Difference between revisions of "Biology"
m |
(This page needs some serious help...I'll come back later and try to add more, if I can.) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | Biology is the scientific study of life. | + | '''Biology''' is the scientific study of life. |
| + | |||
| + | It encompasses in it several fields, including medicine, botany, and zoology; in addition, such studies as ecology and biochemistry fall under the purview of biology. Like [[physics]], it is a blanket term for a vast branch of the [[physical science]]s. | ||
==Principles== | ==Principles== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The study of biology works from several basic foundations: | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1. The cellular theory of life. All life is composed of at least once cell, which undergoes the classical processes of cellular life; the cell is the basic unit of all macrobiotic life. The chemical composition of all cells in nature is similar, and all existing cells have emerged from prior cells through the processes of cellular division and [[mitosis]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2. Genetic theory. All cells encode their genetic information in the form of DNA, the fundamental component of genes. These genes transfer the physical, and often psychological, traits of one generation of organism to the next. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 3. Homeostasis. All living organisms will attempt to reach some form of dynamic equilibrium with their environment - both through the metabolism of individual creatures, and the population dynamics of whole populations. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 4. Evolution. By the processes of [[natural selection]] and [[genetic drift]], the inherited traits of a population will change from generation to generation, sometimes leading to the arising of new, distinct populations from the 'parent population'. This is often included with [[common descent]], but in most fields of biology the latter does not arise; however, evolutionary theory itself is invaluable in agriculture, study of disease and research on genetics. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
| + | |||
| + | More than ten thousand years ago, Mesopotamia showed evidence of the domestication of goats, sheep, and grains; while this was most likely unintentional, at least at first, it can be placed as the first point at which human study of the nature of life itself began. From these humble beginnings, all of modern biology eventually flourished. | ||
==Fields of Study== | ==Fields of Study== | ||
| + | |||
==Modern Research== | ==Modern Research== | ||
| + | |||
[[Category:Biology]] | [[Category:Biology]] | ||
Revision as of 14:21, May 19, 2007
Biology is the scientific study of life.
It encompasses in it several fields, including medicine, botany, and zoology; in addition, such studies as ecology and biochemistry fall under the purview of biology. Like physics, it is a blanket term for a vast branch of the physical sciences.
Principles
The study of biology works from several basic foundations:
1. The cellular theory of life. All life is composed of at least once cell, which undergoes the classical processes of cellular life; the cell is the basic unit of all macrobiotic life. The chemical composition of all cells in nature is similar, and all existing cells have emerged from prior cells through the processes of cellular division and mitosis.
2. Genetic theory. All cells encode their genetic information in the form of DNA, the fundamental component of genes. These genes transfer the physical, and often psychological, traits of one generation of organism to the next.
3. Homeostasis. All living organisms will attempt to reach some form of dynamic equilibrium with their environment - both through the metabolism of individual creatures, and the population dynamics of whole populations.
4. Evolution. By the processes of natural selection and genetic drift, the inherited traits of a population will change from generation to generation, sometimes leading to the arising of new, distinct populations from the 'parent population'. This is often included with common descent, but in most fields of biology the latter does not arise; however, evolutionary theory itself is invaluable in agriculture, study of disease and research on genetics.
History
More than ten thousand years ago, Mesopotamia showed evidence of the domestication of goats, sheep, and grains; while this was most likely unintentional, at least at first, it can be placed as the first point at which human study of the nature of life itself began. From these humble beginnings, all of modern biology eventually flourished.
