PROFESSIONAL BIOLOGISTS IN EUROPE

Position and Perspectives in Employment

Report of the Workshop «Biologists in New Fields»

organised by the European Communities Biologists Association

at Kollekolle, Denmark, December 13 – 17, 1984.

II. PERSPECTIVES I: ADVANCES IN BIOLOGICAL KNOW
HOW

1.Introduction

Biology, as an academic discipline, has traditionally been primarily a basic science

which investigated the variety of forms of living organisms in universities and

research institutions, in departments of microbiology, botany, zoology and human

biology (anthropology).

These classical pillars within biology have broadened notably in the last twenty or

thirty years. The introduction of advanced laboratory equipment and of elaborate

techniques in cooperation with physicists, chemists and engineers has led to a

dynamic development of research in all levels of complexity: subcellular, cellular,

organ, populations and ecosystems within each discipline. This diversification of

traditional biological disciplines into multiple sub-disciplines («bio-sciences») has

not taken place solely as remote and esoteric research. Increases in funding for

technological advancements have led to extensions of research activity into different

applied fields of biology, such as agriculture, nutrition, pharmacy, and medicine.

A more recent development in biological knowledge and biological methodology has

been a new view on bio-systems conceived through the use of bio-systems for

practical purposes and commercial use: the process of diversification of biological

research into very specialized fields of different complexity in the analysis of

biological systems, has concurrently led to a process of unification between

disciplines hitherto recognized as being distinctly disparate. The discipline

responsible for this unification is cell biology. Cell biology together with the advances

of molecular genetics now offers an exceedingly powerful analytical tool which

revolutionizes the attitude towards and the use of biological resources. All three

developments, the diversification into specialized fields, the orientation towards

applied fields, and the unification of thinking and handling of the biosphere in terms

of cell biology, will impinge strongly upon the professional contributions biologists

can make to the every day life of mankind.

2.Diversification of fundamental biosciencc

Within the classical four pillars of biology, botany, zoology, microbiology and

human biology, an expanded area of research has been introduced by the use of new

methodological approaches towards different levels of complexity of particular

biological systems. This has created a variety of singular, defined and specialized

fields of research. Table 1 summarizes these different biosciences which evolved

within the classical disciplines.

Some biological disciplines such as genetics span all levels of complexity. Within all

hese levels dynamic research fields for biologists have developed which are regarded

as autonomous: biophysics, biochemistry, metabolism, cytology, histology,

neurophysiology, genetics etc.. etc. These have all developed from classical biology and

the diversification process is still going on. More than SOsubdisciplincs could easily be

named which have reached an acknowledged status within the scientific community, in

research institutions, industrial laboratories and universities. Many biologists have been

quick to respond to new developments by their use of instrumentation, modern

mathematical, physical, chemical or other techniques. However, some have not wanted

to adopt these techniques and have continued to pursue traditional research. The

optimum blend of both pathways is desirable for the advancement of biological
knowledge.

Old areas of research once thought to be finalized (or «wrapped up») have re-opened

for investigation through the availability of new technology from other disciplines.

Previous crude enzyme studies now involve the use of chemical and biochemical

techniques, e.g. electrophoresis, iso-electric focusing, animo-acid analysis, radioactive

or fluorescent labelling, etc.
The application of these techniques to biological research has led and will lead further
to the impingement of previously isolated biosciences on each other and also on other
fundamental and applied sciences: old biological disciplines and, by diversification,

emerging new fields in basic bio-sciences will continue to offer professional biologist good opportunities in all kinds of research institutions, when governments will realize

that massive support of basic or fundamental sciences is the key for future survival of

mankind. A society cannot afford not to support basic research and development on a
large scale.

3.The Orientation of fundamental bioscience towards applications

There is an increased tendency to make use of biological processes of many kinds in a wide

range of industrial activities. Governmental funding supports the trend to orientate

fundamental research towards product development, quality control, consumer research and so

on.

In all cases the end is achieved only as a result of processes of research and development

involving biological «know-how» and biologists with a broad range of skills.

Figure 1 summarizes some of the traditional and actual uses of biological processes as

biological «know-how», that is to say the thinking, techniques, methodologies, processes and

results, presently able to contribute to areas, in which biologists find employment; the area of

medicine and pharmacy, the area of food and agriculture (animal production and plant

production), the area of environment and the steadily expanding area of industrial use.

3.i Medicine and Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical firms employ an increasing number of biologists. This relies upon

the many and varied aspects of biological «know-how» involved: new diagnostics

(genome-analysis, monoclonal antibodies), new treatment methods (immune-

regulation, plasminogen-activation), new medicals (interferon), alternative methods

for testing (screening methods, toxicity measures) and the complex area of in vitro-fertilization.

3.H Animal and Plant Production

The nutrition of man and of all domestic animals has always been of vital interest,

and. even with the advances of «civilization»> more people arc still employed in

agriculture than in any other industry, even in some of the most developed countries.

Agriculture is a technology depending on many sciences, of which biology, in the

widest sense, is the most important. The specialization of agriculture into animal

production or plant production has widened the influence of biological background.

Growth hormones, feed stuffs, vaccines, veterinarian drugs and the technique of

superovulation are entirely biological developments.

Fertilization and embryo-manipulation are new technologies of yet unsettled

importance which will involve biological I know-how and will offer positions for

biologists.
For plant production new breeding methods, the transfer of symbiotic abilities for

NVfixation and of resistance to diseases, pests and high soil salt concentration will involve

biologists with their skills in plant cell culture and gene transfer techniques.

Future use of biological know-how will also include less obviously related disciplines

like psychology, sociology, psychiatry e{c. Ethology and animal behaviour are

beginning to be used as basis for comparable studies of brain research, gerontology,

neurobiology with the aim of asking what functions underlie human behaviour and

how human mentality is working.

However, such developments in biological know-how need to be put into a wider

context by competent biologists.

All biologists should be able and encouraged to discuss with industrial, governmental

and political representatives within and outside the parliament, where such

developments are likely to go and what impact they might have on society.

Είναι δυνατό 12 χρόνια πανεπιστήμιο για το βιολόγο με 9 χρόνια βιοχημικές αναλύσεις βιολογικών δειγμάτων του ανθρωπου (πτυχίο βιολόγου +μαστερ+διδακτορικό) με 1 χρόνο σε βιοχημικό εργαστήριο στην ειδικοτητα του βιοπαθολόγου που δεν αναγνωρίζεται στο εξωτερικό ???

Γι αυτό στην Κύπρο όπως και παντού εκτός Ελλάδας :

http://www.cyprusassociation.org/od/rd_assets/upload/Politis_040409(1).pdf

http://www.charilaoulab.com/index.php?pageid=7&lang=gr

Δες και:

http://www.panaretos-opengov.eu/?p=221

http://www.panaretos-opengov.eu/?p=1235

Οι βιολόγοι στην Ιταλία μπορούν να έχουν πρόσβαση στους ακόλουθους τομείς κοινού με άλλα επαγγέλματα υγείας:
1. Τομέα της ιατρικής και διαγνωστικών υπηρεσιών για τους εξής κλάδους:
• Παθολογία (ιατρών και βιολόγων)
• Κλινική Βιοχημεία (γιατροί, βιολόγοι, φαρμακοποιοί, χημικοί)
• Εργαστήριο Ιατρικής Γενετικής (γιατροί, βιολόγοι)
• Πυρηνική Ιατρική (γιατροί, βιολόγοι)
• μετάγγιση Ιατρική (γιατροί, βιολόγοι)
• Μικροβιολογίας και Ιολογίας (γιατροί, βιολόγοι)
• Κλινική παθολογία (εργαστηριακές και κλινικές χημικές και μικροβιολογικές)
(Γιατροί, βιολόγοι)
1. ΠΕΡΙΟΧΗ ΤΗΣ ΔΗΜΟΣΙΑΣ ΥΓΕΙΑΣ για τα ακόλουθα επαγγέλματα υγείας:
• Υγιεινή Επιδημιολογίας και Δημόσιας Υγείας (γιατροί, βιολόγοι)
• Υγιεινή των τροφίμων και της διατροφής (γιατροί, βιολόγοι)
• ιατρική της εργασίας (γιατροί, βιολόγοι)

Τηλεφωνικά κέντρα: 06 4324393 – 06 59942102
Η υπηρεσία λειτουργεί από Δευτέρα έως Παρασκευή 9,00 – 18,00
Website: http://www.ministerosalute.it/ecm/ecm.jsp