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From ape to man, but what?s next, sir?
?SIR, EVOLUTION is a continuous process. Are human beings going to evolve further? If yes then what will be our future forms?? An inquisitive pre-degree student from one of the local schools shared her curiosity with an authority on the subject Prof Lalji Singh, director of centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. The renowned scientist satisfied the young minds with his reply based on scientific study? ?No, the evolution is controlled.?
“SIR, EVOLUTION is a continuous process. Are human beings going to evolve further? If yes then what will be our future forms?”
An inquisitive pre-degree student from one of the local schools shared her curiosity with an authority on the subject Prof Lalji Singh, director of centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. The renowned scientist satisfied the young minds with his reply based on scientific study— “No, the evolution is controlled.”
President APJ Abdul Kalam’s Ignited Minds’ dream came true at a meeting in the city which saw many schoolchildren interacting with leading scientist during a national symposium at ITRC.
But the fact remains, the queries like these seem to have ignited hundreds of young minds, which are finding a way out through logical and scientific replies. Sex education in schools is another subject that calls for an extensive debate involving scientists and children.
During the first-ever such rendezvous with Dr Singh students from the Seth M R Jaipuria School, and Navyug Radiance fired a volley of queries at the scientist.
What is DNA finger- printing technique and what is its usefulness in solving rape and murder cases? If human beings have a controlled evolution, what about animals? Would they evolve further? What job scope does science offer? These were some of the queries that were haunting the students. Citing example through cases—how the DNA finger print technology could solve intricate issues, Prof Singh narrated that a woman and a watchman were murdered in one of the posh localities of the city. The Government of Andhra Pradesh had approached the CCMB for help. The institute then asked the State Government to get the blood collected. But as it is said no matter how clever a killer is, he leaves clues.
In this case, a young accused had left a nightgown after wiping a bleeding wound from his head, which put him behind bars.
Similarly in rape cases, he said the DNA matching is done with the help of semen.
Speaking about the job prospects, Dr Singh said biology has a tremendous scope, which can be gauged from the fact that physicists and even chemists were switching to biology.
“The subject is now at an exciting stage,” he said. However, he warned the young students that they should have mastered the basics in mathematics and English. “Computing is another subject that emerged fast and the students must be well versed in it as it would be of great help in the long run,” stated the director.
As regards his experience of interacting with students, Dr Singh said, “it was the need of the hour.”
