Unknown Facts about Biology
Editorials News | Jul-10-2019
Biology is the science of life. Its name derives from the Greek words "bios" (life) and "logos" (study). Biologists study the structure, function, growth, origin, evolution and distribution of living organisms. In general, it is considered that there are at least nine "umbrella" fields of biology, each of which consists of multiple subfields.
Biochemistry: The study of the material substances that make up living beings.
Botany: The study of plants, including agriculture.
Cell biology: The study of the basic cellular units of living beings.
Ecology: The study of how organisms interact with their environment.
Evolutionary biology: The study of the origins and changes in the diversity of life over time.
Genetics: The study of inheritance.
Molecular biology: The study of biological molecules.
Physiology: The study of the functions of organisms and their parts.
Zoology: The study of animals, including animal behavior.
Adding to the complexity of this huge idea is the fact that these fields overlap. It is impossible to study zoology without knowing much about evolution, physiology and ecology. You cannot study cell biology without knowing biochemistry and molecular biology as well.
Framework of understanding
All the branches of biology can be unified in a framework of five basic understandings about living beings. Studying the details of these five ideas provides the infinite fascination of biological research:
Cell theory: the cell theory has three parts: the cell is the basic unit of life, all living beings are composed of cells and all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
Energy: All living beings require energy, and energy flows between organisms and between organisms and the environment.
Inheritance: All living beings have DNA and the genetic information encodes the structure and function of all cells.
Balance: All living beings must maintain homeostasis, a state of balanced equilibrium between the organism and its environment.
Evolution: This is the general unifying concept of biology. Evolution is the change in time that is the engine of biological diversity.
Biology and other sciences
Biology is often studied along with other sciences, such as mathematics and engineering, and even social sciences. Here are some examples:
Biophysics consists in matching the patterns of life and analyzing them with physics and mathematics, according to the Biophysical Society.
Astrobiology is the study of the evolution of life in the universe, including the search for extraterrestrial life, according to NASA.
Biogeography is the study of the distribution and evolution of life forms and the causes of distribution, according to Dartmouth College.
Biomathematics involves the creation of mathematical models to better understand patterns and phenomena within the world of biology, according to the State University of North Carolina.
Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles to the principles of biology and vice versa, according to the University of California Berkeley.
Sociologists often study how biology can mold social structures, cultures and interactions, according to the American Sociological Association.
History of biology
Our fascination with biology has a long history. Even primitive humans had to study the animals they hunted and know where to find the plants they gathered for food. The invention of agriculture was the first great advance of human civilization. Medicine has also been important to us since the earliest history. The first known medical text is from China (2500 BC), Mesopotamia (2112 BC) and Egypt (1800 BC).
In classical times, it is often considered that Aristotle is the first to practice scientific zoology. It is known that he has conducted extensive studies of marine life and plants. His student, Theophrastus, wrote one of the first known botanical texts of the West in 300 BC. C. About the structure, life cycle and uses of the plants. The Roman physician Galen used his experience in patching gladiators to the arena to write texts about surgical procedures in the year 158 A.D.
During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci risked censorship by participating in human dissection and making detailed anatomical drawings that are still considered among the most beautiful ever made. The invention of the printing press and the ability to reproduce woodcut illustrations made the information much easier to record and disseminate. One of the first illustrated books of biology is a botanical text written by the German botanist Leonhard Fuchs in 1542. Carolus Linnaeus inaugurated the binomial classification in 1735, using Latin names to group species according to their characteristics.
The microscopes opened new worlds for scientists. In 1665, Robert Hooke, used a simple compound microscope to examine a thin splinter of cork. He observed that the plant tissue consisted of rectangular units that reminded him of the tiny rooms used by the monks. He called these units "cells." In 1676, Anton von Leeuwenhoek published the first drawings of unicellular living organisms. Theodore Schwann added the information that animal tissue is also composed of cells in 1839.
By: Preeti Narula
Content: https://www.livescience.com/44549-what-is-biology.html
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