Biology : Biology is the branch of science which deals with living things i.e. animals and plants.
The word ‘Biology’ has been derived from two Greek words viz. bios meaning life and logos meaning study.
There are three main studies in biology.
(i) Botany : It deals with the study of plants.
(ii) Zoology : It deals with the study of animals.
(iii) Microbiology : The study of micro-organisms is called microbiology.
Branches of Biology
Morphology : Study and structure of living beings.
Anatomy : It deals with the study of internal structure which can be observed with unaided eye after dissection.
Histology : It deals with the study of tissue structure with the help of light microscopes.
Cytology : It deals with study of form and structure including the behaviour of nucleus and other organelles.
Cell Biology : It deals with the study of morphological, organisational, biochemical, physiological, genetical, developmental, pathological and evolutionary aspects of cell and its components.
Physiology : It is the branch which deals with the study of different types of body functions and processes (e.g., respiration, photosynthesis, growth, movements, irritability).
Embryology : It deals with fertilisation, growth, division and differentiation of the zygote into embryo or early development of living beings before the attainment of strucutre and size of the offspring.
Ecology : It is the branch dealing with living organisms in relation to other organisms and their environment.
Taxonomy : It deals with the identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms.
Biogeography : It is the science in which we study the distribution of organisms in various parts of the earth.
Genetics : In this we study variations and inheritance including the study of genes.
Evolution : In this we study the origin of newer types of organisms from the previous ones by modifications involving genetic changes and adaptations.
Palaeobiology or Palaeontology : This is the study of fossils and impressions of the past organisms found in the rocks of different ages.
Exobiology : It deals with the possibility of life in the outer space.
Applied Branches
Agriculture : This branch deals with the methods of cultivation, harvesting, storage and protection of different crops like wheat, rice, millets, pulses, sugarcane, cotton etc.
Horticulture : It is connected with the study of different types of gardens for flowers, fruits, vegetables etc. In fact it is also a part of agriculture.
Pharmacognosy : It deals with the study of medicinal plants.
Malaridogy : It is concerned with the study of Malaria.
Plant breeding : It is the branch of biotechnology which deals with the production of improved varieties of all economically important plants through different experimental methods.
Pathology : It is concerned with the different tests needed for identification of diseases.
Biotechnology : It is a new branch of bio sciences which deals with growing plants through tissue and organ cultures, improving crops through gene transfer, production of industrial products like alcohol, antibiotics, biogas etc., using micro-organism.
Economic biology : It deals with the study of useful plants and animals and their products.
Ethnobotany : It deals with the relationship between tribals and plants.
Biochemistry : It deals with the biochemical reactions of compounds present in plants.
Olericulture : It deals with the cultivation and development of vegetable producing plants.
Saurology : It is concerned with the study of lizards.
Floriculture : It deals with the study of commercially useful floral plants like rose, chrysanthemum, lilies, etc.
Apiculture : It deals with the methods of bee keeping for getting honey and wax.
Forestry : The study which deals with protection and development of forests and to explore the outcome and economic potential of forests.
Arboriculture : It is concerned with the cultivation of ornamental plants.
Silviculture : In this branch we study the cultivation of timber yielding trees.
Agrostology : It deals with the study of all types of grasses.
Pomology : It is concerned with fruits and fruit yielding plants of commercial importance.
Dendrochronology : This is the branch in which age of plants is determined by counting the number of annual rings.
Dendrology : It deals with the study of all kinds of trees.
Ophthalmology : Study and treatment of eyes.
Nidology : It deals with nests of birds.
Limnology : It deals with the study of life present in rivers and fresh water lakes.
Bioclimatology : It deals with the study of effect of climate on distribution of organisms.
Biodynamics : Biology which deals with energetics of organisms.
Biophysics : It deals with the study of physics of living organisms.
Biometry : Study of applications of mathematics in living organisms.
Biostatistics : Study of applications of statistics in living organisms.
Aquaculture : Culturing of sea organisms.
Pisciculture : It deals with the culturing of fish.
Sericulture : Rearing of silk worms.
Wormiculture/Vermiculture : Study related to rearing of worms.
Actinobiology/Radiobiology : It deals with the study of effects of radiations on living organisms.
Mammology : In this branch we study the mammals.
Virology : Study of viruses.
Cryobiology : It is concerned with the study of life at low temperatures.
Ctetology : It deals with the study of acquired characters of plants and animals.
Demography : Study of population.
Epidemiology : It deals with epidemic diseases.
Etiology : Study of origin of diseases.
Ethology : It is concerned with the study of animal behaviour.
Eugenics : It is related with the improvement of human races by the application of genetic laws.
Euphenics/Medical engineering : It deals with the study of improvement of human races by altering protein synthesis in the cell.
Euthenics : It deals with the improvement of human race by providing better conditions.
Exobiology : It is concerned with the study of life in the other plants.
Gerentology : Deals with the phenomenon of ageing in man.
Geology : It is concerned with the study of fossils.
Osteology : Branch in which we study the bones.
Gnatobiology : Study of germ free living organisms.
Ichnology : Study of foot prints.
Immunology : Deals with immune systems in the body of antigen-antibody reactions.
Limnology : Deals with the study of life in fresh waters.
Neontology : Study of newly born organisms.
Onchology : Concerned with cancer study.
Ontogeny : Study of history of an individual.
Pedology : Related to soil study.
Phenology : It deals with seasonal behaviour in organisms flowering in plants, migrations in animals.
Phylogeny : Study of racial history.
Psychology : Study of human mind.
Teleology : Study of interpretations of structures in terms of utility and purpose.
Orinthology : Deals with the study of birds.
Tectology : It deals with the structural organisation of body.
Teratology : Study of abnormal embryos (terats).
Traumatology : Study of wounds.
Sonology : Study of hearing.
Veterinary Science : Deals with the domestic animals.
Zymology/Enzymology : Study of enzymes.
Objectives of Studying Biology
1. To understand human life better.
2. To understand how to meet our needs by utilizing the sources available.
3. To understand the fundamental nutrition, health and population control.
4. To know about our place in the universe.
5. To understand the inter-relationships of organisms with the environment.
6. To know about health hazards due to indiscriminate use of pesticides, fertilizers, deforestation, depletion of ozone layer, pollutants, radioactive substances and wastes of our natural resources.
7. To know and eliminate the superstitions.
8. To help us to remove the biases of cast, creed and colour.
9. To know the enjoyments of nature.
Units of measurement
1 metre (m) = 100 centimetres (cm)
= 39.4 inches
1 mm = 10– 6 m
1 cm = 10 millimetres (mm)
1 nm = 10– 6 m = 10 Angstroms (Å)
1 mm = 10– 3 m = 103 micrometres (mm)
1 (Å) = 10– 10 m = 10– 8 cm = 10– 1 nm
Angstorm named after J. Angstrom (1814-1874 is spectroscopist)
(Micrometres were formerly known as microns. These were denoted by the Greek letter, m pronounced ‘mew’).
Living and Non-Living things
It is well known fact that living and the non-living things both are made up of same kind of elements, but their levels of organisations are different.
The living have the characterstics like aggregation, interaction, equilibrium and change regulating each level of organisation.
The main aspects related are molecular level, energy changes, homeostasis, reproduction, adaptation and death.
Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen are the main elements present in living organisms.
Water : It is the most abundant and essential component of the cells. Common salt, glucose, macro-molecules like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes and DNA play an important role in living beings.
The living organisms need a continuous source of energy.
When the energy travels from one form to another, some of it get lost in the form of heat.
Energy follows the law of conservation of energy.
The first one states that the energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
ATP is the major source of energy.
The living steady state is homeostasis which is self regulatory.
Reproduction : It is the characteristic of all living beings. The living have the ability to adapt themselves to the environment. Short term adaptations help the organism to survive and long term adaptations are significant for evolution. All living beings reproduce.
Death and birth are the inherent part of life cycle of every living being. It regulates the number and is essential for the recycling of materials. The dead cells have specific roles to play.
Life is a unique, complex process which shows adaptability, evolution, and reproduction.
Fathers in the Field of Biology
1. Father of Biology : Aristotle.
2. Father of Botany : Threophrastus.
3. Father of Zoology : Aristotle.
4. Father of Plant Physiology : Stephan Hales.
5. Father of Taxonomy : Cart Linnacus.
6. Father of Genetics : G.J. Mandel.
7. Father of Experimental Genetics : Morgan.
8. Father of Bryology : Johann Hedwig.
9. Father of Modern Cytology : Carl P. Swanson
10. Father of Microscopy : Marcellow Malpighi
11. Father of Comparative Anatomy : Andreas Vasalium.
12. Father of Modern Anatomy : Andreas Vasalium.
13. Father of Study of Circulation of blood : William Harvey.
14. Father of Eugenics : F. Galton.
15. Father of Embryology : K.V. Baer.
16. Father of Ayurveda : Charaka.
17. Father of Palaeontology : Leo Nardo Da Vinci.
18. Father of Medicine : Hippocrates.
19. Father of Indian Mycology : E.J. Butler.
20. Father of Bacterilogy : Robert Koch.
21. Father of microbiology : Louis Pasteur.
22. Father of Mutation : Hugo de Uries.
23. Father of Immunology : Edward Jenner.
24. Father of Modern Genetics : Bateson
25. Father of Blood groups : C. Landsteiner.
26. Father of Genetic Engineering : Paul Berg.
27. Father of Biochemistry : Leibig.
28. Father of Egg : Eintoven.
29. Father of Conditioned Reflex : Pavlov.
30. Father of Evolutionary Ideas : Empedocles.
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