BIOLOGY

Biology as a Science/ Introduction to Biology

The term ‘Biology’ was gotten from two Greek words which are Bios ( meaning Life) and Logos( meaning study). Simply put Biology can be defined as the study of life or living things.

Biology is regarded as a science subject. Science has to do with the study of natural things around us. Biology is divided into two broad branches which are BOTANY and ZOOLOGY. BOTANY refers to the study of plants while zoology refers to the study of animals. Other branches of Biology are;

• MICRO BIOLOGY: This has to do with the study of micro organisms in our environment. It comprises of the study of the nature of micro organisms,their habitats, their behavior, etc
• ECOLOGY: This involves the study of plants and animals (living things) in relation to their environment. It is the study of plants and animals in their natural habitat
• BIO CHEMISTRY: The study of the chemistry of life
• GENETICS: Study of inheritance and traits in living organisms
• PHYSIOLOGY: Study of plants and animals function
• ANATOMY: Study of internal structures of plants and animals
• CYTOLOGY: Study of cellular structures
• HISTOLOGY: Study of tissues
• EMBRYOLOGY: Study of embryo formation
• DENTISTRY: The study of the teeth
• VETERINARY: Study of animal diseases and their treatments
• TAXONOMY: Study of plants and animal classification.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

These refers to the processes of science which involves a sequence of enquires about things under study. These methods include:

• Observation
• Classification
• Inference
• Measurement
• Identification
• Hypothesis
• Experimentation
• Theory/ Law

Observation is the process of carefully watching something for a period of time. An hypothesis is a reasonable explanation for an observation or natural phenomenon. Experimentation is the process of carrying out tests to ensure that an hypothesis is correct and if it’s not it is modified and tested again. A theory is a tested hypothesis that has been found to be repeatedly correct and true within the limits of available evidence. A law is a theory that has been extensively tested and proven to be true.

SCIENTIFIC PATTERN

This is the process ( steps) of carrying out a scientific experiment. They include:

• AIM
• APPARATUS
• METHOD
• OBSERVATION
• CONCLUSION

USES OF BIOLOGY

• Medicine: This involves the manufacture of vaccines, drugs,organ transplant, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), production of hormones and antibiotics.
• Agriculture: This involves the production of hybrid plants and animals, pesticides and fertilizers.

USEFULNESS OF SCIENCE

• Manufacturing Industries: Raw materials have been combined to manufacture many finished products
• Construction: Roads, railways, airports have been designed and constructed as a result of the knowledge derived from science
• Technology: Science has helped in the development of computers that have enhanced efficiency of mankind in their activities.
• Astronomical Science,etc

NEXT ON BIOLOGY; CONCEPT OF LIVING THINGS.