Introduction to Biology

The Science of Biology

• Biology is the science of life, derived from the Greek words "bios" (life) and "logos" (study).

Major Fields of Biology

• Zoology: The study of animals, their structure, function, behavior, and diversity.
• Botany: The study of plants, including their structure, growth, reproduction, and interactions with their environment.
• Microbiology: The study of microorganisms such as bacteria and microscopic fungi, including their structures, functions, habitats, and reproduction.

Branches or Sub-Fields of Biology

• Morphology: The study of the form and structure of organisms, including outward appearance and internal structures.
• Anatomy: The branch of Biology that explores the internal physical structure of organisms, particularly humans, aiding in disease diagnosis and medical device development.
• Physiology: The study of the functioning of body parts, such as how the blood circulatory system transports vital substances.
• Histology: The microscopic study of tissues, which are groups of cells with similar functions.
• Cytology: The study of cells, the building blocks of life, including their fundamental structures and organelles.
• Molecular Biology: The study of biological molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as fundamental life processes.
• Embryology: The study of the process of development of an organism from a fertilized egg, including tissue and organ formation.
• Genetics: The study of the transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring and the causes of genetic disorders.
• Palaeontology: The study of fossils to understand the evolutionary history of organisms.
• Taxonomy: The classification of organisms into groups based on similarities and differences.
• Ecology: The study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.
• Marine Biology: The study of life in oceans.
• Pathology: The study of diseases, their causes, and effects.
• Immunology: The study of the components of the immune system and their role against diseases.
• Pharmacology: The study of drugs and their effects on the body.

Relation of Biology with Other Sciences

• Biology is closely linked with natural sciences like Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Sciences.
• Biochemistry: The study of the structure and reactions of different chemical substances present in living systems.
• Biophysics: The study of the principles of physics applied to biological processes.
• Computational Biology: The use of mathematical models, algorithms, and computer simulations to understand biological systems.
• Biogeography: The study of the distribution of living organisms in different geographical regions.
• Biostatistics: The application of statistical principles to analyze and interpret data related to living organisms.
• Biotechnology: The use of living organisms or their components to develop beneficial products or processes.
• Bio-economics: The study of organisms from an economical point of view, calculating the cost and profit of biological projects.

Careers in Biology

• Medicine and Surgery: Diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
• Veterinary Medicine: Diagnosis and surgeries in animals .
• Environmental Science: Solving issues related to pollution and natural resources.
• Microbiology: Research on microorganisms to understand their impact.
• Genetic Counseling: Providing support to people on genetic conditions and testing.
• Nutrition and Dietetics: Advising on proper dietary habits to promote health.
• Public Health: Improving the health of communities through education, policy-making, and research.
• Biomedical Engineering: Designing and making medical equipment to improve patient care.
• Bioinformatics: Analysis of biological data by using computational tools.
• Physiotherapy: Restoring movement and physical function impaired by disease or injury.
• Fisheries and Wildlife: Jobs in departments related to Zoology, Fisheries, or Aquaculture.
• Agriculture: Improving farming practices, crop production, and sustainable agriculture techniques.
• Animal Husbandry: Breeding and caring for livestock to improve their quality and productivity.
• Horticulture: Cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.
• Forestry: Managing and conserving forests and wildlife.
• Farming: Preparing farms, growing crops, and raising animals for food and other products.
• Biotechnology: Developing products and technologies in medicine, agriculture, etc.
• Forensics: Analyzing physical evidence from crime scenes.

Quranic Instructions to Reveal the Study of Life

• The Holy Quran encourages exploring and reflecting on the study of life.
• The Quran states that all living things were created from water, highlighting the common origin of life.
• Verses in the Quran hint at the events that occurred in the creation of human beings and the development of animals.
• Allah created early life in water (fishes) and then animals with limbs evolved, some creeping on their bellies, others walking on two legs, and some on four legs.

Science as a Collaborative Field

• Science is a collaborative field where researchers from various disciplines work together to solve complex problems.
• Human Genome Project: An interdisciplinary project involving molecular biology, genetics, informatics, and computer science to sequence and map the human genome.
• Climate Change Research: Requires collaboration among atmospheric science, ecology, economics, and sociology.
• Medical Research: Involves oncologists, biologists, biochemists, geneticists, pharmacologists, and statisticians.
• Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Involves computer science, engineering, mathematics, neuroscience, and psychology.
• Space Exploration: Involves scientists from astrophysics, planetary science, engineering, biology, and medicine.

Scientific Method

• Recognition of a scientific problem: Identifying a specific issue or phenomenon.
• Observation: Making observations about the problem and studying previous research.
• Hypothesis: Developing a tentative answer to the scientific problem
• Deduction: Developing logical results from the hypotheses, often following an "if-then" pattern.
• Experiments: Performing experiments to test all hypotheses.
• Results: Gathering data from experiments, summarizing the results, and acknowledging sources of information.

Theory and Law/Principle

• Theory: An original hypothesis that has been supported by extensive evidence and repeatedly validated by multiple researchers.
• Law/Principle: A theory that is proved again and again by experiments becomes a law or principle, representing a uniform or constant fact of nature.

Malaria - An Example of Biological Method

• Observations: Malaria and marshy areas have some relation; quinine is an effective drug; drinking marsh water does not cause malaria; Plasmodium was seen in the blood of malarial patients.
• Hypothesis: Plasmodium is the cause of malaria.
• Deduction: If Plasmodium is the cause of malaria, then all malarial patients should have Plasmodium in their blood.
• Experiment and Results: Examining blood samples of malarial patients and healthy persons under a microscope showed that most malarial patients had Plasmodium in their blood.
• Plasmodium gets into the blood of man: Malaria is associated with marshes, and Plasmodium was not in the marsh water. King listed some observations for mosquito:
  • People sleeping outdoors were more prone to have malaria.
  • People using mosquito nets were less prone to have malaria.
  • People near smoky fire were less prone to have malaria.
• King suggested hypothesis: Mosquitoes transmit Plasmodium and are involved in spread of Malaria.
• Deduction: if mosquitoes are involved in the spread of malaria, the Plasmodium should be present in Mosquitoes.
• Ronald Ross experiment: Allowed Anopheles Mosquito to bite Malaria patient, and he found Plasmodium in its stomach. The he studied different Mosquitoes after allowing them to bite sparrow ill with Malaria, and found Plasmodium multiplied in its walls.