Haeckel's ABC of evolution and development

One of the central, unresolved controversies in biology concerns the distribution of primitive versus advanced characters at different stages of vertebrate development. This controversy has major implications for evolutionary developmental biology and phylogenetics. Ernst Haeckel addressed the issue with his Biogenetic Law, and his embryo drawings functioned as supporting data. We re-examine Haeckel's work and its significance for modern efforts to develop a rigorous comparative framework for developmental studies. Haeckel's comparative embryology was evolutionary but non-quantitative. It was based on developmental sequences, and treated heterochrony as a sequence change. It is not always clear whether he believed in recapitulation of single characters or entire stages. The Biogenetic Law is supported by several recent studies -- if applied to single characters only. Haeckel's important but overlooked alphabetical analogy of evolution and development is an advance on von Baer. Haeckel recognized the evolutionary diversity in early embryonic stages, in line with modern thinking. He did not necessarily advocate the strict form of recapitulation and terminal addition commonly attributed to him. Haeckel's much-criticized embryo drawings are important as phylogenetic hypotheses, teaching aids, and evidence for evolution. While some criticisms of the drawings are legitimate, others are more tendentious. In opposition to Haeckel and his embryo drawings, Wilhelm His made major advances towards developing a quantitative comparative embryology based on morphometrics. Unfortunately His's work in this area is largely forgotten. Despite his obvious flaws, Haeckel can be seen as the father of a sequence-based phylogenetic embryology.     

“微生物学”一流课程教学改革与实践

“微生物学”课程是酿酒工程、生物工程、生物技术等专业的必修课程,也是一门重要的专业核心课程。基于培养具有科学探究能力的创新型人才的教学目标,我们教学团队深入改革“微生物学”课程,建设一流本科课程。通过贯彻“以学生为中心”和“科研反哺教学”的教学理念,深入挖掘课程育人价值,开展课程思政建设工作,建设慕课(massive open online course, MOOC)平台“微生物学”课程线上教学全套资源,构建“夯实基础-解构问题分析训练-研讨课”的教学模式,改进学生学习模式,改革学习过程评价体系,以及指导学生参加科创竞赛等教学改革实践,全面提高学生的科学探究能力,为社会储备具有科学探究能力的创新型人才,为工科院校建设一流课程提供借鉴。     

植物学论文摘要写作的标准化与规范化

为了使科技论文摘要写作进一步规范化、标准化, 以期提高科技论文的质量, 针对植物学论文摘要中存在的一些问题, 就其内容、结构、写作格式等进行了分析, 论述了科技论文摘要规范化与标准化写作的重要意义, 并就如何加强科技论文摘要规范化写作以及科技期刊编辑的标准化意识进行了探讨。     

从生态地理特征论中国东北样带(NECT)在全球变化研究中的科学意义

中国东北样带(NECT)是国际地圈生物圈计划(IGBP)全球变化研究的陆地样带之一。该样带在东经112°与130°30′之间沿北纬43°30′设置,长约1600km,跨越北纬42°～46°,宽约300km,位于中纬度温带地区以降水或湿润度/干燥度为主要全球变化驱动因素,自东至西沿一个连续的空间过渡梯度,植被类型或生物群区是由温带针阔叶混交林、温带落叶阔叶林、农田及温带草原的3个亚地带:草甸草原、典型草原和荒漠草原等类型组成。给出了样带的基本生态地理特征及其梯度分析,包括其地理位置、地形地貌、气候梯度、土壤类型、土地利用格局、植被类型、主要优势种和群落类型的生态地理特征以及全新世适宜期的植被分布格局。这些特征沿经向均表现出明显的梯度分布。     

The evolution of British Biology: Presidential Address to the Linnean Society delivered at the Anniversary Meeting, 24 May 1983

British biology is multiply divided between 115 national societies and 900 local ones, as well as divisions between amateurs and professionals, pure and applied, universities and research institutes. It is in fact composed of four strands, three of them (natural history, scientific biology and preservation/conservation) having arisen independently, and all having given rise to the fourth (international) strand. Natural history declined at the end of the nineteenth century with the growth of professional biology, government funding, and new techniques imported from abroad; it has recovered spectacularly since the 1939–45 war. Scientific biology grew mainly from continental science, and came of age as a professional discipline around 1900. Concern for conservation has risen as human pressures on the environment have increased.
The question asked is whether this serendipitous structure is the most efficient one, in a time when the conditions which gave rise to much of it have changed: personal motivation, the role of scientific meetings, ease of travel, accessibility of libraries, sources of funding, etc. The trends have always been to split, and virtually all attempts at co-ordination have failed. This process leads to long-term inefficiency, and for scientific, political and personal advantage, the future will almost inevitably require some foci for biologists beyond narrow subject societies. The Linnean Society is peculiarly fitted to become an active focus, perhaps catalysing an amalgamation or federal sybiosis along the lines of the Royal Society of Chemistry.     

Building a cathedral

This article describes the scientific legacy of Dr. Leon Wolfe, with illustrations from his contributions to insect physiology, glycolipid, and eicosanoid biochemistry as well as to our understanding of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses and lysosomal storage diseases. In addition to the written record, Wolfe inspired all who knew him with his boundless imagination and enthusiasm for science and his ability to see the promise and potential of every experiment.