Introduction to biology
Prakash Pokharel
 Science (Scientia: knowledge or to know) is the methodology
of knowledge about the material in universe that can be
tested or verified.
 Biology (Gr.bios: life; logos: study) is a branch of science that
deals with the study of life and living organisms.
 And life is that special things which differentiates the living
organisms from non-living things.
Branches of Biology
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Anatomy: Study of internal structure
Anthropology: Study of Human evolution and culture.
Anthology: Study of flowers
Arthrology: Study of Joints of bones
Araenology: Study of spiders
Aphidology: Study of aphids
Bacteriology: Study of Bacteria
Batrecology: Study of frogs
Biochemistry: Study of Chemical of organism
Biotechnology: Technique of using organisms to modify the organisms and
their products for human benefit.
Biogeography: Study of Distribution of plants and animals
Bryology: Study of bryophytes.
Carcinomalogy: Study of Cancer
Cardiology: Study of Heart
Cell Biology: Study of Cell
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Concology: Study of shell of molluscs
Craniology: Study of Skull
Crybiology: Study of Life at low temperature
Dermatology: Study of Skin
Embryology: Study of Embryonic development of organisms
Entomology: Study of Insects
Epidemiology: Study of Epidemic diseases
Ethology: Study of Animal behavior
Etiology: Study of Causes of diseases
Eugenics: Study of Improvement of human race by altering its genetic composition
Euthenics:It is the study of the improvement of human functioning and well-being by
improvement of living conditions.
Evolution: Study of Origin and evolution of life
Exobiology: Study of Life on other planets
Floriculture: Study of cultivation of plants for flowers.
Genetic: Study of Heredity and variations
Genetic Engineering: Study for producing desirable genotype by synthesis and
combination of different genes.
Gynaecology: Study of Treatment of women’s diseases
 Haematology: Study of Blood
 Helminthology: Study of Helminthes or worms
 Hepatology: Study of Liver
 Herpetology: Study of reptiles
 Ichthyology: Study of Fishes
 Karyology: Study of Nucleus
 Limnology: Study of Fresh water
 Malacology: Study of Snail
 Mammalogy: Study of mammals.
 Mastology: Study of Mammary glands
 Morphology: Study of Form and structure
 Mycology: Study of Fungi
 Nematology: Study of Nematodes
 Nephrology: Study of Kidneys
 Neurology: Study of brain and nerve functions
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Oology: Study of Eggs
Ophiology: Study of Snakes
Ophthalmology: Study of Eyes
Ornithology: Study of Birds
Osteology: Study of Bones
Paleontology: Study of Fossils
Parasitology: Study of Parasites
Pathology: Study of diseases
Phycology: Study of algae
Physiology: Study of Life processes and functions of organisms.
Pomology: Study of fruits and fruit yielding plants.
Protozoology: Study of protozoa
Parazoology: Study of porifera or sponges
Pteridology: Study of pteridophytes.
Saurology: Study of Lizards
Serology: Study of Blood.
Synecology: Study of Community in environment
Taxanomy: Study of Identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms
Who did what in Biology
 Lamarck and Treviranus: Coined the term biology.
 Aristotle(384-322BC): First study the organisms (Father of Biology
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/Zoology).
Z. Jansen and H. Jansen(1590): Invented microscope.
Robert Hooke(1665): First to see cells and gave the term cell.
Anton Von Leuwenhoek(1674): First person to see living organisms.
Carolous Linnaeus (1753): Introduced binomial system of
nomenclature (Father of taxonomy).
Lamark (1809): Proposed theory of Lamarkism.
M. J. Schleiden and T. Schwann(1838): Proposed cell theory.
Hugo de Vries(1840): Proposed theory of mutation.
Rudolf Virchow (1859): Stated that all cells arise from pre-existing
cells.
Charles Darwin(1858): Gave the theory of natural selection.
 Louis Pasteur (1864): Proposed germ theory of disease, worked on
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fermentation.
Ernst Haeckel(1864): Coined the term plastid and Protista for
unicellular plants and animals.
Alexander Fleming (1929): Discovered penicillin from Penicillium
notatum.
T.Morgan (1930): Discovered Linkage & crossing over and the role
of chromosomes.
A.G. Tansley (1935):Coined the term Ecosystem.
Landsteiner and Weiner(1940): Discovered Rh factor in blood.
Watson and Crick(1953): Proposed double helical structure of
DNA.
Palade (1974): Discovered of ribosome.
Name of Contributers in Biology
 Father of Biology: Aristotle
 Father of Botany: Theophrastus
 Father of Zoology: Aristotle
 Father of Taxonomy: Carolous Linnaeus
 Father of Genetics: Mendel
 Father of Microscopy: Marcello Malpighii
 Father of Ayurveda: Charaka
 Father of Paleontology: L.daVinci
 Father of Medicine: Hippocrate
 Father of concept of organic evolution: Ampedocles
 Father of Histology: Marie Francois Xavier Bichat
 Father of Bacteriology: Robert Koch
 Father of Microbiology: Louis Pasteur
 Father of Mutation: Hugo de Vries
 Father of Immunology: Edward Jenner
 Father of Modern Genetics: Bateson
 Father of Blood Groups: C.Landsteiner
 Father of Cytology: Robert Hooke
 Father of Virology: Stanley
 Father of Ecology: Reiter
Relation of biology with other sciences
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Relation with chemistry
Biology is related with chemistry because of the following
reasons.
All living organisms have organic and inorganic
compounds. These influences the life processes.
All the metabolic pathways such as photosynthesis,
respiration, metabolism etc involve chemical changes.
The genetic materials such as DNA and RNA are formed
by the chemicals.
The enzymes, hormones etc secreted in animals are
exclusively chemicals.
Relation with physics
Biology is related with physics because of the following reasons.
 Certain life processes such as ascent of sap, diffusion, movement of
minerals etc are dependent on the physical phenomenon.
 Many biological instruments or techniques such as a microscope,
chromatography, X-ray diffraction etc follow the physical applications.
 Various physiological activities of plants are dependent on the intensity
of light as well as energy.
3. Relation with sociology
Biology is related with sociology because of the following reasons
 Animal behaviour and social relationship are dependent on the social
activities.
 Due to social nature, many animals follows the pattern of the social
customs.
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Relation with Geography
Biology is related with geography because of the following reasons
 Distribution of animals and plants vary with different
geographical factors such as temperature, climate, topography,
altitude etc.
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