The last year, of course, has been a big one for evolutionary biologists. We marked Charles Darwin's 200th birthday on February 12 of last year, and on November 24th celebrated the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of Species. As a result, we've seen a tremendous outpouring of words regarding the influence of Darwin's work. Still a long way to go, though, to reach the level of awareness that's needed.

We now require a course in evolutionary biology for all of our biology majors. The student reaction varies greatly, typically depending on their field of interest. The field biology types love it, and can't get enough examples and ideas as they try to understand the adaptations they see in their favorite plants and animals. Future educators are a little apprehensive but, for the most part, understand why they need to have some background as they prepare to go out and teach reluctant high schoolers. The toughest group are the premeds. It's not that they're necessarily any more resistant to evolutionary thought than other students; in fact, as a group they are might be a bit more well-read and open-minded than others. It's just that your typical premed is very focused, very driven, and very goal-oriented. A cliche, of course, but not an inaccurate one. At the curriculum level, this translates to, "Don't put me in any class that's not going to help me get into med school." It's sometimes hard for to convince them to how a course dealing with Darwin and speciation and natural selection is beneficial to them.

Wll, our task is getting easier. In a recent paper appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (available here for free download), Randolph Nesse and his colleagues make a strong argument that evolutionary biology should be considered a basic science for future physicians. Nesse has been a pioneer in this arena - his 1994 book, coauthored with G. C. Williams, Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medicine, is perhaps the best popular exposition of the ideas underlying the new discipline. In the PNAS paper, the authors highlight the key elements making an understanding of evolutionary processes critical for physicians. Doctors must learn to view the human body, not as a machine beset by potential malfunctions, but as a complex system shaped by evolutionary process. Nesse et al. suggest that premedical students should complete evolution courses that emphasize medically pertinent aspects of the field. They go on to recommend that medical schools should teach evolutionary biology as a basic medical science.

We agree, and will try to do our part.

By the way, the American Museum of Natural History maintains an extensive website dealing with Darwin's life and work. It provides the opportunity to view some of the remaining manuscript leaves from Origin of Species. Pretty cool. Check it our here.

As good an opportunity as I can find, I guess, to post this....