What Are the Most Controversial Topics in Biology Today?

[Nick tringali]

Hello,
For my senior project I need to type a 15 page paper on a controversial biology topic. Something that is still debated. I need to weigh evidence and data on both sides. I am having some trouble thinking of topics so if anyone has any thoughts it would help. It must be strictly biology. Thank you.

 

[berkeman]

I did a Google search on controversial biology topics and got lots of good hits. Maybe try that search first, and tell us what you've found. Thanks.

 

[BillTre]

Controversial within biology as a science, or controversial in its implications for recommended actions to take?

 

[Nick tringali]

It could be either.

 

[Nick tringali]

I did a Google search on controversial biology topics and got lots of good hits. Maybe try that search first, and tell us what you've found. Thanks.

I think I found a good one talking about the controversies of antibiotic usage.

 

[chemisttree]

You could examine the human health effects of exposure to PFAS compounds. Very “topical”
(pun intended)

 

[Ygggdrasil]

Bioethics controversies:
Under what conditions should we make heritable changes to the human genome?
https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...recommendations-on-human-gene-editing.904125/
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/first-genetically-edited-human-babies-reportedly-born.960874/

Should we use genetic technologies to try to eradicate the species of mosquitoes that spread malaria?
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/gene-drives-how-to-genetically-modify-an-ecosystem.762289/
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/the-end-of-mosquitoes.956125/

Research controversies:
The amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05719-4

To what extent are cancers due to "bad luck"?
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-causes-cancer-bad-luck-or-bad-lifestyles-comments.848662/
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/cancer-causes-circa-67-are-replication-error.908823/
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-is-the-root-cause-of-cancer.857121/

What fraction of the human genome is junk and what fraction is functional?
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/researchers-claim-only-8-of-human-dna-is-functional.779450/
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/feb/24/scientists-attacked-over-junk-dna-claim
https://www.pnas.org/content/110/14/5294

 

[Dr. Courtney]

There is often a stage in the understanding of any disease where the causal factors are debated. It's a good bet that if the causal factors are not well understood, a look under the hood (Google scholar searches, etc.) will reveal the debate.

Likewise, there is often a stage in developing treatments of most diseases when the proposed treatment methods are debated. If the treatments for a given disease are not well established, it's a good bet some simple research will reveal the debate.

 

[MidgetDwarf]

The easiest route is genetically modified food.

 

[Mayhem]

If you are daring, look into the biology of race differences.

 

[hmmm27]

If you are daring, look into the biology of race differences.

I was going to suggest that, but wasn't daring enough. Put the word "IQ" in the title for more "controversy". It could be useful to chart confirmation biasing from much older studies, but you have to account for standards-of-living, and epigenetics as well.

There's probably enough relevant stats around, to be able to calculate the point at which an anti-vaxxer becomes not only a burden to society, but to themself.

You could dissect Flat Earther's brains, and compare them to dissected brains of corpses presumed not to be.

 

[jedishrfu]

I don’t think societal issues as mentioned in the previous two posts will lead to a good outcome for a 15 page paper. These are lightning rod issues that will bring great wrath by extreme actors on PF and for that reason we should not continuee.

In closing, I think the OP has gotten many good suggestions here and has focused on one in particular topic for their paper And so it’s a good time to close this thread.

Thanks to all who contributed here.

Jedi