12 April 2012

More than mice

I have a brief essay about the role of comparative biology in a scientific world of model organisms in the new Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology newsletter. It’s on page 4 of the Division of Neurobiology section, and it’s called “More than mice.”

I was particularly glad to be able to use this quote from August Krogh, who is best known for advocating the choice of lab animals based on experimental convenience. But Krogh was no mere pragmatist, and found delight in organisms as they were:

You will find in the lower animals mechanisms and adaptations of exquisite beauty and the most surprising character.

This quote deserves to be better known.

1 comment:

Sezame said...

Thanks a lot for the note, and for the link to the Slate series! They are very useful indeed =)