Disciplines; D001695:Biology / Q000639:trends; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008967:Molecular Biology; D050997:Nanomedicine; D010811:Natural Science Disciplines / Q000639:trends; D009613:Nobel Prize; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA