Biology-Introduction

Biology-Introduction

Biology:

Branch of science in which scientific study of life is done.

Bios = life and logos = study. Therefore, the study of life is called biology. The term biology was first coined by Lamarck and Treviranus in the year 1801.

Biology has two main branches—

• Botany: Study of different aspects of plants. Theophrastus is known as the father of botany.

• Zoology: Study of various aspects of animals. Aristotle is called the father of zoology as well as biology.

Important Terms of Biology:

• Anatomy: Study of the internal structure of an organism.

• Agrology: Soil science dealing specially with the production of crops.

• Agronomy: The science of crop technology of soil management for the production of the crops.

• Agrostology: Study of grass

• Arthrology: Study of joints

• Apiculture: Rearing of honeybees for honey.

• Anthropology: Study of the origin, development, and relationship between the cultures of past and present humans.

• Anthology: Study of flower and flowering plant.

• Angiology: Study of the blood vascular system, including arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels.

• Andrology: Branch of physiology and medicine that specially deals with the problems related to male reproductive organs.

• Bryology: Study of Bryophytes.

• Biometrics: Statistical analysis of biological data.

• Biomedical engineering: Application of engineering for the production and design of spare parts for overcoming various defects in man. 

Example: Artificial limbs, iron lungs, pacemakers, etc.

• Biotechnology: Technology concerned with living beings for willful manipulation on a molecular level.

• Bacteriology: Study of bacteria.

• Cytology: Study of cells.

• Cryobiology: It is the study of the effect of low temperature on organisms and their preservation.

• Clone: Clones are genetically identical individuals in a population.

• Cardiology: Study of heart and blood vessels.

• Chiropody: Branch of science related to the study of feet.

• Demography: Study of population.

• Diffusion: Random movement of molecules/ions or gases from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration.

• Dermatology: Study of skin.

• Dendrochronology: Counting and analyzing annual growth rings of a tree to know its age.

• Ecology: Study of interrelationships between living things and their environment.

• Evolution: Study of the origin of life, variation, and formation of new species.

• Embryology: Study of fertilization of egg, formation of zygote, and development of embryo.

• Eugenics: Study of factors connected with the improvement of the human race.

• Euthenics: Study of environmental conditions that contribute to the improvement of human beings.

• Euphenics: The improvement of phenotypic defect due to genetic abnormality by altering the environment.

• Ethnology: Study of science dealing with different races of humans.

• Ethology: Study of animal behavior in their natural habitats.

• Etiology: Study of causative agent of disease.

• Entomology: Study of insects.

• Exobiology: Study of the possibility of life in space.

• Floriculture: Cultivation of plants for flowers.

• Food technology: Scientific processing, preservation, storage, and transportation of food.

• Forensic science: Application of science for analysis of various facts and evidence to identify the cause or the person involved in a criminal act.

• Fishery: Catching, breeding, rearing, and marketing of fishes.

• Forestry: Development and management of forests.

• Fermentation: Process of incomplete oxidation that occurs in microbes and other cells in the absence of oxygen, leading to the formation of ethyl alcohol.

• Genetics: Study of variation and transmission of hereditary character from parents to their young ones.

• Growth: Permanent increase in weight, volume, and size of an organism.

• Genetic Engineering: Manipulation of genes in order to improve the organism.

• Gynecology: Study of female reproductive organs.

• Gerontology: Study of aging.

• Gastroenterology: Study of alimentary canal or (stomach and intestine) related disorders.

• Hypertonic: When two solutions have different solute concentrations. The solution that has a higher solute concentration is called hypertonic.

• Hypotonic: In two solutions that has a lower solute concentration is called hypotonic.

• Homeothermic: Animals that have a constant body temperature are called homeothermic or warm-blooded animals.

• Histology: The study of tissue organization and their structure with the help of a microscope.

• Hygiene: The science of taking care of health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.

• Hydroponics: Study of growing plants without soil in water that contains nutrients.

• Hematology: Study of blood in health and disease.

• Hepatology: Branch of medicine concerned with the structure, function, diseases, and abnormalities of the liver.

• Ichthyology: Study of fishes.

• Immunology: Study of the immune system or resistance of the body to disease.

• Kalology: Study of human beauty.

• Metazoans: All multicellular animals are called metazoans.

• Monoecious: Plants that have both male and female flowers.

• Morphology: Study of microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa.

• Molecular biology: Study of molecules found in the bodies of living organisms.

• Medicine: Study of treating disease by drugs.

• Mammography: Branch of science that deals with tests for breast cancer.

• Mycology: Study of fungi.

• Myrmecology: The study of ants is called myrmecology.

• Mixed farming: study along with animal husbandry.

• Nutrients: Chemical substances taken as food that are necessary for various functions, growth, and health of living things.

• Nanotechnology: The study ‘science of the very small’ is known as nanotechnology, or the manipulation of materials and devices on the scale of the atomic level.

• Neurology: Study of the nervous system.

• Neonatology: Medical care of newborns, especially the ill or premature.

• Nephrology: Study of kidneys.

• Osmosis: Movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from the region of their higher concentration to the region of lower concentration.

• Odontology: Study of teeth and gums.

• Osteology: Study of bones.

• Oncology: Study of cancer and tumors.

• Obstetrics: Science related to the care of pregnant women before, during, and after childbirth.

• Ornithology: Study of birds.

• Ophthalmology: Study of eyes.

• Orthopedics: Diagnosis and repair of disorders of the locomotory system.

• Phytoplankton: Microscopic organisms that passively float on the surface of water.

• Parasite: An organism that depends on other living organisms for its food and shelter and often harms them.

• Poikilothermic: Organisms that change their body temperature according to their surroundings. These are also called cold-blooded animals.

• Pigment: A substance that absorbs light of a certain wavelength, like chlorophyll found in green leaves.

• Paleontology: Study of fossils like dinosaurs.

• Physiology: Study of the function of various systems of an organism.

• Pathology: Study of diseases, effects, causable agents, and transmission of pathogens.

• Pomology: Study of fruit and fruit-yielding plants.

• Psychiatry: Treatment of mental disorders.

• Psychology: Study of the human mind and behavior.

• Pisciculture: Rearing of fishes.

• Phycology: Study of algae.

• Pediatrics: Branch of medicine dealing with children.

• Parasitology: Study of parasites.

• Pharmacology: The science that deals with drugs.

• Photobiology: Effect of light on various biological processes.

• Phylogeny: Evolutionary history of an organism.

• Physiotherapy: Treatment of body defects through massage and exercise.

• Radiology: Medical science dealing with imaging such as X-rays, CT, MRI, and PET for diagnosis and treating disease in the human body.

• Rhinology: Study of nose and olfactory organs.

• Sonography: Study of ultrasound imaging.

• Saurology: Study of lizards.

• Serology: Study of serum, interaction of antigen and antibodies in the blood.

• Sphygmology: Study of pulse and arterial pressure.

• Taxonomy: Study of classification, nomenclature, and identification of organisms.

• Telepathy: Communication of thoughts or ideas from one mind to another without normal use of senses. In other words, this is the process of mental contact.

• Veterinary Science: Science of health care and treatment of domestic animals.

• Holstein Friesian: It is a non-indigenous breed of cow.

• Primatology: The study of bodies and behaviour of human like species such as monkey, apes, orangutans, etc.

• Viticulture: Cultivation of grapes.

• Horticulture: Growing vegetables, flowers, and fruit for commercial purposes.

• Agriculture: The science and art of cultivating soil, raising crops, and rearing livestock.

• Osteology: The study of the structure and function of the skeleton and bony structure.

• Olericulture: The branch of horticulture that deals with the production, storage, processing, and marketing of vegetables.

• Otorhinolaryngology: The branch of medicine that deals with conditions of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) region.