Check this site.
(Broken Link Removed)
What exactly is holistic biology and what are some examples of it? Thank you.
8 answers
This site isn't very helpful, I'm afraid.
Holistic biology uses several disciplines to study an organism. Check these paragraphs taken from the above website for examples.
"When we look at a tree growing in isolation in an open field (Figure 6) we are likely to overlook the fact that it is growing in a specific environment, under specific environmental conditions. These conditions influence the form of the plant, even if they are transparent to us. If we ignore the context, we can view the form of the tree as the most ideal and perfect representation of the species."
"This illusion is shattered when we find the same species (a lime in this case) growing under different conditions. In certain contexts we find lime trees with a single tall trunk and little crown (Figure 7: north facing slopes)."
"In others we find them with an almost shrub-like habit (Figure 8: south slopes). A tree's form is influenced by the environmental conditions under which it grows. These conditions include not only physical factors, but also the forms of the other trees growing in the same area."
Other examples are given in the web site.
"When we look at a tree growing in isolation in an open field (Figure 6) we are likely to overlook the fact that it is growing in a specific environment, under specific environmental conditions. These conditions influence the form of the plant, even if they are transparent to us. If we ignore the context, we can view the form of the tree as the most ideal and perfect representation of the species."
"This illusion is shattered when we find the same species (a lime in this case) growing under different conditions. In certain contexts we find lime trees with a single tall trunk and little crown (Figure 7: north facing slopes)."
"In others we find them with an almost shrub-like habit (Figure 8: south slopes). A tree's form is influenced by the environmental conditions under which it grows. These conditions include not only physical factors, but also the forms of the other trees growing in the same area."
Other examples are given in the web site.
Aren't those examples just explaining that the environment should be examined because it plays a role on the individual?
Is that really all the holistic view is about? I thought it had something to do with only looking at the whole and the input and the output, not what is going on inside. I just can't totally apply this to biology.
Is that really all the holistic view is about? I thought it had something to do with only looking at the whole and the input and the output, not what is going on inside. I just can't totally apply this to biology.
Apparently holistic biology isn't a very common or popular concept. Just as holistic medicine looks at the whole person -- spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual -- holistic biology looks at the entire organism -- its environment as well as its individual parts.
I Googled "holistic biology," looked at many web sites, and these were the best I found. You may want to check a college library to see what may be there that's not available on the internet.
I checked Steven Jay Gould, and although the term holistic biolgy doesn't seem to be associated with him, you may want to read about his work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Jay_Gould
I Googled "holistic biology," looked at many web sites, and these were the best I found. You may want to check a college library to see what may be there that's not available on the internet.
I checked Steven Jay Gould, and although the term holistic biolgy doesn't seem to be associated with him, you may want to read about his work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Jay_Gould
Stanford University offers a class in holistic biology.
http://holisticbiology.stanford.edu/faculty.html
http://holisticbiology.stanford.edu/faculty.html
A final thought --
It's said that biologists who study birds keep their eyes raised to the sky and treetops. Biologists who study plants keep their eyes on the ground. Perhaps holistic biology aims to have all biologists be aware of everything that surrounds life.
It's said that biologists who study birds keep their eyes raised to the sky and treetops. Biologists who study plants keep their eyes on the ground. Perhaps holistic biology aims to have all biologists be aware of everything that surrounds life.
Okay thanks.