tailieunhanh - Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences

Almost since their inception, the natural sciences, those fields that use the scientific method to study nature, have been divided into two branches: the biological sciences and the physical sciences. In part, this division can be viewed as a convenient social contrivance. However, over time it has also served more functional purposes. Physical scientists, when seeking the fundamental laws, have found it necessary to focus on the simplest of systems—elementary particles, atoms, and molecules—items clearly not alive. It also has been convenient for biological scientists to investigate the immense diversity of living things and their elaborate inner workings without simultaneously accepting the burden of trying to follow these complexities. | RESEARCH AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE PHYSICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences Committee on Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences Board on Physics and Astronomy Board on Life Sciences Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences Division on Earth and Life Studies NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS Washington . THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street . Washington DC 20001 NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance. This project was supported by the Department of Energy under Award No. DE-FG02-07ER46378 the National Science Foundation under Award No. CHE-0554275 the Department of Health and Human Services under Award No. N01-OD-4-2139 the Burroughs Wellcome Fund under Award No. 1007560 and the Research Corporation for Science Advancement under Award No. 7827. Any opinions findings conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors. International Standard Book Number-13 978-0-309-14751-4 International Standard Book Number-10 0-309-14751-4 Library of Congress Control Number 2010921434 Cover Work at the intersection of the life sciences and the physical sciences has often been depicted in new ways of imaging or modeling biological specimens some of which are illustrated on the cover 1 three-dimensional distribution of membrane proteins within a cell revealed through iPALM imaging courtesy of Harald F. Hess Howard Hughes 2 __ Medical .