266 



National Resources Planning Board 



Is it possible to train individuals for siuh a broad 

 field? The answer must conic from biological dcpart- 

 ments in the colleges and universities throughout the 

 country. It is their opportunity and their responsi- 

 bility to develop the inquisitive mind as well as to 

 point out the application of scientific discoveries to 

 industry. 



Trends in Biological Research and 

 New Developments 



The history of biology is marked by many changes in 

 the major lines of investigation. Beginning with sys- 

 tematic reports on classification, there have been periods 

 of intensive study of various subjects, depending upon 

 the powerful personality and creative mind of a great 

 leader and the discovery and application of new and 

 important apparatus or methods; the microscope; the 

 Mendelian method of mvestigating inheritance; the con- 

 cept of hydrogen-ion concentration, etc. These and 

 other discoveries have exerted a profound influence on 

 the development of biological research. Biology origi- 

 nally was limited to a study of plants or animals as they 

 occur in nature — "natural history." Now biologists 

 are concerned with the experimental approach or with a 

 study of the nature and mode of action of the living 

 organism. 



The recent development in food research illustrates 

 this point. The studies have been made along two 

 lines: (1) Investigations relating to raw materials, the 

 production of varieties adapted to special conditions, 

 and (2) investigations of various methods for processing, 

 e. g., quick freezing of fruits, vegetables, and meats; 

 the storage and transportation of food products in an 

 atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide and nitrogen but low 

 in oxygen and at low temperatures. 



The study of enzymes, their properties, mode of 

 action and their role in normal and pathological con- 

 ditions is one of the attractive fields of investigation. 

 The great problem is to get these agents in purified form 

 and to study their properties. 



The manufacture of hormones for the treatment of 

 disturbances in metabolism and stimulating the growth 

 of both plants and animals is another important indus- 

 try that requires the attention of research workers 

 broadly trained in biology and chemistry. 



There exists today a growing appreciation of the 

 importance of viruses and of the need for further 

 research. This subject may be divided into three main 

 lines: (1) The general properties of viruses; (2) methods 

 of infection; (3) the occurrence of viruses in diseases. 

 The cultivation of viruses on the chorio-allantoic 

 membrane of the developing chick embryo and by 

 other methods has proved an invaluable tool and 

 already the practical applications are so important that 

 extensive investigations are planned in this field. 



The development of sulfanilamide and related com- 

 pounds has opened the door to a better understanding 

 of the value of certain chemical compounds in the treat- 

 ment of diseases. Chemotherapeutic agents used in 

 the treatment of streptococcal infections, pneumonia, 

 and menmgitis have also produced amazing results. 

 At present the organic chemists and biologists are 

 carrj'ing on extensive investigations in this field. 



One of the most significant trends is that of vitamin 

 research. The discovery of better and more sensitive 

 methods for detecting symptoms of a deficiency of the 

 vitamins has been one of the major aims of recent 

 research. An entirely new concept is now developing. 

 The vitamins are but part of an enzyme mechanism 

 involving usually a protein combination. The func- 

 tion and interaction of these systems in the living organ- 

 ism offer a challenge to the investigator. 



Fimdamentally these developments have been a 

 result of the break with tradition and the liberation of 

 men's minds which occurred during the fourteenth and 

 fifteenth centuries. Freedom of initiative and enter- 

 prise have permitted the application of basic discoveries 

 to human welfare. The swing of the pendulum is now 

 in the other direction and in many coimtries the in- 

 creasing authority of government may hamper and 

 delay or discourage new developments. Sympathetic 

 cooperation between govemuTent and industry and 

 maintenance of a symbiotic relationship between State- 

 controlled and privately controlled research laboratories 

 must be fostered if the fruits of our expanding sj^stem of 

 knowdedge are to be enjoyed by all. But men of thor- 

 ough scientific trainmg, wide vision, and sound ethics 

 must staff these organizations for effective results. 



There exists extensive opportunity for the biologist 

 who has a broad fimdamental knowledge of chemistry' 

 and a close acquaintance with physics in addition to a 

 well roimded training in general biology. 



Bibliography 



Books 



American Institute of Physics. Physics in industry. New 



York, American Institute of Physics, 1937. 290 p. 

 .A.MEBICAN Medical Association. The vitamins. Chicago, 



American Medical Association, 1939. 637 p. 

 Annual review of biochemistry, v. 1-9. Stanford University, 



Cal., Stanford University Press, 1932-40. 9 v. 

 Annual review of physiology, v. 1-2. Stanford University, 



Cal., Stanford University Press, 1939-40. 2 v. 

 Block, R. J. The determination of the amino acids. Minne- 

 apolis, Minn., Burgess Publishing Company, 1938. 91 p. 

 Boysen-Jensen, P. Growth hormones in plants. Tr. by Avery, 



George S., Jr., and Burkholder, Paul R. New York, London, 



McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1936. 26S p. 

 Chemical Society (London). Annual reports on the progress 



of chemistry for 1904-1939. London, Gurncy and Jackson, 



1905-40. 

 Clark, W. M. The determination of hydrogen ions. Baltimore, 



Williams and Wilkins Company, 1928. 717 p. 



