Introduction to Biology

Biology: The Science of Life

• Biology is the study of life forms and living processes, encompassing the diversity of living organisms.
• The distinction between inanimate matter and living organisms has been recognized since early human civilizations.

Early Understanding of Nature

• Early humans deified certain inanimate entities (e.g., wind, sea, fire) and some animals and plants, often evoking a sense of awe or fear.

Development of Biological Knowledge

• The systematic description of living organisms began much later in human history, with progress hindered by anthropocentric views of biology.
• Detailed systems of identification, nomenclature, and classification emerged out of necessity, leading to a monumental description of life forms.

Significance of Classification

• The recognition of similarities among living organisms, both horizontally and vertically, revealed that all present-day living organisms are related to each other and to all organisms that ever lived on earth.
• This understanding led to cultural movements for the conservation of biodiversity, humbling human perspectives.

Upcoming Chapters

• The following chapters will provide descriptions, including classification, of animals and plants from a taxonomist's perspective.