Re: [ECOLOG-L] Palin laughs at fruit fly research

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Sean_McKenzie?=]

As a recent college graduate I have had the privilege to learn the
importance of model organisms in scientific research.  I understand the need
for small genomes, fast generations, and prolific reproduction.  I
understand this though only because I majored in biology.  Now considering
that I am probably one of the least educated biologists reading ECOLOG, I
think that perhaps the very eloquent arguments that are posted on this forum
need to be addressed to the public and to the candidates.  Drosophila,
Arabidopsis, E. coli, S. cerevisiae, etc. are not charismatic and are easy
targets for ignorant politicians like Palin to lambaste.  If we as the
scientific community stress the importance of model organism (maternal
effect gene, the lac operon, the abc model of flora development just to name
a few of the discoveries cornerstone to the advancement of biology),
politicians who make uneducated claims about wasteful spending on research
will seem sophomoric in the eyes of the public.   As a corollary, we need to
ensure that in high school biology programs, scientific method is put into a
framework specific to biology...many high school biology programs stick to
the grossly oversimplified Observation -> hypothesis -> Experimentation ->
Discovery loop.  We need high schoolers, not just undergraduates (and
especially not just biology majors) to understand that model organisms are
critical for studying some of the most complex genetic, physiological,
evolutionary and ecological phenomena.  That will ensure that our public
will not vote for candidate who seek to undermine some of our most important
theoretical research; the public will understand that practical applications
need the guidance of a theoretical framework based on research with model
organisms.  Let's not let our discontent with Palin's antiquated and
delusional view of science be confined to ECOLOG.  Instead let's take action
(letters to the editor, blogs on online forums, etc)  to let the people know
the importance of this work and short-sightedness of the GOP
vice-presidential candidate.