Genetics and evolutionary ecology falls into the category of "layers of abstraction." Mechanisms for up and down-regulation, self-catalysis, epigenetic.

You're convoluting the simplicity of each step of an experiment with the level of complexity of the field itself. Memorization is a crucial component, but if you believe that's all there then you are severely underestimating the study of life. It would be like claiming that since CS can be boiled down to 0's and 1's that it is therefore a simple field of study.