Introduction to Biology

The word science comes from the Latin word scientia, which means "knowledge." It is defined
as the study of phenomena in the natural world, applying investigational methods such as
observation and experimentation. The word biology comes from the Greek word bios, meaning
"life," and the noun ending -logia, meaning "study of." So biology is the study of life. Scientists
who study biology are called biologists. This lesson will explore the principles and applications
of biology in the world around us.

Objectives

Identify biology as the study of life.

Name common biological themes.

Give examples of biological applications.

Vocabulary
ecology
phenotypic cure

the study of living things' dependence on each other and their

environment; the relationship of an organism with its total
environment
the alteration of the phenotypic expression of a genetic defect

Biology: The Study of Life

The purpose of science is to use observations, questions, and experiments to explain the world
around us. This process of questioning and investigating things we see applied in all sciences
such as physics, chemistry, geology, and biology. Biology focuses on studying life. The study of
animals, plants, fungi, bacteria and all other life fall under the field of Biology.
Modern biology began to take hold as a science in the 18th and 19th century with Carl Linnaeus,
who laid out a system for classifying living things, and with the discoveries of evolution by
Charles Darwin. Foundations of biology include cell theory, homeostasis, genetics, evolution,

interdependence, and energy. These major themes will be discussed more thoroughly in the next
section.
There are many branches within Biology such as Ecology, which is the study of living things and
their interactions with each other with the environment, and Paleontology, which is the study of
prehistoric life. Some biologists specialize in a particular type of life, such as primatologists who
only study primates, or entomologists who only study insects. Some study how life is affected by
certain factors in the environment, like cryobiologists who study the effect of low temperature on
life, or limnologists who only study life found in freshwater.
Many careers exist within the field of biology. Anyone in the medical field including doctors,
nurses, dentists, radiologists, and pharmacists all have a background in biology. Botanists,
marine biologists, zoologists, and ecologists are another small sampling of biology related jobs.
Any career that deals with the human or animal body, plants, bacteria, fungi or even protozoa is
within the realm of Biology.

Themes of Biology
In the study of biology, there are unifying themes that tie everything together. Because biology is
the study of life, these themes are characteristics of life as well.
Cells are what make up all living things. The Cell Theory involves the study of what cells are
made of, how the different cell structures function, and how they reproduce. Life must maintain
homeostasis, an internal balance, despite external conditions.
Genetics is the study of heredity and how genes are passed from parents to offspring. During
sexual reproduction, each of the parents passes on a copy of a gene to their young. This results in
offspring that resemble the parents but are not genetically identical.
Populations of living things change slowly over time. This theme of biology is known as
evolution. Living things adapt to their environment in order to survive as a species. Natural
Selection is the driving force behind evolution and allows for favorable traits to be passed down
to the offspring.
Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with other organisms and the
environment. This study focuses on the interdependence between biotic factors, which are living
things, and abiotic factors, which are non-living things.
The final theme of biology is that all living things require energy for all of lifes processes.
Organisms will either eat or absorb the energy that they need.

Applications of Biology: Environment

The study of microorganisms, organisms you can only see with a microscope, is a very important
field of biology known as microbiology. There are microorganisms everywherein your food,

water, and air. Some of these microorganisms are beneficial and some are harmful. Algae, for
instance, are important as producers in the food chain. As a by-product of photosynthesis, they
release enormous amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere. Many commercial products, such as
ice cream, paint, and marshmallows, use algae extracts in their production. But algae can also
become a nuisance when they multiply rapidly, making water undrinkable. There are other
microorganisms like the one-celled parasitic organism called plasmodium vivax, which causes
malariaa disease affecting red blood cells that can result in anemia, fever, chills, coma, and
death.
As the human population continues to grow, so does stress on the planet as more land, food, and
energy resources are used and more waste is produced. However, biological researchers have
found ways to increase food production, as well as diversify the types of plants grown. We
continue to face challenges regarding the environment, but hopefully alternative energy sources
and other biological discoveries will provide solutions.

Applications of Biology: You

Many of you may wonder if you'll inherit your dad's diabetes or your grandma's cancer. You may
wonder about your risks for heart disease or the effects of cigarette smoke or alcohol. Biology
can help you understand the patterns of inheritance and how likely you are to inherit a genetic
disease. It can provide information about how you can reduce the risk of heart disease through
diet and exercise. Specific functions and chemical processes of your body are discussed in
biology so that you can understand the risks of tobacco or alcohol, as well as the benefits of
certain foods like fruits and vegetables. For instance, did you know that your red blood cells
cells which transport oxygen to your bodyare attracted to carbon monoxide, a poisonous,
suffocating gas that is found in cigarette smoke? Biology can help you to make personal choices
that will increase your health and well-being.