Historical events and individuals play a significant role in how the future is shaped. The ones that have the most impact are the ones that can still be applied to the present. In the present day, many events and individuals will be remembered, such as the 9/11 tragedy, Boston Marathon bombing and the Sandy Hook Shooting. These events have made a negative impact on society and because of that are ingrained deeper in people's minds. However, positive contributions to society endure less notoriety in the limelight. Writing a textbook highlighting these positive contributions can preserve how these contributions have changed humanity directly and indirectly. .
In the fields of science and medicine, the general public has little understanding of the latest discoveries and breakthroughs that are having or will eventually have a significant impact on humanity. Explanations of scientific data have to be 'dumbed down' for the public to understand and in doing such, meaningful information can be lost. .
Within the past decade, an enormous amount of biological research has done in the field of genetics. The complete genomes of a vast number of species of animals have been sequenced, including the human genome. The information provided by complete genome sequences can be applied to the field of medicine. Genetics can mold the future of medicine, diagnosis of diseases, prevention and treatment of these diseases can be significantly different from the ways of the past.
In Ancient Rome, the practice of medicine was based on historical information. Home remedies passed down from generation to generation were used to treat diseases. Treatments used on livestock were used on humans as well, with the man of the home (or head of the household) typically applying the treatment (pg. 152). The Greek methods of practicing medicine was slowly integrated into the Roman's medical methodologies (pg. 152). The observation of this event has shown that the merger of these two ways of thinking on a similar subject can aggressively propel the field of medicine.