biology.pdf

Nature scope of biological sciences

1. Science:
The term science is derived
from
Latin word scientia which
means knowledge.
So, the term science 1S used tor knowledgegaincd by actual observation,
found correct on verification and put in a systematic manner or science provides
us informationbased on facts. There are several branches of science, each
dealing with a specific subject.
Biology:
It is the combinationof two Greek words bios and logos. Bios mean life
and logos means study. Thus, biolog8y is the branch of science which deals with
the study of life. The first major biological observations were made by ancient
Greek naturalist Aristotle(384-322 B.C.). Aristotlehas been designatedas
Father of biology. The term biology was given by French naturalist
Lamarck(1744-1829).
Biology has been further classifiedinto,
() Botany (2) Zoolog
The scienceof plants is called Botany. The word botany has been derived
from Greek word botane which means pasture or plants. Technically,botany is
called Phytology (Gk. phyto = plants; logos = study). Theophrastus (370-287
B.C.) is known as Father of
botany
Zoology is the study of animals (Gk. zoon
= animals; logos
=
study). Aristotle is called Father of zoology. Being broud -based and with
multi-disciplinary approach,
the term biology has been replaced by Life
Sciences or Biological Sciences.

2. nature2
1.
Biological Science
is a
Rapidly Eapanding Body
of
Knowledge
Newer disiplines are being discovered and establishedevery day. This may be
because o knowlcdge explosion, rescarehes, science and technological intervention. More
and more subtle things
are elabOralcd,
and have
become ditierent
branenes
ol
NCICnce Tse
Blogy being one of such fertule branches of science is gowing so rapidly and its body of
knowicdge is expunding n a supersoniC speed. One should keep this in mind, otherwise very
son people will become out-dated and especially teachers must get ahbreast with the new
knowlodge without fail.
2.
Biolopleal Selence is an Interdscipliaary Area
of
Lerning
As t is told earlier, knowledge in science as a whole started growing and became too
large. Though philosopby is considered as the mother of all knowledge, cach discipline has
its own depth and brcadth Knowledge being etermal has no any water tight compartments
but is humans who made the divIsions just tor the sake of convenience to study them.
Deretore, nere wil be no one subject having a pure boundary of its own. Everything will be
pY c,bohnoogy, moeua bology and
hem
with physics, mathematics and chemistry Can vo y ong
today being developed without the experts from the fields of physics, chemistry, bioloey
istry
mathematies, computet science, and others, pooling their expertise and cooperating with one
another? The cquipment that measures the Blood Pressure, Body Temperature and so many
machines that are used to diagnose the diseases, are the product of inter-disciplinary
contributtons. In case o1 biolcchnology. you Can very well see the combination of Biology
und icennology. Bolcchnology,dcals with the techniques of using live organisms or
nymes rom organisms lo produce products and processes usetul to man The name
oechology was givem by the Hungartan engincer. Tbe prnciples of Biotechnology are
enetic engineering and maintenance of sterile ambience which works based on chemical
enginceringprocess
3. Biological Science is Always Tentative
Biological sCience as any other branch of science, is empirical and lestable.
And it is tentlative also. All theories, even the seemingly well-founded ones, can be revised
or improved upon, or abandoned altogether whenever new evidence emerges, either as new
cperimental observations or as new theoretical developments. Whatever the view we take of
the developmentof scientifictheories,the fact remains that scientifie theories are tentative
and are always subject to change. Example-Lamarck's theory of use and disuse was later
moditicd is Nco-Lamarckismard other theories ike Darwin's theory of origin of life by
natural selcction,mulation Iheory ctc
.
Biological Sckence Demn veance A scientist,getting an
inspirationalidea or
a
. BlologicalSclence Demands Perseverance from Its Practitioners
creative thought on making a chance ohservation, or otherwise, has to persist with the idea to
take it to its logical conclusion. Sometimes, the seientist works alone all the way to the
discoveryor invention,while at other times the scientist can make onlya beginning and then
ohers join him/her in developingthe idea lurther. This holds good for biolog1cal science
so.
Nnowledge
Blalogieal
Selence as an Approach to Investigationand as a Process of C'onstructing
Most investigationsin science involve some form of scientifiemethod. It shows
ereativityof humankindin seeking solution lo its problems.The approach usod by the
CiCntistsin the study o astronomyand ccology s observalionand prediction.In
microbiologythey rely on laboraoryexperimenttocuscd on cause and etfect relationship
his s a gimpsc ot the process by which science works.Addingto the complexityit 1s the
overlappingnature ot diterent branches ol biology. It is impossible to study zoloRY without
Aowing a grCal dca about evolution,physiologyand ecology. ou cant study cellular
biology
without knowing biochemistryand molecularbiology
as
well

3. Scope of Biology
Biology creates an awareness of vast array of forms of life which
normally goes unseen. Biology offers a lage scope and provides a large ficld
study.
()
Helps us to understand ourselves better:
t unfolds different queries of life alongwith its cultural, social.
philosophicaland economicalaspects. So it helps in understandingthe
life better.
(2) Biology and inter-relationship of living beings :
Study of biology helps us in understanding the wonderful phenomenon
and laws of nature which finally tell us to predict the behaviour of
different living beings under changed conditions.
(3) Biology and resources:
Biology helps us to know how to tap and conserve the resources
avaiable to us e.g. fishes, birds, forests etc.
(4)
Biology and literature :
Knowledge of Natural Biology has greatly eniched the literature with
their references in stories and poems etc. Poets and other authors have
been inspired by the beautiful and interesting plants and animals and
frequently 1igure them in stories, poems and dramas.
(5) Study of nature is a rewarding experience:
Many plants like Narcissus, Dahlia. Gloriosa. Roses, Marigold, Aster.
etc. are used for ornamental purposes. The variety available in animals
is widely enjoyed in zoological parks. Students enjoy excursions to
remote places watching never seen before plants and animals.
(6) Solving problems:
Biology makes us to understand the present day problems such as
population growth. pollution, conservation of wildlife and survival of
man etc. The future directions of biotechnology. conservation of
biodiversity, maintenance of environment and human welfare remain
in the hands of biologists.
(7) Biology-Medicinal aspect:
Several plants like Arropa belladona. Cinchona are sources
of
atropine. quinine etc. Many members of fungi such
as Penicillium and Streptomyces give rise to antibiotics like penicillin
and streptomycin. Plants are the major source of vitamins. Drugs are
first lested on animals before being used for treating man. Animals
provide scientific hints for the production and use oft medicines.
Animals are widely used for scientific research and results thus
obtained are finally applied to man. The study of animal play an
important role in health, nutritionand control of pests. Many diseases
Iike malaria are caused and transmitted by animals.
(8) Solving approach of biology:
Knowledgefor eradicationof diseases like malaria, small pox, etc.
have been achieved by scientists basically due to desire and
determination to solve the problem.
(9) Ecosystem and living organisms :
Biology helps us in understanding the various ecosysiems. The living
community and non-living environment interact with each other and
exchange of material in them takes place.
(10) Biotechnology:
Biotechnologists have produced many genetically modified (GM)
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4. (10) Biotechnology:
Biotechnologists have producedmany genetically modified(GM)
crops. Plenty
of
studies
are
being
made
by
geneticists,
evolutionists
and cytologists to fudge the efficacy of biotechnology
Careers in Biology
Some interTelaled disciplines
of
biobgy
(career options
in bioogy)
from which any lield
can be selected for futher rewarumg carctt.
()ViroloRY: t is thestudy of viruses.
(2) Agronomy: This branch deals wth the management of farms and is the sC ience of
TOP production
3)
Pathology
: It is the study of diseases
(their nature, causes, symptoms,
effects and
control).
(4) Breeding : This branch is concerned with the production of new improved races by
mating selected parents.
5) Entomology: It is the study of structure. habits and classification of insects.
(6) Anthropokogy: lt is the study of physical, cultural, mental and soctal nature of
prunative and modern man.
(7)
Veterinary science:
It
deals with the study of domestic animals.
(8) Ichthyology or Fishery or Piscieulture: It deals with the study of rearing fish.
(9) Apiculture: It deals with the study of bee-keeping for obtaining honey and wax.
(10) Poultry:t is the branch of science dealing with the study of raising domestc
fowls as
chicken. ducks and geese.
(11) Food technology:t is the study of processing and preservation of tfoods,
vegetables., fruits, etc.
(12) Nutrition : It supplies intformation for proper nourishment of human and other
organisms for heathy living.
(13)
Forestry: lt is concerned
with
proteetion and
devekopment of forests and to
expkre ne oue aa ccooic pten o ests.
14) Horticulture:
It is the siudy primarily aimed at the improvementof ornamental
and
fruit yielding plants.
(15) Pharmacology: lt deals wth study of drugs and preparat ion of medicines.
(16) Bacteriology: It aims at the study of bacteria and includes the exploration of
useful and harmful eflects.
(17) Genetics: The branch which is concerned with differences and resemblances
among parents and progeny especially those due to beredity or inheritance
(18) Pharmacy : li deals with the preparation and compounding medicines and
dispensing them as per doctor's prescription.
(19) Soil Science : lt aims at the study of soil. ifs structure. type and dynamics.
20) Dairy technology: t is the study ol manulacture ot milk products.
(21) Microbiology : lh is the study of microscopic organisms.
(22) Psychology : The branch of sCience which deals with behaviour and qualties etc.
of human mind.
(23) Forensic Sciences: It is the application of scientiflic kow ledge to the question of
Ciwil and ermnal laws e-8. study of tinger prints, blbod typing. dentilicalionof narcolics
etc.
(24) Medicine: The branch of science responsible for curing diseases with drugs or
other curative substances,
(25) Surgery: ll is a branch of medicine which deals with physical operations to cure
injuries and other diseases of body.
(26) Bfomedical engineering: It deals with the production of spare parts of man such
as artificial limbs, implants and heart. lung machine etc.
(27) Physiotherapy: lt is the branch of science which mainly aims at curing the
discases delects and body weaknessesby physical remedies as massage and exercise cte.
(28) enetic engineering: lt 1s a branch of genetics which deals with production of
organism wh combination of new heritable characters at will gene-manipulat ion).
(29) Occupational therapy: It involves the cure of convalescentsand physically
handicappedby doing ligh work for diversion, physical exercise or vocational training.