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BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY
Nearly two million species (kinds-types) of plants and animals are known to the world. Modern biology does not concern only with the recognition and classification of these species but also deals with their structural and functional aspects. Extensive research during the 20 century has led to the division of biology into a large number of specialized branches. Some of the important branches of biology common to botany and zoology are:
i) Morphology (Gr: Morphe = form): This branch deals with the study of external structural characteristics of plants and animals.
ii) Anatomy (Gr: Ana = up, tome = to cut): It deals with the internal structures or organs of an organism. In plants it deals with the arrangement of different types of tissues in root, stem leaf etc.
iii) Histology: (Gr: Histos = web or tissues): It deals with the study of tissues of plants and animals under a microscope.
iv) Cytology or Cell-Biology (Gr: Kytos = hollow vessel or cell): The study of structure, function and composition of cell and cell organelles is called cytology or cell-biology.
v) Physiology (Gr: Phusis = nature): It is the study of functions of different parts of living organisms.
vi) Ecology (Gr: Oikos = home): It is the study of relationships of living organisms with each other and with their non-living environment. It is also called environmental biology.
vii) Embryology (Gr: Embryon = embryo) or developmental biology: It is the study of progressive developmental changes which occur after zygote formation upto an organism is formed.
viii) Taxonomy (Gr: Taxis = arrangement or grouping; Noms = laws related to naming): It deals with the description; identification, classification and scientific naming of living organisms, according to their similarities and dissimilarities.
ix) Genetics (Gr: Genesis = origin): It deals with the study of inheritance including transmission of hereditary characters from parents to their offspring.
x) Palaeontology (Gr: Palaios = ancient, ontos = being organisms): It is the study of animals and plants that lived in the remote past and are now found as fossils in the rocks. It can be further divided into two branches i.e. Palaeobotany; study of plant fossils, Palaeozoology, study of animal fossils.
In the ancient past large quantities of dead organisms were fossilized and formed coal, oil and other fossil fuel.
xi) Biochemistry: It deals with the chemistry and chemical aspects of the living system.
xii) Microbiology (Micro = very small): It deals with the study of microscopic organisms such as viruses, bacteria, etc.
xiii) Biotechnology: It is the manipulation of living things (animals, plants, micro-organism) for the welfare of mankind. Recently methods of genetic engineering have brought about a revolution in this field. By using these techniques not only yoghurt, cheese, bread, insulin, antibiotics etc. Are being produced but number of diseases are cured.
Nearly two million species (kinds-types) of plants and animals are known to the world. Modern biology does not concern only with the recognition and classification of these species but also deals with their structural and functional aspects. Extensive research during the 20 century has led to the division of biology into a large number of specialized branches. Some of the important branches of biology common to botany and zoology are:
i) Morphology (Gr: Morphe = form): This branch deals with the study of external structural characteristics of plants and animals.
ii) Anatomy (Gr: Ana = up, tome = to cut): It deals with the internal structures or organs of an organism. In plants it deals with the arrangement of different types of tissues in root, stem leaf etc.
iii) Histology: (Gr: Histos = web or tissues): It deals with the study of tissues of plants and animals under a microscope.
iv) Cytology or Cell-Biology (Gr: Kytos = hollow vessel or cell): The study of structure, function and composition of cell and cell organelles is called cytology or cell-biology.
v) Physiology (Gr: Phusis = nature): It is the study of functions of different parts of living organisms.
vi) Ecology (Gr: Oikos = home): It is the study of relationships of living organisms with each other and with their non-living environment. It is also called environmental biology.
vii) Embryology (Gr: Embryon = embryo) or developmental biology: It is the study of progressive developmental changes which occur after zygote formation upto an organism is formed.
viii) Taxonomy (Gr: Taxis = arrangement or grouping; Noms = laws related to naming): It deals with the description; identification, classification and scientific naming of living organisms, according to their similarities and dissimilarities.
ix) Genetics (Gr: Genesis = origin): It deals with the study of inheritance including transmission of hereditary characters from parents to their offspring.
x) Palaeontology (Gr: Palaios = ancient, ontos = being organisms): It is the study of animals and plants that lived in the remote past and are now found as fossils in the rocks. It can be further divided into two branches i.e. Palaeobotany; study of plant fossils, Palaeozoology, study of animal fossils.
In the ancient past large quantities of dead organisms were fossilized and formed coal, oil and other fossil fuel.
xi) Biochemistry: It deals with the chemistry and chemical aspects of the living system.
xii) Microbiology (Micro = very small): It deals with the study of microscopic organisms such as viruses, bacteria, etc.
xiii) Biotechnology: It is the manipulation of living things (animals, plants, micro-organism) for the welfare of mankind. Recently methods of genetic engineering have brought about a revolution in this field. By using these techniques not only yoghurt, cheese, bread, insulin, antibiotics etc. Are being produced but number of diseases are cured.
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