[bionet.population-bio] Defining the Subject

T80SMS1@niu.bitnet (05/09/89)

In looking over the definition of population biology placed
on the bulletin board on Tues, Apr. 18, I raise the
following question:  How is the long and complex definition
given any different from "Population biology is the study
of the processes of natural selection and microevolution"?

Yours,
Sam Scheiner (T80SMS1@NIU)

LEBOUL@buclln11.bitnet (Eric Le Boulenge) (05/10/89)

Fourteen words....

The differences between the 13-words definition of population biology given
by Sam and the 27-words one "thrown through" the list on Tuesday 18th April,
are the second branch of the field (population ECOLOGY) and the main trunc
(SYNTHESIS); Sam's definition only retains one branch (population GENETICS)
and a twig of the other (natural selection), i.e. it retains only
evolutionary processes.

Sam, you threw the first missile! I hope this will turn into a fiery
intercontinental struggle (but friendly and intellectual... as long as
we just throw E-mail at each other, it will be fun!).
Thank you for the initiative,
Eric.

UDBM011@hazel.cc.kcl.ac.uk (05/10/89)

Surely the definition of "Population Biology" is bound to be artificial, and
dependant on the point of view of whoever is trying to define it; for example,
as a microbiologist my main interest in Pop-Bio is in populatin dynamics rather
than evolution. I see the need for a definition in order to indicate those
topics relevant for discussion on this particular bulletin board, but such a
definition does not need to be watertight or perfect. Further, the tendency to
try to assign limits to subjects within, say, University departments is, in my
experience, often obstructive as it tends to discourage research at the fringes
of a "subject" and between disciplines.

I would suggest that subject descriptions should serve only to highlight areas
of interest, and would add that I have never come across a definition of a
biological subject area that everyone that I have met who has an interest in
that area regards as definitive.

Simon Gray, Microbial Physiology Group, Kings College London.