Favourite areas of biology?

GLaDOS

What topics in biology are you particularly interested in?

I love anything to do with genetics or microbiology.
I love finding out about how such little things have such profound implications on our everyday life. And it seriously annoys me when people try to talk about evolution when they don't have a clue:mad:

Kevster

hmmm, there's something wrong with this question because Biology is - entirely - a very interesting subject! However, I really love Vitamins and Amino Acids for some bizarre reason; and I also adore everything about microbiology. The area of research that I'm in now involves Heparin and other Glycosaminoglycans, of which I also love.

r3nu4l

Well I qualified as a molecular microbiologist before moving into immunodiagnostics development but my favourite part of all the research I did was proteomics and mass spectrometry so I guess you could say that proteomics was my favourite part of Biology.

However, I do really enjoy molecular genetics and immunology and loved studying those topics in University.

Tree

immunodiagnostics development you say eh? how does one get into that?

I like sticking antibodies to things for counting purposes, so clinical chemistry and transfusion science are my favourite things until i qualify. I think stuff that drags in physics adn chemistry to the biology lab are wonderful.

As a counterpoint to my favourite areas, i despise HATE and so on microbiology. smelly plates of bugs are not cool...

r3nu4l

Tree wrote: »

immunodiagnostics development you say eh? how does one get into that?

For me, it was initially through cloning of genes and the subsequent expression of their protein products. We then partnered with another lab that produced antibodies to our proteins...and the rest went from there. However, I then got majorly sidetracked by protein analysis using mass spec and loved that

Tree

Awesome. I have yet to talk to two ppl who got into diagnostics development through the same routes.

Kevster

Those 'smelly' bacterial plates are actually quite nice I think. By the end of my degree, you could kind of tell which smell equated to which organism. E. coli had a very distinct smell.

WeeBushy

I'm really interested in GMOs. The controversy surrounding them and the incredible potential they possess fascinates me.

Kevster

WeeBushy wrote: »

I'm really interested in GMOs. The controversy surrounding them and the incredible potential they possess fascinates me.

You're probably referring to animals and bacteria when you mention that, right? However, GM plants is a huge area too, and right on our doortstep too: Teagasc are heavily involved in GMing crops. I had a tour of their place in Carlow last year and it's quite impressive the stuff they're doing there.

WeeBushy

Kevster wrote: »

You're probably referring to animals and bacteria when you mention that, right? However, GM plants is a huge area too, and right on our doortstep too: Teagasc are heavily involved in GMing crops. I had a tour of their place in Carlow last year and it's quite impressive the stuff they're doing there.

No no, GM plants as well. I know, with my course we were meant to go on a tour of Oak Park to see their work but unfortunately it never came to be. I have read a lot of their research, and I'd agree that it looks very impressive.

biomed32

medical microbiology
immune signalling
medical mycology

mcrdotcom

Cytology and really anything in the human body...so medical science and stuff.

SarahBM

I love anything to do with Histopathology and Immunology!!! Didnt think I would like Immunology when we started it but now I love it! who knew T cells could be so interesting! and Macrophages rock!

I also loved cytology, such a pity there are no opertunities in that area in Ireland! Thank you mary harney!

As for micro! I hate smelly plates of bugs also. but equally despise machines and analysers!

r3nu4l

SarahBM wrote: »

...but equally despise machines and analysers!

You'd better get used to machines and analysers if you want to be an immunologist ELISA plate readers, FACS machines and many other types of analysis machines used in most bio labs, immunology or not

Have to agree though, immunology is exciting stuff!

SarahBM

I prefer Histology by far. Im doing Cellular Pathology for my Major and Clinical Immunology for my Minor. Immunology requires thought and there is a whole process to figuring out whats wrong with a patient. its like a puzzle. but biochem etc. you put a tube on a machine and you get a number out and that s it. Not for me!

Tree

FACS

taram

I'm more of an old-fashioned kinda gal
Evolution, agriculture, botany, entomology, mycology, population genetics (in particular geographic speciation), paleontology, GM of plants, and my current favourite love: phytopathology

SarahBM

whats Phytopathology? sounds interesting!!!

taram

SarahBM wrote: »

whats Phytopathology? sounds interesting!!!

Study of plant diseases. It is interesting, might not be so much by the end of the year, but I'm enjoying it now

SarahBM

Plants dont really do it for me Im afraid, but hey!! what ever floats your boat!

Tree

That's only because you haven't met the right plant...

SarahBM

Ah! your the only plant for me Tree!!! :D:D:):D:D:D

tatabubbly

Loved tumour biology and the immunology i done during my course... all them t-cells and b-cells... lovely stuff!

SarahBM

tatabubbly wrote: »

Loved tumour biology and the immunology i done during my course... all them t-cells and b-cells... lovely stuff!

I agree Tcells rock!

Somnus

Kevster wrote: »

hmmm, there's something wrong with this question because Biology is - entirely - a very interesting subject!

Exactly!!

I do particularly like microbiology though, or anything to do with cells really. It's fascinating looking at cells under a microscope in real life and seeing all the organelles that are part of it. That's what really made me love Biology back in secondary school and I love looking at agar plates after something has started growing on them in college

I like genetics too, particularly in relation to sexual diversity,genetic variations and mutations etc. Only in second year though so I've no in depth knowledge yet :P

SarahBM

What course? sounds diverse!

Somnus

SarahBM wrote: »

What course? sounds diverse!

Genetics and Cell Biology in DCU

SarahBM

Oh that sounds interesting. and very hard!

Im final year Biomedical science in DIT

piby

Medical Microbiology (Bacterial, viral etc.)
Parasitology
Applied Microbiology
Human Physiology (Only did limited amounts of this but loved it!)

It's funny because I spent the whole of my microbiology degree thinking I didn't like it but I suppose now that the pressure of tests and stuff is gone I've realised I'm really interested in it

StevoTG

Animal Behaviour/Ethology (Including human behaviour and psychology)
Ecology
Genetics/Evolution
Geography

They're the areas that interest me most.. so you can imagine how I feel at the thought of all of the physics and chemistry that await in year 1 of a bachelor of science degree

lorebringer

Epidemiology and medical mycology - my thesis was on Aspergillus

BotanyQueen

Botany, physiology and micro are my favs...

Bajingo

ScienceNerd wrote: »

What topics in biology are you particularly interested in?

I love anything to do with genetics or microbiology.
I love finding out about how such little things have such profound implications on our everyday life. And it seriously annoys me when people try to talk about evolution when they don't have a clue:mad:

Agreed, im only a second year undergrad and have only recently finished the evolution module of my course..but I didnt know I was looking at evolution in completely the wrong way..I see it from a genetics stand point now aswell (Dawkins changed me)..

From a person who has only dipped their toes into biology I would say that microbiology is my favourite area..although I have lot to see yet..

Duddy

Ethology - 2 modules on it this semester, cant wait!
Evolutionary Bio,
Quite fond of fungi too:)

John

Any of the squelchy bits and none of the planty bits.

McChubbin

I have a strange, morbid curiousity towards anything concerning gynaecolodgy or reproductive biolodgy. I'm not sure when or why I developed such a fascination but I'm just amazed and intrigued by the inner workings of the female body.

Maybe I was OBGYN in a previous life!

GLaDOS

McChubbin wrote: »

I have a strange, morbid curiousity towards anything concerning gynaecolodgy or reproductive biolodgy. I'm not sure when or why I developed such a fascination but I'm just amazed and intrigued by the inner workings of the female body.

Maybe I was OBGYN in a previous life!

How exactly is it morbid?

McChubbin

I dunno, but for whatever reason, I'm oddly ashamed of admitting to the fascination.

I'm also interested in what happens when we die so there's a whoile life/death theme that I gravitate towards in terms of biolodgy.