What is a good controversial biology topic?

Question

I need a controversial biology topic, where there is evidence for two conflicting hypothesises. However, the evolution and stem cell controversies are not going to cut it.

Answer 1

Good for you (and/or your teacher) for knowing the difference between a *scientific* controversy and a *political* controversy.

For example, evolution (or evolution vs. ID) is a *political* controversy, not a *scientific* controversy. In other words there is no "controversy" among scientists about the theory of evolution. (When over 96% of American scientists and 99% of worldwide scientists agree on an issue, there is no controversy ... and very very few scientists believe that ID is anything more than an interesting, but still half-baked line of inquiry, much less a full-fledged alternative theory to evolution.)

The issue of stem cell research is also not a *scientific* controversy. It is not like scientists are split into two or more camps that each have a different theory about how stem cells work. The *political* controversy about stem cells is completely related to the abortion issue.

And the abortion issue is also not a *scientific* controversy. There is no controversy about whether "life" begins at conception or when the heart starts beating ... all biologists will agree that life begins *before* conception ... sperm cells and ova are both "living". The controversy is whether HUMAN life begins at conception or later in development ... and this is not a question that science can address. What defines a human being is a very deep philosophical question ... but it has been used by politicians (on both sides) as a wedge issue.

So examples in biology where scientists genuinely disagree are issues such as:
- Abiogenesis ... how did life begin on earth? (In the ocean surface, in deep see volcanic vents, tidal pools, seeded from comets). Note that this is NOT part of evolution.
- Punctuated equilibrium ... is the pace of evolution variable? Again this is not a controversy about whether evolution occurs, but *how* it occurs.
- GMOs ... are genetically modified organisms safe?

Answer 2

Ok, this is a good question.
how about SET? serial endosymbiosis theory of organelle design in eukaryotic cells?
most people agree now but there are still some who don't, and its very informative and interesting to read about.
there is still some controversy about flagella originating from spirochaetes (sp?) that's less well documented i think, and i feel that the evidence is less compelling

or perhaps prion proteins might interest you more
are we all going to die of nvCJD? what is the evidence to support either side of this argument?

is avian influenza going to kill us all?
there is what i hope is an informative article here
http://thedaythemusicdied.net/blog/?p=74
although bear in mind i wrote this a while ago. I've just read through and the bulk of it is still valid.

if you tell me what areas interest you i guess it would be easier to think of something you might like

charlie

Answer 3

Gene modification of food.

As an example, corn that has been genetically modified affects milkweed in regards to pollination which in turn affects Monarch butterflies. Is that an early warning for humans?

Is it sufficient reason that seeds can be genetically modified to grow in areas that were previously inhospitable so that the population of those areas can become self-sustaining? What are the effects of such a modification? For example, does the population than depend totally on the seed producer placing the seed producer in the position of tyrant? (Seeds are now genetically modified by Monsanto so that they cannot reproduce. That means that the farmer cannot grow crops from seeds he has culled from plants grown from genetically modified seeds. In order to grow the plant that has been modified to thrive in a not so ideal situation, the farmer is forced to purchase their seed for every crop directly from the company that alters them. What kind of power does this place in the hands of the company that genetically modifies the seeds?)

Answer 4

Cloning is definitely controversial and one of my favorite topics to write about. It may sound boring but when you start researching, it becomes fascinating. I was surprised to learn that cloning can be found in nature, from bacteria which reproduce asexually to identical human twins.

Answer 5

If you are allowed to look at ethical arguments within Biology then the in vivo/in vitro experimentation (as associated with drug discovery) is a good topic.

Answer 6

Consider using search engines to study soy and estrogen. Does the widespread use of soy products adversely affect human hormone levels? How?

Answer 7

Stem cell research!

Answer 8

Are humans' biological composition far more complicated than the genetic codes of viruses?This is the most complicated bio thing i can ever think.If cannot then sorry.

Answer 9

Cloning

Abortion--i.e. does life begin at birth or when the heart starts beating

Answer 10

Evolution vers intelligent design.