Dr. Root talked about Geographical information systems and how they can impact the field of genetics. First she talked about Dr. John Snow and the mapping of the 1854 London cholera outbreak. The water supply system was made of wells that people used to pump their supply of water. Dr. Snow believed that cholera was caused by water and he calculated the rate of people who got cholera from specific water systems. This work, aided by Henry Whitehead helped support their case and informed and influenced people who became influential in germ theory.
This was interesting to me because it shows different paradigm shifts in science at the time. Originally, people thought that cholera was caused by miasma or bad air, but Dr. Snow’s work supported that it was caused by a microorganism in water. If his work wasn’t done and supported, then medical life today might look a bit differently. Perhaps we would be set back fifty or one hundred years or so.
The pairing of different disciplines can lead to new and amazing paradigm shifts in how we view the world. Dr. Root ‘s presentation has encouraged me to continue to keep an open mind especially when it comes to opportunities to experience different aspects and fields of science.
You make some very interesting comments, Darria. I think we could all agree that if John Snow had not done his work, we would still probably have germ theory and many other modern advancements. But an interesting question is how much longer would it have taken? Other interesting comments you make is about how you were inspired to keep an open mind and how merging two fields is a way to advance a paradigm. I think these go hand-in-hand since those outside a field are often able to look at a problem with “fresh eyes”.