Research progress and development trends of life sciences in the 21st century

The tremendous progress made in various fields of life sciences in the second half of the 20th century, especially the breakthrough achievements in molecular biology, has made The position of life sciences in natural sciences has undergone revolutionary changes. Many scientists believe that life sciences will become the leading discipline in the future natural sciences, and even predict that the 21st century will be the century of biology, although there are currently different opinions on these conclusions. Views, but there is no doubt that life sciences will continue to flourish in the 21st century, and life sciences will play a huge role in promoting natural sciences, no less than physics in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. If life sciences had been Thanks to the rapid development achieved by the introduction of concepts, methods and technologies from disciplines such as physics, chemistry and mathematics, in the future life sciences will provide positive feedback and rewards to other disciplines of natural sciences in a unique way. When the 21st century When the time comes, some far-sighted scientists, thinkers and politicians will place their hope on the solution of many increasingly serious human social problems, such as population, global environment, food, resources and health, etc., in the life sciences and biotechnology. Progress.

2· 08· Life sciences will become the leading discipline of natural sciences in the 21st century

The discovery of the DNA double helix structure model in the 1950s, followed by the "central dogma" of genetic information transmission "The establishment of "DNA" and the establishment of DNA recombinant technology have fundamentally changed the face of life sciences. The combination of molecular biology and genetics will determine the content of the 3 billion base pairs (genetic code) of the human genome in 10 to 15 years. There are about 100,000 genes in human cells. So far, 20% of the "working draft" of the human genome has been sequenced with an accuracy and completion rate of 99.99%. In the future, a large number of new important genes will continue to be discovered and elucidated, such as those that control memory. Genes related to behavior, genes controlling cell senescence and programmed death, new oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and genes related to a large number of diseases. These results will be used to serve human health.

70 After the 1990s, with the development of molecular biology and the emergence of bioengineering represented by genetic engineering, biotechnology made it possible to purposely improve the traits and qualities of organisms through the precise cutting and purposeful recombination of DNA chains. So far, biology The achievements of engineering have shown attractive prospects in production. Although there are still many controversial issues, it is likely to become an emerging industry in the 21st century.

Developmental biology will rapidly develop It will answer a major unsolved issue that countless scientists have been pursuing for more than 100 years. How does a fertilized egg develop into an individual with extremely complex structure and function through cell division and differentiation? It will also clarify the orderly program control mechanism in time and space during individual development. This creates conditions for humans to completely control the growth and development of animals and plants.

The discovery that RNA molecules have both genetic information and enzymatic functions has solved the problem of "how life originated" that has been stagnant for decades. It provides new opportunities. In the 21st century, people will also try to artificially synthesize living organisms in the laboratory. It is possible to use biotechnology to amplify the DNA of ancient organisms or freeze-dried corpses preserved in special environments to reveal their genetics. Code, establish a gene library of extinct organisms, and study the evolution and classification of organisms.

The rise of neuroscience heralds the arrival of another peak in life sciences. The brain is an extremely complex organism containing 1011 cells. Advanced structural system, at the beginning of the 21st century there will be major breakthroughs in the study of brain functions at all levels from the molecular to behavioral levels, and there will also be major progress in elucidating the mechanisms of learning, memory, thinking, behavior and emotions. Brain function in theory Progress in this field will promote the development of a new generation of intelligent computers, which may become the best example of the return of life sciences to natural sciences and technical sciences in the future.

Ecology may be the most directly serving the human living environment and A science that plays an important role in the sustainable and coordinated development of the national economy. The theory and practice of ecology provide an example of the decision-making basis for the construction of China's Three Gorges Reservoir. Protecting biological diversity is one of the most urgent tasks in the current life sciences. According to reliable The data shows that about 100 kinds of creatures become extinct on the earth every day. Many creatures have perished before they are recognized by humans. This is undoubtedly a disaster for mankind. Ecology and biodiversity protection are related to

The research results utilized will guide human beings to follow the laws of nature and actively protect their living environment, otherwise human material civilization and spiritual civilization will be catastrophically affected.

In response to the rapid development of life sciences, the governments of developed countries and Some international organizations have successively proposed investments such as the International Geosphere and Biosphere Plan, the Human Genome Mapping and Sequencing Plan, the Human Frontier Science Plan, the Decade of the Brain, and the Research on Biodiversity Utilization and Protection Huge life science research plan. Among them, the "Human Genome Mapping and Sequencing Project" alone has a budget of up to 3 billion US dollars.

Due to the development of life sciences, the demand for talents has surged. In recent years, in addition to Vietnam More and more physicists, chemists and technical scientists are attracted outside the field of biological research. Taking the United States as an example, statistics in recent years show that among the 480,000 doctoral degree recipients, 51% are engaged in life sciences. Outstanding young scientists are flowing into life sciences. Frontier, this is the driving force and source of the prosperity of life sciences in the 21st century.

2. 08. 2 Major subdisciplines and development trends of life sciences at the beginning of the 21st century

In the 1980s, far-sighted biologists listed molecular biology (including molecular genetics), cell biology, neurobiology and ecology as As the four basic disciplines of current biological sciences, they undoubtedly correctly reflect the general trend of modern life sciences. Genetics (mainly molecular genetics) is not only the leading subject in biological sciences at present, but will also maintain its role in life for many years to come. The core role in science.

Some scientists have long predicted that the combination of molecular biology, cell biology and genetics will inevitably promote the vigorous development of developmental biology, thus proposing that developmental biology will become As the "new master" of life sciences in the 21st century, this prediction has gradually become a reality.

The mainstream status of molecular biology (including molecular genetics) in life sciences, and its role in promoting the entire life sciences The huge role it plays in the development of biological sciences is indisputable. Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life activities. As a basic subject of biological sciences, cell biology must be paid attention to.

Many biological scientists believe that neural The rise of science or brain science will represent the next peak in the development of life sciences, which will then promote the rise of cognitive science and behavioral science.

Ecology may be the most direct service to the human living environment, and it is also good for the human living environment. A discipline that plays an important role in the sustained and coordinated development of the national economy.

A. Molecular biology

Molecular biology is a discipline that studies the nature and laws of life phenomena at the molecular level. Nucleic acids and Protein (some people think sugar) is the most basic substance of life, so the study of the structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins will still be the main content of molecular biology research in the future. Protein is the main bearer of life activities, and almost all life activities require Relying on proteins (including enzymes). In addition to elucidating the structure of the peptide chain formed by amino acids and having a certain order, the study of protein molecular structure and function will also pay special attention to the specific three-dimensional space structure formed by the disassembly of the peptide chain, because The biological function of protein is closely related to its spatial configuration. Nucleic acid is the carrier and transmitter of genetic information. The transmission process of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein is called the "central dogma" of genetic information transmission and is the basis of molecular biology. The core of scientific (molecular genetics) research. Its basic issues have become relatively clear. The current research focus is:

① After about 10 to 15 years, the complete sequence of 3 billion base pairs of the human genome (genetic Password) can be measured, which is a landmark work;

② The study of the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression processes at all levels is still a task for a long time to come. The concept of molecular biology , methods and techniques and the penetration of various disciplines are forming many new disciplines, such as molecular genetics, cellular molecular biology, neuromolecular biology, molecular taxonomy, molecular pharmacology and molecular pathology, etc. Therefore, molecular biology The leading role in life sciences will continue.

B. Genetics

Genetics has its own independent subject system than molecular biology. But modern genetics and molecules Biology is an inseparable and intersecting subject, and it is difficult to separate it completely.

Some famous geneticists generally refer to genetics as genetics, because modern genetics is mainly studied by graduate students.

The subject of the transmission and expression of genetic information in objects. The information carried by genes is determined by the structure of the gene, and the expression of information is realized by the function of the gene. Therefore, genetics studies the structure and function of genes. From the perspective of genetics , the mechanisms of all life phenomena are ultimately related to the structure and function of genes. Therefore, genetics will remain the core discipline and driving force of life sciences for a long time to come.

Some people estimate that the amount of DNA in human cells is There are about 100,000 genes, less than 5% of which have been understood so far. Therefore, the discovery and elucidation of new genes related to important life activities and diseases will be an important task in the next few decades.

C .Cell Biology

As early as the 1920s, the famous biologist Wilson put forward a famous saying that "all key biological problems must be found in cells", which still has profound connotations to this day. Weismann and Morgan both tried to establish a unified theory of inheritance, development and evolution based on cell research. Although no specific solution was found at that time, the importance of knowledge about cells in biological sciences is obvious. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function of all life activities. Cell biology is the science that studies the basic laws of cell life activities, the structure of cells, cell metabolism, cell inheritance, cell proliferation and differentiation, transmission of cell information and cell communication. etc. are the main research contents of cell biology. Although the content of future cell biology research will be comprehensive, it may be summarized in two basic points:

First, the importance of how genes and gene products control cells Life activities, such as growth, proliferation, differentiation and aging, involve a completely new issue here, how signals are transmitted inside and outside cells; second, how gene products—protein molecules and other biomolecules—construct and assemble into the structure of cells. Execute the orderly life activities of cells in parallel.

In the next 20 years or so, important progress and breakthroughs are expected to be made in the following issues:

① The main issues in the storage, replication and expression of genetic information The structure and function of the executor-chromosome may be elucidated at different structural levels.

② Research on the cytoskeleton (including the nucleoskeleton and chromosome skeleton) will make all-round progress.

③The combination of cell biology, molecular biology and genetics will make important breakthroughs in the study of cell differentiation mechanisms and lay the foundation for the rapid development of developmental biology.

④Cellular aging and cellular programs The mechanism of chemical death will be elucidated at a deeper level.

⑤ By combining cell and molecular biology as the backbone subject with other disciplines, the ideal of artificially assembling living bodies may gradually be realized.

D ． Developmental biology

How a fertilized egg develops into an individual with complex structure and function through cell division and differentiation is a major issue in life science that has not yet been solved, and it is also the main topic of developmental biology. Due to the series of breakthrough results and knowledge accumulation in molecular biology, genetics and cell biology in recent decades, conditions have been created to solve this major issue. This is where developmental biology will emerge in the future. The reason for the rapid development.

The basic problem to be solved in developmental biology today is how the genes of cells can selectively express specific proteins according to a certain spatiotemporal relationship, thereby controlling cell differentiation and individual development. Elucidating how genes control embryonic development at multiple levels is not only a matter of individual genes, but also a series of regulatory genes that are connected and coordinated in space and time to control the development process. Although this is an extremely difficult subject, But in recent years, there have been initial signs and breakthroughs. It is estimated that developmental biology will continue along this path in the future and is expected to achieve fruitful results.

E. Neuroscience (or brain science) < /p>

Neuroscience is a group of disciplines that studies the structure and function of the nervous system (mainly the brain) of humans and animals, and elucidates the activity patterns of the nervous system, especially the brain, at the molecular level, neural network level, overall level and even behavioral level. The structure and function of the brain is an extremely complex advanced system, containing 10 11 cells. It is the basis of sensation, movement, learning, memory, emotion, behavior and thinking. Brain cells, how to guide the behavior of humans and animals is the future The most potential and attractive field in biology; the rise of neuroscience heralds the arrival of another peak in life sciences. Neuroscience or brain science

Science will inevitably promote the rise of cognitive science and behavioral science in the next century. Therefore, it is not unreasonable for governments to invest heavily in supporting this topic, including the "naming January 1, 1990, the Decade of the Brain" signed by the President of the United States. < /p>

Breakthrough advances in neuroscience that can be predicted in the next few decades may include:

① Elucidate the mechanisms of learning, memory and cognition at various levels from molecules to behavior Basics;

②A series of genes and gene products related to memory and behavior will soon be discovered and elucidated;

③The research on the differentiation of nerve cells and the development of the nervous system will be significant. Progress;

④ Theoretical progress and breakthroughs in brain function (such as pattern recognition, associative memory, and elucidation of logical thinking mechanisms) will promote the development of a new generation of intelligent computers and intelligent robots;

F. Ecology (including species diversity protection research)

Ecology is the science that studies the relationship between organisms and the surrounding environment - including the abiotic environment and the biological environment. Since the theory and application of ecology are related to the world environment Protection, rational development and protection of resources, and the continued survival of human beings on the earth are closely related. Especially when the earth's environment is deteriorating day by day, the importance of ecology becomes very prominent. The main task of ecology in the future is to coordinate human beings The relationship between activities and the environment. Therefore, the concepts and research contents of the classic discipline of ecology must constantly change to adapt to the requirements of the protection of the human living environment and the sustainable development of social economy.

The focus of future ecological research may be In the following aspects:

① The relationship between the diversity, stability and evolution of ecological communities and human activities;

② The impact of global climate change on the structure and function of ecosystems; < /p>

③The protection and sustainable use of biological diversity is also more urgent to protect human beings’ own living environment, especially to save species on the verge of extinction;

④Urban ecology and economic ecology Science will develop rapidly;

⑤ Ecological engineering and ecological technology will play a role in the construction of the national economy.

G. Space Life Sciences

The space environment poses new challenges to life sciences and also provides opportunities for the development of life sciences.

In the 21st century, human space activities will leave the vicinity of the earth and explore The moon and other parts of the solar system in general. This requires people to live and work for a long time in various environments outside the earth. First of all, in long-term space navigation, lunar stations, and Mars or Mars stations, etc. Space medicine must have major Breakthroughs to solve physiological problems such as osteoporosis, muscle atrophy, and functional changes caused by rabbit disease that astronauts encounter in long-term extraterrestrial space. At the same time, related to the expansion of Dajiang is a controlled ecosystem, creating an environment that does not require external supplies. , and an environment in which people can live for a long time. These problems are expected to be solved in the 20s to 30s of the 21st century, and it is possible to achieve some major breakthroughs in space physiology using the methods of traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

The outer space of the earth provides ideal conditions for the study of gravity biology. The impact of gravity conditions on various hierarchical structures of organisms is still the theme of gravity biology in the 21st century. Future research will focus on cells, green plants, some microorganisms and Small animals. In particular, the impact of gravity environment on mammalian cell morphology, structure, variation and gene expression will be a hot topic. The academic significance of gravity biology lies in revealing the role of gravity effects in the process of biological evolution, which is a basic issue in natural science. On the other hand, the results of gravity biology will be the basis for application fields such as space pharmaceuticals and space ecosystems. The academic and application of gravity biology are important topics in the next century, and are expected to be achieved in the 20s and 30s of the 21st century. Breakthrough progress.

The exploration of extraterrestrial organisms is a major issue in the origin of life, among which the exploration of intelligent organisms beyond the earth is a long-term issue. Human beings on the earth are transmitting radio waves and receiving signals to outer space .The possible academic and technological gap between aliens and earthlings is not only a danger, but also a major cutting-edge issue in natural science that will be continuously studied.

2. 08． 5 The most important aspects of life sciences at the beginning of the 21st century

Potential areas for breakthrough

①The complete sequence (genetic code) of the human genome will be determined in 10-15 years, laying the foundation for the decipherment of all genetic information.

②And life Important genes related to activity and genes related to important diseases will be discovered one after another. Among them, the genes that control memory and behavior, the genes that control aging and programmed cell death, the series of genes that control cell proliferation, the genes that control embryonic development and many other things are particularly eye-catching. Hierarchical network regulatory genes. The discovery of new oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and the elucidation of their biological functions will greatly improve the understanding of the nature of life.

③ Advanced life activities of humans and animals: perception, thinking

④ There will be a comprehensive breakthrough in the treatment of cancer, and the prevention and treatment of AIDS will be under control.

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⑤On the basis of elucidating the origin of primitive life on earth, humans may also synthesize life forms in the laboratory, which should have the basic characteristics of primitive cells.