Chapter 1
BIOLOGY AND ITS MAUOR FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION
Q.No 1:
Define the term biology.
Answer:
BIOLOGY:
The word biology has been derived from two Greek words, bios and logos . Bio means life and logos means science, discussion, thinking, discourse or reasoning So, biology is the study of living things.
The word life itself has been derived from Latin word Laben which mean soul.
Q.No 2
Define life. What are the living things?
Answer:
LIFE:
For biologists, life is a set of characteristics that distinguish living organisms from non-living objects (including dead organisms).
LIVING THINGS:
Living organisms are highly organized, complex entities; are composed of one or more cells, contain genetic program of their characteristics; can acquire and use energy, can cary out and control numerous chemical reactions, can grow in size, maintain a fairly constant internal environment, produce offspring similar to themselves; respond to changes in their environment. Any object possessing all these characteristics simultaneously can be declared as living thing.
Q.No 3
What are the main branches of biology?
Answer:
There are two main disciplines of biology. Botany == Study of plants
Zoology = Study of animals.
There are also a number of other branches of biology such as: Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Marine Biology, Environmental Biology, Fresh water Biology, Parasitology, Human Biology, Social Biology Biotechnology, etc,
Molecular Biology:
Molecular biology is a branch of biology which deals with the structure organisms, their cells and their organelles at molecular level.
Microbiology:
This is the study of microorganisms, which include Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa and microscopic algae and fungi .
Fresh Water Biology:
This branch of biology deals with the organisms living in freshwater bodies ie rivers, lakes etc and physical and chemical parameters of the water bodies.
Marine Biology:
This is the study of life in seas and oceans. This includes the study of the marine life and the physical and chemical characteristics of the sea acting as factors for marine life.
Parasitology:
This is the branch of biology, which deals with the study of parasites. The structure, mode of transmission, life histories and host parasite relationships are studied in parasitology.
Human Biology:
It deals with the study of man. This includes structure, function, histology anatomy, morphology, evolution, genetics, cell biology and ecological studies of human beings.
Social Biology:
This is the branch of biology, which deals with the study of social behavior and communal life of human being.
Biotechnology:
It deals with the use of living organisms, system or process to manufacturing and service industries.
Q.No 4
What are the bio-elements? What are various levels of biological organization?
Answer
BIO-ELEMENTS:
Sixteen out of the 92 naturally occurring elements are commonly used in forming the chemical compounds from which living organisms are made. These 16 elements and a few others, which occur in a particular organism, are called bio-elements.
In the human body only six bio-elements form about 99% of the total mass. Each element is made up of electron, proton and neutron.
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