Introducing Biology

(Scope and Branches)

For general information only
You are studying biology as a part of
science. It
therefore becomes necessary to define science first.
Science is an organised body of
supported by observation and knowledge
experimentation,
derived from the study of natural
the entire material
universe.
phenomena of
There are three major branches of
namely. Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Of science,
"Biology" is the study of living beings, that these,
is, all
plants and animals inciuding humans.
Nowadays, scientists often prefer the term "Life
Sciences` instead of "Biology" in an effort to
emphasize the focus on the study of life processes.
However, "Biology" itself means the study or science
of life (Greek : bios = life; logos = study).
Fig. 1.1 Prehistoric drawing of a wild horse (above)
1.1 GROWTH OF BIOLOGY and a mammoth (below)
No one can say when the study of biology exactly Greeks were probably the pioneers of an
began. Primitive man lived in jungles and caves. organized study of Biology.
He collected food from natural vegetation and
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) was the first person to
hunted wild animals. Through this activity, he learnt study animals in sufficient detail and he is called the
about the life and habits of different animals, and
founder or "Father of Biology/Father of Zoology".
recognized various plants and their parts. That was
the beginning of Biology. The drawings of animals Theophrastus (370-285 B.C.) mainly studied
and plants in the caves of prehistoric periods plants, and is said to be the "Father of Botany".
(Fig. 1.1) are proofs of primitive man's interest in Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) rationalized the
plants and animals around him. science of healing and treating the sick. He is called
With the evolutionof culture, man began to live the "Father of Medicine"
in settled communities and started farming. Biology had flourished a great deal in ancient
He domesticated animals such as the dog, cow, India (2500 B.C. to 650 B.C.). Various systems of
sheep, horse and buffalo. These practices gave classifying animals and plants were developed, for
him further opportunities for the study of the ways example, Jeevaj (viviparous) animals who give birh
and life of these animals. Thus, biology advanced to young ones, Andaj (oviparous) animals who lay
more and more. eggs, etc. Cultivation of rice was first introduced in
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India. It is estimated that more than 1,000 varicties " lchthyoBogy the study of fishes.
of rice had been developed. " Herpetology - the study of reptiles like
\With the invention of microscope in the sixteenth lizards, snakes, etc.
century, a new world of minute animals and " Ornithology the study of birds.
plants came to human knowledge. The cell as the
basic unit of living things was seen through the C. In terms of approach on studying it.
compound microscope. Biology now began to grow " Anatomy the study ot gross structure of
faster. the organs in an organism as seen in
In the nineteenth century, biology took several dissection.
major leaps through the discovery of germs, wider Morphology the study of form and
acceptance of the theory of organic evolution, structure of plants and animals. It incudes
establishnment of the cell theory, etc. (essentially) the understanding and
Now, the twenty-first century is poised to unravel interpretation of structure (both external and
more mysteries of nature, and miraculous internal). [Sometimes students wrongly
innovations in medicine and agriculture. Biology has consider morphology to be concerned with
already progressed a great deal in the field of the study of external parts only.]
vitamins, hormones, genetics, genetic engineering, Histology the study of minute structures
antibiotics, cancer research, cloning, stem cell or tiny bits of the body at tissue level as seen
research, organ transplant, environmental sciences, with the help of a compound microscope.
life in outer space, etc. The latest is that scientists
are planning to create life, some Cytology - the study of structure and
single-celled
bacteria, from lifeless material using fatty function of animal and plant cells.
acids and
nucleotides. Physiology the study of metabolism
(functions and activities) of organisms and
1.2 BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY their parts.
Biology is divided into several branches. This Embryology the study of formation and
division can be made in at least three different ways: development of embryo of plants and
A. In terms of major kinds of animals.
organisms.
" Botarny the study of plants. Taxonomy - the science of
" Zoology - the study of animals. grouping and classifying plants and naming,
animals.
It is also called
" Human Biology-the study of human as a Systematics.
Ecology - the study of the relationship of an
living organism and his relationship with organism to both its biotic (living) and
other living organisms. The study of humans abiotic (non-living) environment.
and their interaction with the society
comes
Biogeography the study of
distribution of plants and animals.geographical
under Anthropology (Gk. anthropos : man ;
logos :study).
Palaeontology the study of
B. In terms of special groups of
organisms. forms of life through fossils of prehistoric
plants and
Bacteriology the study of bacteria. animals.
Virology - the study of viruses. " Evolution the study of origin and descent
" Mycology the study of of organisms.
" Phycology/ Algology the
fungi. " Genetics the science of the transmission
" Entonnology the
study of algae. of body characteristics (both similarities and
study of insects. differences) from parents to offspring.
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India. It is estimated that more than 1,000 varicties " lchthvology - the study of fishes.
of rice had been developed. Herpetology the study of
\With the invention of microscope in the sixteenth lizards, snakes, etc. reptiles like
century, a new world of minute animals and Ornithology the study of birds.
plants canme to human knowledge. The cell as the
basic unit of living things was seen through the C. In terms of approach on studying it.
compound microscopc. Biology now began to grow " Anatomy the study of gross structure o
faster. the organs in an organism as seen in
dissection.
In the nineteenth century, biology took several
major leaps through the discovery of germns, wider Morphology the study of form and
acceptance of the theory of organic evolution, structure of plants and animals. It includes
establishment of the cell theory, ctc. (essentially) the understanding and
Now, the twenty-first century is poised to unravel interpretation of structure (both external and
more mysteries of nature, and miraculous internal). (Sometimes students wrongl:
innovations in medicine and agriculture. Biology has consider morphology to be concerned with
already progressed a great deal in the field of the study of external parts onl:]
vitamins, hormones, genetics, genetic engineering, Histology the study of minute structures
antibiotics, cancer research, cloning, stem cell or tiny bits of the body at tissue level as seen
research, organ transplant, environmental sciences, with the help of a compound microscope.
lite in outer space, etc. The latest is that scientists
Cytology the study of structure and
are planning to create life, some single-celled function of animal and plant cells.
bacteria, from lifeless material using fatty acids and
nucleotides. " Physiology the study of metabolism
(functions and activities) of organisms and
1.2 BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY their parts.
Biology is divided into several branches. This Embryology the study of formation and
division can be made in at least three different ways: development of embryo of plants and
animals.
A. In terms of major kinds of organisms.
Botany the study of plants.
Taxonomy the science of naming.
grouping and classifying plants and animals.
" Zoology the study of animals. It is also called
Systematics.
" Human Biology-the study of human as a " Ecologr the study of the relationship of an
living organism and his relationship with organism to both its biotic (living and
other living organisms. The study of humans abiotic (non-living) environment.
and their interaction with the society comes
Biogeography the study of geographical
under Anthropology (Gk. anthropos : man ; distribution of plants and animals.
logos : study).
Palaeontology the study of prehistoric
B. In terms of special groups of organisms. forms of life through tossils of plants and
animals.
" Bacteriology the study of bacteria.
" Virology the study of viruses. " Evolution - the study of origin and descent
of organisms.
Mycology the study of fungi. " Genetics the science of the transmission
Phycology/ Algology -the study of algae. of body characteristics (both similarities and
Entomology the study of insects. differences) from parents to otispring
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 Parasitology the study of parasites (the
organisms that live on (ectoparasite) or inside
(endoparasite) other organisms and draw Progress Check
nourishment from the hosts).
1. Name the specific branches of Biology
Pathology the study of diseases of plants concerned with the study of
and aninmals.
(i) Fungi
Immunology the science that deals with (ii) Fishes
the phenomena and causes of immunity (ii) Insects
(resistance to or defence against diseases). (iv) Transmission of body characteristics from
" Eugenics the science which aims to parents to children
improve the human race through controlled 2. Mention the kind of study made under the
heredity. For example, discouraging a following branches of science
marriage that is likely to show unfavourable () Histology (ii) Ecology
or harmful characters in children. (ii) Cytology (iv) Pathology
" Biochemistry - study of chemicals and
reactions that take place inside the living
things. One of its numerous applications is
DNA fingerprinting

CYTOLOGY
(Cells)
HISTOLOGY
(Tissues
PARASITOLOGY
(Parasites)

ECOLOGY PALAEONTOLOGY
(Relation with (Fossils)
environment)

EMBRYOLOGY
(Development)

MORPHOLOGY
(Interpretation o GENETICS
structure) (Inheritance)

PHYSIOLOGY
(Lite processes)

ANATOMY
(Gross Structure)

BIOLOGY Fig. 1.2 Some of the p.ncipal subdivisions of Biology

1.3 APPLIED BIOLOGY " Space Biology the study of survival
Biology has enormous applications in other
branches of science. It forms an important part of
of living things in outer space. problems
" Exobioiogy one of the newest sciences,
the following : contemplates to study life elsewhere the which
" Agriculture
buffalo, etc.).
raising crops and livestock (cow, . (ienomics universe.to
the study of genomes as opposed
individual genes. Genome is the entire DNA
Apiculture - practice of keeping bees for the sequence of an organism.
manufacture of honey and beeswax. " Bioinformatics
Veterinary science- treatment and surgery of
managerment and analysis of
biological information stored in databases.
animals.
Biometrics the verification of a
" Marine biology study of life in the sea. person by his
body features such as fingerprints, the
" Household biology iris in the eye and behavioural pattern of
study of household characteristics.
animals, insects, etc., including how to prevent 1.4 STUDY OF BIOLOGY HELPS
damage to our own body and to our belongings. US IN
MANY WAYS
Horticulture science and art of growing fruits, Appreciation of Nature. The world of plants and
vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants. animals is so vast and varied that one wonders at
Sericulture technique of producing silk by it. Despite this variety, biology
helps us to
raising silkworms. understand the basic unity of all living
" Pisciculture the their essential features. things in
technique of growing fish.
" Molecular Biology Keeping healthy. Biology has helped us to
interpreting
events in terms of molecules in the cell.biological understand the causes of many diseases. It has
Biotechnology - the use of living cells or shown us how germs are spread by
microorganisms in industry and technology. It such as insects, wind or water. This certain agents
includes areas such as biogas production, food us to take proper care of our healthknowledge helps
and live longer.
processing genetic engineering, antibiotic production, Conservation of natural resources. Biology has
extraction of extracellular enzymes used as bio helped us to understand the
detergents in laundry washing powders, vaccine plants and animals. Biology has interdependence
made both the
of
production, antibodies production, tissue culture, etc. people and the governments realize the
of cutting down forests and the dangers
Cloning - a rapidly advancing branch of
biotechnology. It is the process of producing killing of wild animals. Similarly,indiscriminate
this science
genetically identical individuals of an advocates the conservation of petroleum,
either naturally or artificially. Severalorganism,
animals metal deposits on our planet. coal or
have been cloned in which a body cell is used Growing more food. New varieties of plants and
with no involvement of the male sperms. new breeds of cattle, poultry,
Bioengineering includes techniques like developed with the knowledge ofetc.,Biology.are being
This
making of artificial limbs, joints and other parts science has also increased our
of the body from metals or plastic. It also
knowledge
diseases of plants and aninmals, and how to of
includes modifying crops which are easier to them. All these efforts are helping us to cure
more food in fields, dairies and produce
grow and improving their food quality. poultry farms.
" Making us
Nuclear Biology the study of the effects of conscious
in solving problems ofcitizens. Biology helps us
radioactivity on living things which is also called water supply, etc. sanitation, public health,
Radiation Biology. Biology is making us conscious of the need to
reduce the rate of our rapid population growth.
CISE BIODOY-D
 Increasing population, industries and " Biology is necessary for certain careers. There
transport are creating a problem of are many careers which are open to students of
pollution, endangering health of all living Biology. One may choose to be a doctor, a
beings. Increasing use of insecticides in fields, dentist, a bacteriologist, a pathologist, a druggist,
farms and godowns is adding to health an entomologist, a forester, a teacher, a veterinary
hazards. Biology hcips us to recognize and doctor, biotechnologist, and so on.
take steps against such pollution.

POINTS TO REMEMBER
º Biology is the study of living beings.
r Biology has slowly grown through the ages but very fast in the twentieth century and is showing signs of even
in the faster growth
twenty-first century.
r Biology has numerous branches
Zoology. Botany, Mycology, Cytology. Ecology. Genetics, etc.
P Biology is a basic science required for pursuing several professional courses, such as
etc.
medicine, agriculture, pharmacology.
> The study of biology helps us in many ways
of population and pollution problems, etc.
appreciation of nature, keeping people healthy. growing more food, tackling

Review Questions
A. MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE
1. Choose the correct answer from the options given
below :
(f) The study of gross structure of organs in an
organism as seen in a dissection is called :
(a) Palaeontology is the study of : (i) Morphology (ii) Cytology
(i) embryos (i) blood (iji} Anatomy (iv) Life sciences
(ii) classification G) fossils (g) The study of form and structure of an
(b) Clones of animals are being produced through organism is called :
the practice of : (i) Mycology (ii) Morphology
() genetics (ii) ecology (ii) Genomics (iv) Biometrics
(ii) embryology (iv) biotechnology (h) Which branch of biology deals with the
(c) The scientist known as the Founder of interpretation of biological events in terms of
Biology' is : molecules in a cell ?

(i) Theophrastus (ii) Hippocrates (i) Molecular biology (ii) Marine biology
(iii) Aristotle (iv) Robert Hooke (iii) Nuclear biology (iv) Space biology
(d) Who among the following is called the "Father B. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE
of Botany" ?
(ii) Aristotle 1. Name the following branches of biology
(i) Hippocrates (a) Application of biological processes in
(iii) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
technologies.
(iv) Theophrastus (b) Science of growing fruits and vegetables.
(e) Which branch of Biology deals with blood and (c) Study of prehistoric forms of life.
urine tests ?
(d) Study of causes of immunity (resistance to or
(i) Paleontology (ii) Phycology defence against diseases).
{ii) Physiology (iv) Pathology

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dcing Blalogy 1Scope anl