Lessons from a biological perspective

As a child, physics sometimes seemed indigestible, and math was always daunting. Since childhood, I struggled with abstract sciences, I could not get the idea behind them. On the other hand, the institute of biology seemed to be my perfect playground because it was touchable. I was able to interact with living, motile, exciting, and exotic organisms. Moreover, the sense of satisfaction that I get whenever I understand something new about my body, brain, and behavior is indescribable. Now, as a senior biotech student, I really appreciate the importance of mathematical concepts, but I would rather be hiking on mountains searching for an endemic species in an isolated region in sweltering weather than solving math problems. In short, I love dealing with tangible, realistic things.

  

In the last few years, I have been wandering in the field, trying to learn from the immense diversity of life. Life has whispered to me three key lessons that I want to talk about.

While staring admiringly at towering trees, I never thought that these dead creatures could have anything to do with me or any other animal. I was taken by shock when I first realized that all life on earth was connected. Archaea, bacteria, fungi, animals, and plants shared a common ancestor that lived billions of years ago. After this realization, I absorbed my first lesson. The outward appearances are misleading; in order to find the truth; you have to dig much deeper. Strikingly, this concept does not emanate from a single source. We do, however, observe a similar pattern in our vast and boundless universe. Every atom, proton, and electron can be traced back to a common origin (a cosmological event called singularity, which took place nearly 14 billion years ago). Furthermore, the atoms that make up every human being were created with the birth of the cosmos, eons ago. Not only life but also the universe tries to unfold its secrets. Teaching us that everything is connected, and the further we dive, the clearer the picture, or more precisely the truth.

The second finding I want to share with you is about embracing the power of change. Did you know that 99% of all species that ever lived went extinct? What made the tiny 1% survive was not mere chance, there was a hidden factor. Darwin once said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." Life teaches us to be flexible and open to change. 65 million years ago, after the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K–T) mass extinction, our ancestral mammal was able to adapt after a substantial catastrophe. On the other hand, the dinosaurs, which have ruled the earth for nearly 150 million years, failed to catch up with these sudden and drastic adjustments to their environment. Surely, we should stand for our principles and values. However, being too rigid is a recipe for self-destruction. We should be aware of the world around us, observe it, and deal with whatever is occurring.

The third lesson life taught me is about relationships. When distinct species living in the same niche interact with each other, many relationships could emerge. From these interspecific interactions, I want to highlight two: competition and mutualism. In the first, both organisms lose, while in the latter, both benefit from their association. One interesting example of mutualism is the relationship between fungi and plants; without the former, the latter would not be able to invade the land and flourish. I learned to help instead of competing. Helping others is a healthy way for you to grow.

A plant or an animal? what do you see?