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Robin Dunbar has a narrow view of what biology is all about ("Biology in terminal condition", THES , June 14).

Although it may be true that applications for straight biology are decreasing, the numbers taking A-level biology are increasing, and applications for biological subjects such as biochemistry, genetics, microbiology and virology are expanding.

Biological scientific departments in the latest research assessment exercise outnumbered all other sciences by more than 50 per cent and were ahead in terms of quality.

There is not the slightest need to be concerned for the future of the biological sciences in higher education.

Alan D. B. Malcolm
Chief executive
Institute of Biology