Friday, October 2, 2009

What is Biology?

A tree fern unrolling a new frondImage via Wikipedia
"Biology" is not one science -- it is dozens of different sciences, each with its own set of tools and techniques, theories and questions, puzzles and paradigms. Here are some examples of biological sciences:
  • Biochemistry: biological molecules and their interactions; metabolism
  • Microbiology: bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms, and their interactions with other organisms
  • Cytology and Histology: cell structures and their functions
  • Physiology: functions of tissues, organs and organ systems, such as the muscular system, the nervous system, etc.
  • Botany: plant diversity, structure, and functions
  • Zoology: animal diversity, structure, and functions
  • Genetics: the mechanisms of heredity, including its molecular machinery (DNA) and its observable consequences (e.g., genetic diseases).
  • Evolution: the mechanisms by which populations change over time
  • Ecology: the interactions of organisms with each other and their environments.