First of all, molecular biology will play a leading role in life sciences. Molecular biology has penetrated into every branch of biology. A large number of interdisciplinary subjects such as molecular genetics, molecular cell biology, molecular neurobiology, molecular taxonomy, and molecular ecology have also been established to explore the basic laws of life activities at the molecular level, including the laws of growth and development, cells The laws of apoptosis, the laws of energy metabolism and material metabolism, the laws of nerve conduction and brain function, the laws of biological distribution, and the laws of biological signal transmission. I think this is the first trend.
Second, although molecular biology plays a dominant role in the development of biology, biology is still developing in two directions. One is in the microscopic direction, to reveal the laws of life on molecules and atoms. On the other hand, it is developing in a macro direction. From the populations, communities, ecosystems, and biosphere in ecology, we will even develop into the field of extraterrestrial life. A science of space biology emerges. With the growth of population, scarcity of resources and environmental pollution, people are forced to look for new resources and homes in spaces other than the earth. In the 20th century, aerospace technology developed greatly. Satellites were launched into the sky, humans landed on the moon, and space stations were established. Space biology was combined with biology and came into being. It includes extraterrestrial zoology, extraterrestrial botany, extraterrestrial microbiology, extraterrestrial physiology, aerospace medicine, etc. That is to study the special laws of life in the special environment of outer space. This is unquestionable in a theoretical and practical sense.
Third, the thinking model of life sciences will also change. With the development of corresponding disciplines in natural sciences, such as complex systems theory, nonlinear theory, cybernetics, information theory, etc., biologists' perspectives on life phenomena and research perspectives will undergo great changes. In the past, our research problems were too localized, such as studying a supramolecular system to see its laws. This kind of in vitro research is still local. If we want to put it into cells, do the original rules still apply? Are the properties of the molecule the same as in vitro? Put it into the entire biological organism and see its functions. This is holistic thinking. Our scientific research thinking is shifting from the local to the whole, and once again from linear thinking to non-linear thinking. The method transitions from pure analysis to a combination of analysis and comprehensive methods.
The fourth point is that the model of biological research work will undergo revolutionary changes. In the past, biological research, both macroscopic and microscopic, was conducted by a single person or a single group in a laboratory or an ivory tower. Today's development of big science, such as human genome research, research in the post-genomic era is not so independent, but joint research across regions, countries, and laboratories. This pattern is already evident in the Human Genome Project. Six countries are involved in this massive project. This will form a trend, or mainstream. Of course, I am not excluding individual studies here. For example, source innovation cannot be a corps operation. A team of hundreds or even thousands of people work together to create an original creation. It is very likely that it can be derived from a group or someone's in-depth thinking on a problem.
Fifth point, biology in contemporary times increasingly relies on the parallel development of large-scale instruments. Just like contemporary astronomy, if it wants to reveal more secrets of the universe, it must rely on large-diameter telescopes. If you want to do your job well, you must first sharpen your tools. In the human genome project, the large-scale separation of DNA, large-scale gene transcription, and the relationship between proteins and genes would not be monitored by advanced automated instruments and robots. Molecular biology cannot develop without the support of these engineering technologies. Of course, these instruments must be combined with biology to study the instruments, and the superb wisdom of biologists, information scientists, physicists, and technicians is indispensable. Nowadays, people study ultrafast phenomena in living organisms. With the help of fast lasers, they can study the transient changes in living organisms within 10-15 seconds. I believe that in the future, with technological updates, we can explore the attosecond (10-18 seconds) level. Flying lasers can already enter commercial production. To be introduced into the field of biology, they must meet the requirements of biologists.
The sixth point is that the intersection and penetration of multiple disciplines is an inevitable trend in contemporary natural sciences.
In this century, it is certain that mankind must seek more opportunities on interdisciplinary, marginal and comprehensive issues. Physicists and chemists used to study the laws of matter in non-biological systems. Substance transformation in living organisms. The revelation of the laws of energy transfer also fascinates them. In non-biological systems, the above phenomena may only involve the interaction between pigments. In complex biological systems, membranes, sugars, and proteins may also be involved. The energy conversion in such a complex condensed matter is so fast. , the efficiency is so high, what is the mechanism? The only way to find the answer is to rely on physicists, chemists, and biologists to work together to overcome this difficulty. Because although physicists and chemists have knowledge of the structure of matter, it is impossible to study a cell or an entire plant. It is probably the task of biologists who will purify the required biological macromolecules. Some people predict that in this century, the gap between the physical world and the living world is entirely likely to be broken and an organic whole will be formed. At some point it will be impossible to tell who is a physicist, who is a chemist, and who is a biologist. Now a number of new disciplines have been established internationally, including chemical biology, mathematical biology, and physical biology.
Seventh point, the integration of basic research and applied research in biology is getting closer and closer. This is consistent with the characteristics of today's science. The cycle from invention to technology application in production is getting shorter and shorter, and even basic research and applied research are combined from the beginning. In the era of genomics, the deciphering of gene sequences into protein structures immediately becomes a company's expensive product and patent. Although not all current basic research has clear application goals, the trend is clear. Genomics not only studies humans but also other important model organisms. They contain great industrial and agricultural value and are popular targets for biological companies. At the same time, the development of biological resources, genetic engineering, protein engineering, biochips, and bioelectronic device industries will surely promote the country's economy and even its overall national strength.