Lesson 1: What is Biology
Branches of Biology
What is biology? Is it about dissecting frogs or
reproduction? Yes, but its also much more
than that. Biology is a natural science concern
with the study of life and living organism. This
could be a lion, snake, mushroom or even
bacteria. The word biology comes from two
Greek words, “bios” which means ‘life’,
and “logos” which means ‘knowledge or study
of science’.
Biology is a very broad field of science and
may be studied at various levels- molecular,
cellular, organismal, population, community
or ecosystems. Traditionally, there are three
main divisions of biological science.
Anything which interacts with its
environment, use energy and reproduce are
know as living things. For example, we
humans eat food for us to gain energy that
we will be used for us to do our daily task; we
respond and interact to our environment and
also reproduce to make more of ourselves.
Many other organisms like dogs, birds and
plants has these characteristics like us.
Therefore, they are also living
organism. Biologist are the scientist who
study living organism.
Biologist seeks to answer questions such as:
·
What is life?
·
What are the differences between living
and non-living things?
·
How many types of living things exist in
the world?
·
How do these living things functions?
Biology is the field that can answer these
questions and many more questions about
living organisms.
Zoology – the study of animals
Botany – the study of plants
Microbiology – the study of microorganisms
GENETIC -
Study of heredity and variation
TAXONOMY organisms
Study of classification of
NOMENCLATURE organism
Study of naming
SYSTEMATICS - Study of determination of
evolutionary relationship of organisms.
ANATOMY - Study of bodily structure of
living organism
PHYSIOLOGY - Study of functions of living
things and their parts
CYTOLOGY -
Study of cells
BIOCHEMISTRY - Study of physiochemical
processes that occurs in an organism
ECOLOGY - Study of relations of organisms
to one another and to their physical
surroundings.
PATHOLOGY -
Study of diseases