| Description |
Whether or not we think of man as the newest form of a continually changing organism which dates back millions of years, a product of natural selection which constantly preserves the better adapted and eliminates the less fit, he stands before us as an extremely complex organism in which are carried on incomprehensible processes. Biologically speaking he, like all living creatures, given his original minute essence, creates himself. At conception he is a single cell formed from the union of two minute reproductive cells. At maturity he is a vastly complicated organism made up of millions of differentiated cells. He sees, hears, breathes, feels, and most marvelous of all, he thinks and is conscious of himself. Our understanding of the forces located in the original, seemingly simple cell which cause it to develop into a man and which determine what manner of man he will be, is very limited. Really to understand man biologically, one must travel far beyond the collective knowledge of all men. The curious mind of man is constantly seeking an explanation for the mysteries of his own body. Schools and laboratories throughout the civilized world are applying their facilities and energy to the unravelling and understanding of these mysteries, and their efforts are not without reward. Tonight we will discuss some of the explorations--those which have been made in the field of human genetics. |
