INTRODUCING BIOLOGY

Prepared by N. Syamala Devi

The term biology was coined by naturalist Lamarck. It is derived from the Greek word bios and logos
which means life and study. Biology is the branch of science which deals with the study of living organisms.
Biology helps us understanding concepts of evolution of life, biodiversity of the living world, classifying
animals, improvement of food resources, microscopic study of organisms, diseases, pollution abatement,
domestication of organisms. Biology has made a remarkable advent into fields like genetics, genetic engineering,
cloning, microbiology, tissue engineering, stem cell research, stem cell banks, cancer research, medicine and has
also manipulated the existing organisms through introduction of genes Genetically Modified Organisms and
creating new life.
Important Fathers Of Biology
Hippocrates
Father of Medicine
Aristotle
Father of Biology
Carolus Linnaeus
Father of Taxonomy
Carolus Linnaeus
Father of Modern Biology
Theophrastus
Father of Botany
Aristotle
Father of Zoology
G.Mendel
Father of Genetics
Antony Von Leenuwenhoek
Father of Microbiology
Father of Modern Microbiology (Contributions In Louis Pasteur
Pasteurization, Vaccines)
Robert Koch
Father of Medical Microbiology (Tuberculosis)
W.M. Stanely
Father of Virology
Robert Hooke
Father of CytologyCharka
Father of Ayurveda
Edward Jenner
Father of Immunology (Small Pox Vaccine)
Thomas Hunt Morgan
Father of Experimental Genetics
Gave The Theory of Evolution (Origin of Species by Natural Charles Darwin
Selections)
N.E Borlaug
International Father of Green Revolution
Landsteiner
Father of Blood Grouping
Joseph Lister
Father of Antiseptics (Iodine and Carbolic Acid)
Founder of Modern Anatomy, Was The First Scientist Who Andreas Vesalius
Dissected Dead Bodies of Man
James Watson and Francis Crick
Discovery of Double Helical Structure of DNA
Branches of biology
Botany

The study of plants

Zoology

The study of animals

Human biology
Morphology

The study of man as a living organism and his relationship with other living
organisms. Anthropology, study of man and human societies
The study of external structure

Anatomy

The study of animal forms, internal structures

Histology

The study of tissues

Cytology

The study of cells

Embryology

The study of formation and development of embryo

Taxonomy
Ecology

The science of naming, grouping and classifying plants and animals. It is also
called systematics
Study of relationship between the organisms and their environment

Evolution

The study of origin and gradual development of organisms

Palaeontology

The branch of biology that deals with heredity, especially the mechanism of
hereditary transmission and variation of inherited characteristic among similar
or related organisms.
The study of fossils

Physiology

The study of functions and activities of organisms and their parts

Ecology

The study of the relationship of an organism and their environment

Pathology

The study of diseases of plants and animals

Immunology

Mycology

The science that deals with the phenomena and causes of immunity
(resistance to or defence against diseases)
The science which deals with the chemicals and reactions that take place in
living organisms.
The study of fungi

Ornithology

Study of birds

Entomology

Study of insects

Virology

Study of virus

Ichthyology

Study of fishes

Biogeography

The study of geographical distribution of plants and animals

Eugenics

The study of method for improvement of human race by the selection of

parents
The practice of formation of formation of plants or animals by the
involvement of somatic cells.
The study about parasites

Genetics

Biochemistry

Cloning:
Parasitology

Herpetology

The branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living
organisms and the search for extra-terrestrial life.
It covers the search for life beyond earth, and the effects of extra-terrestrial
environments on living things
The study of reptiles

Mammology

The study of mammals

Neurobiology

The study of nervous system

Ethology

Studies the behaviour of animals

Space biology

The scientific study of how conditions during space flight and in the extraterre
strial environment, especially inreduced gravity, affect living organisms
Study of life elsewhere on the universe

Space biology
Exobiology

Exobiology
Biotechnology

Bioinformatics

: the field of applied biology which deals with the use of living organisms,
cells and cell products in various fields such as engineering, technology and
medicine
The field which deals with acquisition, storage, management, access and
processing of data using computers in conjugation with computers. With the
advancement of technology and growth of analytical methods, biology has no
longer remained just a plant and animal science, but has become an evolving
interdisciplinary subject

Significance of biology
1. Food production: food is the basic need in our life. Biological studies have made significant
improvements in agriculture for the production of cereal crops, has increased the varieties of seeds,
increased the yield of crops like wheat, rice corn, sugarcane and cotton. This study has overcome
problems of malnutrition, food storage and famine.
2. Control on diseases: the discovery of antibiotics for diseases like plague, cholera, pneumonia, typhoid,
tuberculosis etc., vaccines for polio, Hepatitis, tetanus, rabies, diphtheria, small pox, chicken pox, etc.,
antiseptics and improvised medical facilities, easy diagnosis and early diagnosis for diseases like Cancer,

AIDS, genetic counselling for sex linked diseases like Hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, SCIDS,
therapeutic drugs and prophylactic drugs.
3. Pollution Control: With the advent of Industrialization and automobiles, air, water and land is polluted
which poses danger to all living organisms. Biological means have devised mechanisms to reduce
pollution and maintain balance in the environment.
4. Genetic engineering: The techniques devised to manipulate the heredity material and thereby producing
organisms called Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
5. Conservation of Natural resources: Coal, petroleum, metal deposits are extensively depleted.
Irreversible damage is done to habitats of plants and animals and possess threat to their extinction.
Biology deals with awareness, conservation of natural resources and alternative sources of energy.
6. Provides Scopes for Career: Biology opens careers for students in diverse fields. He has options to be a
doctor, pathologist, pharmacist, microbiologist, entomologist, dentists, veterinary doctor, genetic
counsellor, teacher, biotechnologist, food and dairy industry, textile industry, etc.
Applications of Biology
1. Agriculture: The science of practicing farming
2. Veterinary science: the science which deals with the caring for the health, treating and surgery of
animals
3. Apiculture: the science of raising honey bees
4. Sericulture: the science of rearing silkworms
5. Horticulture: the science of growing fruits and vegetables.
6. Marine Biology- the study of life in the sea
7. Household biology- study of household animals, insets etc., including how to prevent damage to our
own body and to our belongings.
EXERCISES:
GIVE APPROPRIATE TERMS FOR THE FOLLOWING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The term used for studying the rate of increase in population: Population growth
Science of growing fruits and vegetables: Horticulture
Study of reptiles: Herpetology
The technique of raising honey bees for production of honey and beewax: Apiculture
The science which aims to improve human race through controlled heredity: Eugenics
The study of structure, function and composition of cells and cell organelles in plants and animals:
Cytology
7. The study of relationship of organisms with each other and with their non living environment: Ecology
8. The branch of science which deals with the metabolism of living organism, helps in finding the age of
fossils: Biophysics
9. The branch of biology which deals with making artificial limbs: Bioengineering
10. The science of rearing of silkworms: Sericulture
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1. Zoology is a branch of biology which deals with the scientific study of animals.
2. The Latin word science means to know.
3. The study of structure, function and composition of cell and cell organelles is called cytology
4. Ecology is the study of relationships of living organisms with each other and with their living
environment.
5. The study of plant fossils is called paleobotany and animal fossils is paleozoology.
6. In biophysics we apply the laws and techniques of physics to explain the metabolism of living organism.
7. Biometry is the branch of mathematics where data and measurements related to living organisms are
dealt with.
8. A French physician, Laveran, studied the blood sample of malaria patients observed tiny creatures called
plasmodium
9. Theory is scientific assumptions consistent with one another and supported by evidence.
10. Schleiden and Schwann proposed a cell theory.
11. The method of vaccination against small pox was discovered by Edward Jenner.
12. Linnaeus is known as father of taxonomy
13. Watson and Crick gave the structure of DNA.
Match the following:
1.
Father of Taxonomy

Aristotle

2.

Father of Modern Biology

Carolus Linnaeus

3.

Father of Microbiology

Louis Pasteur

4.

Father

of

Modern

(Contributions

In

Microbiology

Hippocrates

Pasteurization,

Vaccines)
5.

Discovery of Double Helical Structure G.Mendel

of DNA

6.

Father of Botany

Aristotle

7.

Father of Zoology

Theophrastus

8.

Father of Genetics

James Watson and Francis Crick

9.

Father of Medicine

Antony Von Leenuwenhoek

10.

Father of Biology

Carolus Linnaeus

1.

insulin

Bacteria

2.

Parasitology

Fungi

3.

Entomology

Somatic cells

4.

Mycology

Insects

5.

Cloning

parasites

6.

Ichthyology

Diseases

7.

Ecology

Cells

8.

Virology

Fishes

9.

Cytology

Environment

10.

pathology

Viruses

FIND THE OUT ONE OUT

1. Herpetology: snake, lizard, alligator , earthworm
2. Ornithology: Parrot, crow, vulture, duck, ostrich, snake
3. Entomology: butterfly, cockroach , honeybee, silkworm, sandworm
4. Bacteriology: amoeba, clostridium, mycobacterium, vibrio, staphylococcus.
5. Mammology: whales, platypus, cow, kangaroo, dinosaur

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Which character differentiates living things from non-living things?
a. They live in the same ecosystem
b. They are acted upon the same environment
c. They are highly organized and complex made of one or more cells and contain genetic material
d. Both a and b
2. The study of fossils is called
a. Environmental biology
b. Historical biology
c. Palaeontology
d. Social biology
3. The experiments on DNA molecules in chromosomes for knowing the basis of inherited diseases are
conducted by:
a. Molecular biologists
b. Microbiologists

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

c. Freshwater biologists
d. Social biologist
Synthetic insulin from pork was formed by which technique:
a. Parasitology
b. Social biological techniques
c. Biotechnology
d. Both b and c
The branch of biology which deals with the study of social behaviour and communal life of human beings
living in any environment is called
a. Environmental biology
b. Social biology
c. Human biology
d. Both b and c
The study of life in seas and oceans comes under the heading of
a. Sea biology
b. Marine biology
c. Ocean biology
d. Freshwater biology
The structure, mode of transmission, life histories and host parasite relationships are studied in
a. Parasitology
b. Entomology
c. Microbiology
d. None
Science in systematized knowledge is based on
a. Philosophical approach
b. Hypothesis
c. Judicial approach
d. Experimental approach
The study of microorganisms which include bacteria, viruses, protozoans and microscopic algae and
fungi comes under
a. Virology
b. Molecular biology
c. Microbiology
d. Bacteriology
The term biology is a derived from
a. Latin
b. English
c. Greek
d. French

Define:
1. Taxonomy: the study of classifying organisms
2. Physiology: The study of functions and activities of organisms and their organs
3. Ichthyology: Study of Fishes
4. Science: Science is a way of knowing/ Science is derived from a Latin word meaning to to know/
Science is the study about natural phenomena through experiments, observations and researches.
5. Exobiology: the study of life in space.
Explain briefly the following statements:
1. Discoveries in biology have helped in leading a healthier life.
2. What are the main branches of biology common to botany and zoology?
3. Biological studies have an Impact on Human welfare.
4. The contributions of Aristotle and William Harvey
5. Name two professions where basic biology is required.
6. What are environmental hazards?
Answers
1. Many discoveries in biology have led to healthier life
Biological research has improvised health condition with discoveries and developments in producing new
medicines, vaccines, antibiotics and improvised medical equipments and surgeries.
a. Louis Pasteur: He discovered bacteria are causes of diseases, vaccines (rabies)
b. Robert Koch: He gave the Germ theory of diseases

c. Joseph Lister: He discovered antiseptics for e.g., iodine, carbolic acid

d. Edward Jenner: He discovered vaccination for small pox
2. The branches of biology common to botany and zoology are
a. Morphology
b. Anatomy
c. Histology
d. Cytology
e. Physiology
f. Ecology
g. Embryology
3. Biology has made enormous impact on human welfare
a. Production of food: biological researches has made advent in pest control, genetics and
biotechnological approaches in improvements in quality and quantity of crops, fruits and vegetables,
dairy products, meat etc. The research has overcome the problem of food storage, declined the
incidence of famine and improved the economic conditions for mankind.
b. Improvement of health: health conditions of mankind has been improvised with deicoveries in
medicines, vaccines, antibiotics and medical equipments.
c. Improvements of environment: rapid industrialization has resulted in pollution of air, land and
water resources. Pollution has adverse effects on man, animals and plants. Biology has played an
important role in pollution monitoring through biosensors and pollution abatements.
d. Genetic engineering: manipulations of the genes have helped in developments of hormones like
humalin ( insulin), Tissue plasminogen activator, Factor VIII etc (from genetically engineered
organisms) , Early diagnosis of hereditary diseases, cancers, HIV etc., and efficient treatment.
Genetic engineering has enhanced the quality and quantity of crops.
4. Aristotle is the father of Biology. He was first to attempt to classify organisms. William Harvey
discovered the circulation of blood in the body
5. Agriculture and Breeding
6. the environmental hazards are
a. deforestation
b. use of automobiles
c. excessive use of fertilisers, pesticides
d. industries
e. municipal, medicinal, heavy metal, textiles and radioactive wastes.