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What Is Biology?: The Study of Biology Can Be Divided Into Different Disciplines
What Is Biology?: The Study of Biology Can Be Divided Into Different Disciplines
What Is Biology?: The Study of Biology Can Be Divided Into Different Disciplines
1)
The word biology is derived from the greek words /bios/ meaning /life/ and /logos/ meaning /study/ and is
defined as the science of life and living organisms. An organism is a living entity consisting of one cell e.g.
bacteria, or several cells e.g. animals, plants and fungi.
Aspects of biological science range from the study of molecular mechanisms in cells, to the classification and
behaviour of organisms, how species evolve and interaction between ecosystems.
The study of biology can be divided into different disciplines
Ethology
Evolutionary Biology
Physiology
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Morphology
Systematics
Ecology
Biology often overlaps with other sciences; for example, biochemistry and toxicology with biology, chemistry, and
medicine; biophysics with biology and physics; stratigraphy with biology and geography; astrobiology with biology and
astronomy. Social sciences such as geography, philosophy, psychology and sociology can also interact with biology,
for example, in administration of biological resources, developmental biology, biogeography, evolutionary psychology
and ethics.
2) Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms,
including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy.
Subdisciplines of biology are recognized on the basis of the scale at which organisms are
studied and the methods used to study them: biochemistry examines the rudimentary
chemistry of life; molecular biology studies the complex interactions of systems of biological
molecules; cellular biology examines the basic building block of all life, the cell; physiology
examines the physical and chemical functions of the tissues, organs, and organ systems of
an organism; and ecology examines how various organisms interact and associate with their
environment.
These are the main branches of biology:[64][65]
Aerobiology the study of airborne organic particles
Agriculture the study of producing crops from the land, with an emphasis on practical
applications
Anatomy the study of form and function, in plants, animals, and other organisms, or
specifically in humans
Bioengineering the study of biology through the means of engineering with an emphasis
on applied knowledge and especially related to biotechnology
Biomathematics or Mathematical Biology the quantitative or mathematical study of
What is microbiology?
Microbiology is the study of microscopic forms of life microorganisms and is concerned not only with
their role in disease, which is so often a cause of immediate concern, but with their many beneficial
activities and applications. Microbiology occupies a central position in biotechnology and genetic
engineering and many of the recent major advances have been achieved using microorganisms as model
systems.
Microorganisms comprise a large and diverse group that includes algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, fungi,
protozoa and viruses. They exhibit an amazing diversity of form and are widely distributed throughout the
biosphere,
whether
it
be
the
polar
regions
or
the
deep
sea.
Despite their microscopic size and invisibility they play a vitally important role in maintaining, through their
metabolic
activities,
the
ecological
balance
needed
for
life
to
exist
on
earth.
Through their activities they impact on almost every aspect of our daily lives:
Some cause disease - e.g. cholera, anthrax, typhoid, food poisoning, AIDS, influenza, meningitis,
measles - although the majority are beneficial or harmless.
Some play a vital role in the cycling of nutrients - essential for the efficient functioning of all the
earths ecosystems.
Some play an important role in the production of foods such as bread, cheese, yoghurt, beer,
wine andQuorn.
Some produce valuable medical products such as antibiotics, vaccines, hormones and vitamins.
Some play a key role in the treatment and detoxification of sewage and industrial effluents, and
the clean-up of oil-spills.
Our Microbiology degree programme reflects the enormous breadth of the subject, and has a common
core structure with options for specialisation, through choice of lecture units and research project, at Level
4. You can specialise in environmental, applied or medically-related aspects of the subject.
What is taxonomy ?
Taxonomy : The science which identifies, describes, classifies and names living beings. Taxonomy is
the most fundamental of life sciences and is becoming crucial to biodiversity management, public
health, agriculture, and many other aspects of life and society.
Taxonomy is a science for sustainable development, but it is also a sustainably developed science. It
draws on molecular techniques, vast collections, and varied expertise to become the Megascience of
biodiversity.
Taxonomy in museums
Natural History museums gather millions of specimens in collections, which provide accumulated
knowledge on life on Earth in the past millions of years. They also serve as a guarantee of scientific
rigor for the many professionals and amateurs who use them daily. Natural History museums develop
expertise and scientific progress to better know life on Earth.
Taxonomic training
The level of expertise that taxonomists can bring to bear requires strong training. Education in handson practical knowledge as well as theory and methodology is the only way to provide a strong base to
answer tomorrows questions. With that in mind, EDIT is providing several tools to help train the next
generation of taxonomists.