WEEK 1 AND 2

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

Introduction

Biology is the science of life. All living organisms share several key properties such as order,
sensitivity or response to stimuli, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation,
homeostasis, and energy processing. Living things are highly organized following a hierarchy that
includes atoms, molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. Organisms, in
turn, are grouped as populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.

Earth provides few hints about the variety of life forms that inhabit it when viewed from space.
Microorganisms are assumed to have been the first life forms on Earth, existing for billions of
years before the emergence of plants and animals. Our familiar mammals, birds, and flowers are
all quite recent, having evolved 130 to 200 million years ago. Only in the last 300,000 years have
humans begun to resemble the creatures we are today, despite the fact that humans have only been
on this planet for the past 2.5 million years. The science that examines life is called Biology. What
is life, exactly? Although it may seem like a frivolous question with a simple solution, it is difficult
to define life. For instance, the study of viruses, which share some traits with living things but not
all of them, is one area of Biology called virology. Viruses do not fit the criteria that scientists use
to define life, despite the fact that they may assault living things, spread diseases, and even
reproduce. In the past, the study of living things was limited to fields of pure science, such as
botany and zoology, which together make up Biology. However, as time went on, other branches
emerged. New technologies emerged in both applied and pure domains, giving rise to a highly
expansive concept of science known as biological sciences. The field of biological sciences spans
a wide range of topics, from the intricate interactions of chemical elements within living cells to
the expansive ideas of ecosystems and planetary environmental changes. Additionally, it is
interested in the physical traits and actions of both modern and extinct species. How did they come
into being, and what relationships do they have with one another and their surroundings? The
biological sciences deal with a close examination of the inner workings of the human brain, the
make-up of our genes, and even how our reproductive system functions.
Branches of Biology

1. Botany (Plant Biology)

Study of plants, algae, and fungi
- Covers structure, growth, development, reproduction, metabolism, and evolution
- Subfields: Plant Anatomy, Plant Physiology, Plant Ecology, Plant Genetics

2. Zoology (Animal Biology)

Study of animals, from simple organisms to complex life forms
- Covers structure, behavior, physiology, development, and evolution
- Subfields: Animal Anatomy, Animal Physiology, Animal Behavior, Wildlife Biology

3. Microbiology
Study of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa)
- Covers structure, function, metabolism, and interactions with environment
- Subfields: Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Immunology

4. Ecology
Study of interactions between organisms and their environment
- Covers ecosystems, population dynamics, community structure, and conservation
- Subfields: Autecology, Synecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Conservation Biology

5. Genetics
Study of heredity, variation, and inheritance
- Covers DNA structure, gene expression, and genetic engineering
- Subfields: Molecular Genetics, Population Genetics, Quantitative Genetics

6. Biochemistry
Study of chemical processes within living organisms
- Covers metabolism, energy production, and biochemical pathways
- Subfields: Structural Biochemistry, Enzymology, Metabolic Pathways

7. Biophysics
Study of physical principles underlying biological processes
- Covers thermodynamics, kinetics, and biomechanics
- Subfields: Structural Biophysics, Biomechanics, Systems Biophysics

8. Molecular Biology
Study of biological processes at molecular level
- Covers DNA, RNA, proteins, and gene regulation
- Subfields: Gene Expression, Protein Structure, Molecular Genetics

9. Cellular Biology
Study of cell structure, function, and behavior
- Covers cell signaling, cell division, and cellular metabolism
- Subfields: Cell Signaling, Cell Adhesion, Cellular Development

10. Evolutionary Biology

Study of origin, diversity, and adaptation of species
- Covers phylogeny, speciation, and evolutionary mechanisms
- Subfields: Phylogenetics, Systematics, Evolutionary Ecology

11. Immunology
Study of immune system and its responses
- Covers immune cells, immune reactions, and immunological disorders
- Subfields: Immunopathology, Immunotherapy, Vaccinology

12. Neuroscience
Study of structure and function of nervous system
- Covers neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and behavioral neuroscience
- Subfields: Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, Neuropharmacology

13. Environmental Biology

Study of interactions between organisms and environment
- Covers conservation, sustainability, and environmental policy
- Subfields: Conservation Biology, Ecological Restoration, Environmental Policy

14. Biotechnology
Application of biological principles to develop products and technologies
- Covers genetic engineering, bioproducts, and biomedical engineering
- Subfields: Genetic Engineering, Bioproducts, Biomedical Engineering

15. Computational Biology

Use of computational methods to analyze biological data
- Covers bioinformatics, systems biology, and computational genomics
- Subfields: Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, Computational Genomics

Characteristics of living things.

All living things manifest certain characteristics. They demonstrate the ability to
use energy from the environment for survival and carry out their various activities. For continuous
survival, protoplasm must be added. Waste must be gotten rid of. New ones or offspring must be
produced. Nine characteristics distinguish living things from non-living things.

These are:

1. Ingestion
2. Assimilation
3. Growth
4. Reproduction
5. Waste elimination
6. Responsiveness
7. Co-ordination
8. Regulation
9. Movement
1 Ingestion

All living things feed one way or the other. They take in food for many reasons, chief among these
is for energy purposes. The organism needs energy to carry out all the other activities associated
with living things. There are two kinds of living things, plant and animal. Plant manufacture food,
i.e. basic materials are secured, light energy is utilized to convert the materials to complex nutritive
substances, which are used as food. Animals depend on plants for food.

2 Assimilation

Living organisms utilize food (nutrients) to maintain life. This is done by a process called
metabolism. It is a chemical process involved in keeping the life of the organism going. There are
two aspects of metabolism, (a) anabolism (substances are synthesized from simpler substances,
e.g. photosynthesis..... (b) catabolism (the breakdown of the substances).

3 Growth

Growth simply put is increase of materials in an organism. This is done in stages, a unicellular
organism increases its protoplasm while a multicellular organism increases the number of cells,
and every living cell is made up of protoplasm.

4 Excretion

All living organisms get rid of unwanted products (waste). As a result of cell activities in the
protoplasm, many materials formed (byproducts) which are not beneficial to the cell and if left
will cause harm to the cell.

5 Reproduction

All cells of living organisms multiply or divide. This multiplication or division enables the
organism to perpetuate their species. Reproduction can take different forms. (a) fission into two or
more parts, (b) fusion of protoplasmic material from two sources (i.e. male and female gametes)
resulting in an offspring.
6 Responsiveness

Living organisms respond to forces or anything external, even internal, i.e. any stimuli in the
environment, it could be change of weather. Organisms do this by many methods. You will learn
some of these in detail as your study progresses.

7 & 8 Co-ordination and Regulation

Chemical and physical changes in the organism are involved in all these activities. There is a
general process of co-ordination and regulation by enzymes to keep the system of the organisms
balanced and unified. Materials are exchanged, energy is exchanged between the organism and its
environment.