WHAT IS BIOLOGY – We will now discuss the meaning and branches of this science branch as we answer the question “what is biology?”
Also known as Biological Science, it is the study of life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development and evolution. It is one of the four main branches of science.
Etymology
It is derived from the two Greek words bios ( βίος ) which means “life” and logia ( λογία ), which means “branch of study” or “to speak”, forming the word biologia ( βίολογία ) which means “the study or branch of life”.
Branches
Here are the different branches of biology:
- Anatomy
- study of the structure of organisms and their parts.
- Biochemistry
- deals with the chemical and physiochemical processes that occur within living organisms.
- Biophysics
- the study of applying laws of physics to biological phenomena.
- Biotechnology
- the study of utilizing biological processes such as genetic manipulation of micro-organisms for the production of antibiotics, hormones, etc.
- Botany
- the study of plant life, which includes their physiology, structure, genetics, and ecology.
- Cell Biology
- vthe study of cell structure and function, as well as focusing on the concept that the cell is the fundamental unit of life.
- Ecology
- the study of relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
- Genetics
- study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms.
- Immunology
- deals with immunity.
- Marine Biology
- study of organisms in the ocean or other marine bodies of water.
- Microbiology
- the study of microscopic organisms, those being unicellular, multicellular, or acellular.
- Molecular Biology
- the study of the structure and function of the proteins and nucleic acids.
- Mycology
- the study of fungi.
- Parasitology
- the study of parasitic organisms.
- Photobiology
- the study of the interactions of light and living organisms.
- Phycology
- the study of algae.
- Physiology
- concerns with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.
- Plant Physiology
- deals with the functioning, or physiology, of plants.
- Radiobiology
- the study of the action of ionizing radiation on living things.
- Structural Biology
- deals with the molecular structure of biological macro-molecules.
- Theoretical Biology
- an interdisciplinary scientific research field with a range of applications in biology, biotechnology, and medicine. Also known as Mathematical Biology.
- Virology
- the study of viruses.
- Zoology
- the study of the behavior, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals.
