Given enough time, I think anyone with a proclivity towards math could derive the quadratic formula from first principles. I don't think there's anything in biology that can really be derived in that way. You'd have to start from the physics of chemistry or something. In which case you'd need quantum mechanics and... math!
I think you could make a corresponding argument about the unbounded complexities of an abstract domain like mathematics. Math also has a notorious reputation for difficulty. We don't even have a way to know how much there is to know about math.
I'm not sure I see one is clearly more difficult than the other.
Given enough time, I think anyone with a proclivity towards math could derive the quadratic formula from first principles. I don't think there's anything in biology that can really be derived in that way. You'd have to start from the physics of chemistry or something. In which case you'd need quantum mechanics and... math!
My argument is mostly about the complexity and the immensely intricate physicality of biology.
We can barely inspect much of it, let alone fully understand it.
I think you could make a corresponding argument about the unbounded complexities of an abstract domain like mathematics. Math also has a notorious reputation for difficulty. We don't even have a way to know how much there is to know about math.
I'm not sure I see one is clearly more difficult than the other.