Treehugger Rachel McNichol

There’s something exquisite in the curve of a tiger’s tail. An elegant extension of the spine, carefully sculpted by years of evolution to be a flawless balancing tool. Such beauty is not uncommon in the animal kingdom. A dragonfly’s wing, a deer’s antler, a snake’s slitted eye - all masterpieces in their own right. The process of evolution is remarkably similar to that of the artist refining his magnum opus. Like Michelangelo chipping away at a block of marble, mother nature prunes undesirable traits from her creations in order to reveal something altogether astonishing.

Evolutionary biology appeals to me much in the same way as painting or music. I think that all aspiring artists should study the mechanics of the natural world; there's no better cure for creative block than getting up close and personal with a forest ecosystem. I would love to learn more about the means through which nature improves itself, and I intend to take courses in ecology, zoology, and bioinformatics in addition to the course requirements for my major.