One life
One of the requirements for my Master's degree in Zoology was to pass an oral examination. In the examination room with me were five professors, the members of my graduate committee, one additional Faculty member, and the graduate chairperson. Incidentally, all of them were male, although I didn't even think about this until now as I write this blog. There were no female Faculty in the Department at that time. The purpose of the examination was to explore my knowledge base and the examining committee could ask me any question they wanted. The topics ranged from general biology, ecology, human embryology, genetics, entomology and evolution. I tried to pause and consider my answers before showing the depth of my ignorance; something I became acutely aware of during the examination. Despite this, I felt like I was doing pretty well and negotiated the many 'guess what I am thinking' and 'enough rope to hang myself' sorts of questions.
One of the examiners asked me to explain the development of the human embryo from fertilization, which I did, complete with labelled diagrams on the blackboard. He stopped me once I made it through neural tube formation. I really like human embryology and if I had another lifetime would probably do research in this area. Apparently, I made a pretty good impression with my response to his challenge.
Shortly after this question came, "When does life begin?" The right-to-life and right-to-abortion debate was alive and well at that time (I don't think it ever really goes away) and I was at a private institution that had a strong pro-life ethic. I had taken a bioethics class from the professor who asked the question as well. So, I tried to answer this question as best I could and started to discuss the different points of view about when a human being is considered 'alive'. After a short ramble, the examiner interrupted me and told me the answer. "Life began 3.5 billion years ago and has been continuing ever since." I use the quotation marks around the statement because that's exactly what he said. He spoke with such force and enthusiasm that the phrase was emblazoned in my memory. So, that's the answer he wanted! I quickly realized I was waffling on about an entirely different subject. I blurted out, "You are correct. Life as a process began 3.5 billion years ago. However, life as an individual begins at a different time and when that is, is unclear." I felt very pleased with my discriminating response and recovery. Whether he was or not, I will never know.
After a few more questions, I was dismissed from the room and later invited back in to be informed that I had indeed passed the oral examination. I was of course relieved and focused on the next stage of the process, the project write up and defense.
I have pondered that exchange about the beginning of life a number of times Maybe the distinction between the two, i.e. LIFE (the whole, big, conglomerate, eons old process) and individual life, is maybe not very important. Maybe we as individuals would do better to think less of ourselves as distinct from other life forms and more as part of all life. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust and all of that sort of thing. And maybe the really important questions aren't about the beginnings but what we do with our lives as individuals and as part of the greater process that ties all lifeforms together.
One of the examiners asked me to explain the development of the human embryo from fertilization, which I did, complete with labelled diagrams on the blackboard. He stopped me once I made it through neural tube formation. I really like human embryology and if I had another lifetime would probably do research in this area. Apparently, I made a pretty good impression with my response to his challenge.
 |
| A lichen in Fairbanks, Alaska. |
After a few more questions, I was dismissed from the room and later invited back in to be informed that I had indeed passed the oral examination. I was of course relieved and focused on the next stage of the process, the project write up and defense.
I have pondered that exchange about the beginning of life a number of times Maybe the distinction between the two, i.e. LIFE (the whole, big, conglomerate, eons old process) and individual life, is maybe not very important. Maybe we as individuals would do better to think less of ourselves as distinct from other life forms and more as part of all life. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust and all of that sort of thing. And maybe the really important questions aren't about the beginnings but what we do with our lives as individuals and as part of the greater process that ties all lifeforms together.
