Lesson 1: Sub- Fields of Biology
Video Lesson:
Competencies(MLC)
At the end of this lesson you will be able to :
- list the sub-fields of biology
- Define the sub-fields of biology.
- Categorize the different sub-fields of biology into pure and applied biology
Brainstorming Questions
Dear learner! From your back ground knowledge of grade 9 biology , can you define the term ‘biology’ ?
What sub-fields of biology do you know? list them as much as you can.
1.1 The Scope of Biology
The scope of biology is so broad that it contains many branches and sub-disciplines. Some of them are described below:
- Anatomy: the study of the structure of living organisms. Particularly their internal structure by mechanisms of dissection and then microscopic examination
- Taxonomy: the study aimed at following systems of classification of organism which shows the totality of their similarities and differences.
- Ecology: is the study of the relationship of living organisms with each other and their non-living or physical surrounding environment.
- Morphology: the study of the form and the external structure of organisms.
- Genetics: The study of biological inheritance patterns and variations in organisms.
- Botany: the study of plants
- Zoology: the study of animals
- Cytology: deals with structures, composition and functions of cells.
- Ornithology: the study of birds.
- Entomology : the study of insects
- Microbiology: is the study of micro-organisms
- Physiology: deals with the vital function of plants and animals such as nutrition’s, reproduction, respiration, and excretion.
- Histology: Study of the details of tissue structure
- Molecular biology: Study the structure and function of genetic informational molecules like DNA and RNA.
- Embryology: The study of embryo(zygote to embryo).
- Paleontology: Paleontology is the scientific study of the history of life on Earth through the examination of fossils. These fossils can include the remains of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria
- Evolution: The study of the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations that depend on the process of natural selection. Evolution is the process through which species of organisms change over time through variations in their genetic material.
- Exobiology: Concern with the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the Universe
1.2 Biology
Biology is highly related to other sciences like chemistry, physics etc… So, in biology to understand the knowledge of cell membrane the concept of chemistry is essential to explain the structure of lipids and proteins. Besides, to have the knowledge transportation of water in plants the physics concept is vital.