Preface 



Modern biology is the product of years of evolution. Many problems have 

 been solved by the classical descriptive approach. More and more, the 

 remaining questions are intimately concerned with the responses of the indi- 

 vidual cell, or with subtle interrelationships. These problems remain because 

 they are difficult to observe. It has become increasingly important to rely 

 upon quantitative observations and upon the tools provided by chemistry, 

 physics, and mathematics. 



The great middle ground between the biological and physical sciences can 

 can be approached from either side. Biologists continue the attack using their 

 own methods. Numerous competent physical scientists have been challenged 

 by the intricacy of the living organism. Unfortunately, communications 

 between these two groups are often difficult. The biologist considers the 

 physical scientist with awe, and the physical scientist considers the biologist 

 with either awe or disdain. Some of us are foolhardy enough to think that 

 we can operate at the middle of this area and can arrive at answers most 

 directly. We prefer to be called physically-oriented biologists rather than 

 biophysicists or biochemists. But the experimental approach is the same. 



A fraction of the failure of communications between the biological and 

 physical sciences results from impressions or prejudices developed during 

 the training period. The present work was undertaken in an attempt to 

 introduce the biologist and the physical scientist to each other at an early 

 age, before these preconceptions have a chance to deA'elop. The chief hope 

 is that young biologists can learn to appreciate the physical approach to 

 problems and that the young physical scientist can learn some of the fascina- 

 tion of biological research. 



The book has grown out of a course that is offered at the University of 

 Utah. This course in Experimental Biology is itself an experimental intro- 

 duction to biological research. Experience has taught us that undergraduates 

 can apply the experimental approach to biological problems. This book was 

 written to help make the learning processes faster and easier. In addition, 

 some graduate students seem not to know some of the things they should 

 have learned as undergraduates. But where and when were they supposed 



