Biology is beautiful....

I have been reading essays and listening to discussions lately that promote the view that scientific knowledge somehow negates "wonder", "meaning", and "beauty". This is typically characterized by non-scientists in language that employs the epithet "reductionist".
In biology reductionism is in fact passe'. Biologists acknowledge that the whole is a great deal more than the sum of its parts; the "selfish gene" dogma of Dawkins has lost out to a more integrative view of the evolving organism and of evolution itself. And within that framework there is , in fact, a great deal of wonder, meaning, and beauty. It doesn't rely on what someone else tells you it is, but emphasizes the autonomy of the organism and the intricacy of the mind and body in responding uniquely to the environment in ways that produce "real" emotions and sensations. Scientists know we are "fearfully and wonderfully made". Just because we know a lot about how it works doesn't mean it isn't graceful, or elegant, or gorgeous; in fact, as I know more about living things I appreciate all of these attributes, and more. I challenge you to learn more as well.