Role of Theory in Advancing 21st-Century Biology

Committee on Defining and Advancing the Conceptual Basis of Biological Sciences in the 21st Century, National Research Council

• 1 Front Matter; 2 Summary; 3 1 Introduction; 4 2 The Integral Role of Theory in Biology; 5 3 Are There Still New Life Forms to Be Discovered? The Diversity of Life - Why It Exists and Why It's Important; 6 4 What Role Does Life Play in the Metabolism of Planet Earth?; 7 5 How Do Cells Really Work?; 8 6 What Are the Engineering Principles of Life?; 9 7 What Is the Information That Defines and Sustains Life?; 10 8 What Determines How Organisms Behave in Their Worlds?; 11 9 How Much Can We Tell About the Past - and Predict About the Future - by Studying Life on Earth Today?; 12 10 Education:Learning to Think About the Elephant; 13 11 Findings and Recommendations; 14 References; 15 Appendix A: Statement of Task; 16 Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members; 17 Appendix C: Workshop on Defining and Advancing the Conceptual Basis of Biological Science for the 21st Century