Introduction to

BIOLOGY

What is Biology?• Bio – means life• Ologos – to study / the

study

• BIOLOGY – is the study of life / the study of living things

• Biologist – the person who studies Biology

Brief History of Biology

• Aristotle – Greek philosopher; first who classified living things as to air, land, or water dwellers; Father of Biology

Brief History of Biology

• Galen – Greek physician; first to dissect apes and pigs; Father of Anatomy

• Andreas Vesalius – made the first dissection on human anatomy; discovered Comparative Anatomy

William Harvey – showed conclusively that the heart pumps blood and the blood circulates

• Marcello Malphigi – Italian physician & anatomist, founder of microscopic anatomy

• Anton Van Leeuwenhoek first to use microscope; discovered microorganisms such as protozoans called animalcules

• Charles Darwin – wrote the book On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection

Divisions of Biology2 Major Divisions

of Biology• Botany – the

study of PLANTS

• Zoology – the study of ANIMALS

BOTANYDendrology Study of trees and their

history

Mycology Study of fungi and some association with plants

Paleonbotany Study of fossil plants

Phytopathology Study of diseases of plants

Agriculture Study the principles of botany in growing food

plants

Pomology Study of cultivating fruits

ZOOLOGYArachnology Study of single class of

invertebrate (scorpions, spiders, etc.)

Conchology Study of mollusks

Embryology Study of the development of animal forms

Entomology Study of insects

Herpetology Study of reptiles

Mammalogy Study of mammals

Ornithology Study of birds

Ichthyology Study of fishes

Some Branches of Biology

• Anatomy – the study of structures of entire organisms and their parts

Some Branches of Biology

• Physiology – the study of how the body and its parts work

Some Branches of Biology

Ecology – study of how organisms interact with their environment & with other organisms

• Parasitology – the study of the organisms that live in or on other organisms that caused diseases

• Taxonomy – the study of the classification & evolutionary interrelationships among organisms

• Embryology – study of the development & growth of organisms

• Cytology – the study of the structures & functions of cells

• Microbiology – the study of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoans, and viruses

• Paleontology – the study of fossils, the preserved remains and traces of organisms from the past

• Genetics – the study of how traits are inherited & passed on one generation to the next

• Morphology – the study of gross structures & forms of organisms

• Histology – study of tissues