' Living Things-Their Forms and Parts'
1. 'On being Alive'
A. D. PEACOCK , D.Sc., F.R.S.E., Professor of Natural History in the University of St. Andrews
Biology deals with living things-plants, animals, and man. In many ways the three may differ, but in this they are alike : all three must have air, light, water, food, and a modicum of warmth if they are to survive. All, too, are victims ot disease ; all nounsn in the right surroundings and fail if conditions are wrong; all reproduce their kind, and all grow old and decay. Biologists, therefore, are students of all three-plants, animals, and man.
The idea in this series is to see how we are built, how we function, and how we may keep well; and at the same time to do the same with plants and animals. Some of the broadcasts will be given by Dr. Garry, Professor of Physiology at the University of St. Andrews; others by Dr. Peacock, Professor of Natural History in the same University, who is to give the opening talk today.
He is not a Scot, but a North countryman who, before the war, was Government Entomologist in Nigeria, where he carried out valuable research in connection with that amazing insect, the Termite or white ant. This will be his first broadcast to Schools south of the Border, though he is well known in Scottish Schools broadcasting.