Difference between revisions of "Biology"

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'''Biology''' is the scientific study of life.
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'''Biology''' encompasses several fields of study about the living organisms and their environment. Disciplines range over several levels of organization, such as atomic ([[biochemistry]], [[structural biology]], and [[genetics]]), microscopic ([[cellular biology]]), organismal ([[botany]], [[zoology]], [[biophysics]]), and large-scale levels ([[ecology]], [[evolution]], and [[agriculture]]). Human-related fields tend to be the most applied, such as [[genetics]], [[physiology]], and [[medicine]]. Despite having multiple subdisciplines, all fields of biology are deeply related to each other.
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An Oxford University book states:
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<blockquote>
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It is 'the study of living organisms, which includes their structure (gross and microscopical), functioning, origin and evolution, classification, interrelationships, and distribution.' <ref>Martin, E. and Hine, R. (2008) 'A Dictionary of Biology' Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.</ref>
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</blockquote>
  
It encompasses several fields of study, including [[genetics]], [[biochemistry]], [[cell biology]], [[structural biology]], [[mammalian physiology]], [[biophysics]], [[medicine]], [[botany]], and [[zoology]]; in addition, studies such as [[ecology]] and [[evolution]] also fall under the purview of biology.
 
  
 
==Principles==
 
==Principles==
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The study of biology works from several basic foundations:
 
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]].
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1. ''Cell Theory''. Cell theory, as put forth by Schwann and Schleiden in 1838, stipulates that all life is made from cells, that the cell is the fundamental building block of life, and that all cells come from preexisting cells.
  
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.
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2. ''Genetic Theory''. Determined by Griffith in 1928, DNA is the genetic material of all cells. DNA encodes genes, which are transferred from one generation to the next and determine the characteristics of an individual.
  
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.
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3. ''Homeostasis''. All living organisms attempt to reach of dynamic equilibrium with their environment - from chemical equilibria, to cellular homeostasis, to organismal regulation, to population dynamics.
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4. ''Change''. While evolution is debated to be a core tenant of biology, short-term changes do occur in populations that are important for ecological and genetic interactions that occur. Change is also important in development, population dynamics, mutations, and homeostasis, where nothing remains static and everything is in constant flux.
  
 
==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.
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More than ten thousand years ago, Mesopotamia showed evidence of the domestication of goats, sheep, and grains. While most likely unintentional, it can be placed as the first point at which human study of the nature of life itself began.
 
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The discoveries of the nineteenth century spurred the development of modern biology. Mendel's breeding experiments initiated [[genetics]]; the microscope initiated [[microbiology]]; and the synthesis of urea initiated [[biochemistry]]. In the early twentienth century the field of [[population genetics]] spurred the development of [[statistics]]. Advances in [[analytical chemistry]] permitted scientists to determine the structure of important biological molecules, such as DNA. These discoveries lead to the rapid development of [[molecular genetics]]. Coming full circle, these developments, combined with population genetic theory, is permitting scientists to examine the process of crop and animal domestication.
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The discoveries of the nineteenth century spurred the development of modern biology. [[Charles Darwin|Darwin's]] observations began the controversial field of [[evolution]],  [[Gregor Mendel|Mendel's]] breeding experiments was the start [[genetics]]; the microscope opened [[microbiology]] for exploration; and the synthesis of urea initiated [[biochemistry]].
  
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In the early twentieth century, [[statistics]], in tandem with the new fields of [[evolution]] and [[genetics]], spurred the development of [[population genetics]]. Advances in [[analytical chemistry]] permitted scientists to determine the structure of important biological molecules, such as DNA. These discoveries lead to the rapid development of [[molecular biology]].
  
 
==Modern Research==
 
==Modern Research==
Modern biological research is heavily focused on identifying [[gene]]s and characterizing their [[gene expression|expression]] and function. Progress in this field has enabled scientists to analyze organisms as [[complex]] molecular systems. The study of complex systems has also been applied to ecology. There is also rapid characterization of the [[biodiversity]] of the [[Earth]]. This is especially pronounced in [[microbiology]], where surveys of diversity have only become possible with the development of modern molecular techniques.
 
  
Unfortunately, the vast majority of biologists are secular [[atheists]], blinded by a purely naturalistic view of life and using [[evolution]] to explain every aspect of [[biology]].  
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Modern biological research is heavily focused on identifying [[gene]]s and characterizing their [[gene expression|expression]] and function. [[Structural biology]] has been vital for understanding diseases and health defects. [[Ecology]] has been advancing to better estimate the [[biodiversity]] on the planet as well as how to prevent [[extinction]] events
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==See also==
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*[[Biology and creation]]
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==References==
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<references/>
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[[Category:Biology]]
 
[[Category:Biology]]

Latest revision as of 06:23, October 31, 2022

Biology encompasses several fields of study about the living organisms and their environment. Disciplines range over several levels of organization, such as atomic (biochemistry, structural biology, and genetics), microscopic (cellular biology), organismal (botany, zoology, biophysics), and large-scale levels (ecology, evolution, and agriculture). Human-related fields tend to be the most applied, such as genetics, physiology, and medicine. Despite having multiple subdisciplines, all fields of biology are deeply related to each other.

An Oxford University book states:

It is 'the study of living organisms, which includes their structure (gross and microscopical), functioning, origin and evolution, classification, interrelationships, and distribution.' [1]


Principles

The study of biology works from several basic foundations:

1. Cell Theory. Cell theory, as put forth by Schwann and Schleiden in 1838, stipulates that all life is made from cells, that the cell is the fundamental building block of life, and that all cells come from preexisting cells.

2. Genetic Theory. Determined by Griffith in 1928, DNA is the genetic material of all cells. DNA encodes genes, which are transferred from one generation to the next and determine the characteristics of an individual.

3. Homeostasis. All living organisms attempt to reach of dynamic equilibrium with their environment - from chemical equilibria, to cellular homeostasis, to organismal regulation, to population dynamics.

4. Change. While evolution is debated to be a core tenant of biology, short-term changes do occur in populations that are important for ecological and genetic interactions that occur. Change is also important in development, population dynamics, mutations, and homeostasis, where nothing remains static and everything is in constant flux.

History

More than ten thousand years ago, Mesopotamia showed evidence of the domestication of goats, sheep, and grains. While most likely unintentional, it can be placed as the first point at which human study of the nature of life itself began.

The discoveries of the nineteenth century spurred the development of modern biology. Darwin's observations began the controversial field of evolution, Mendel's breeding experiments was the start genetics; the microscope opened microbiology for exploration; and the synthesis of urea initiated biochemistry.

In the early twentieth century, statistics, in tandem with the new fields of evolution and genetics, spurred the development of population genetics. Advances in analytical chemistry permitted scientists to determine the structure of important biological molecules, such as DNA. These discoveries lead to the rapid development of molecular biology.

Modern Research

Modern biological research is heavily focused on identifying genes and characterizing their expression and function. Structural biology has been vital for understanding diseases and health defects. Ecology has been advancing to better estimate the biodiversity on the planet as well as how to prevent extinction events

See also

References

  1. Martin, E. and Hine, R. (2008) 'A Dictionary of Biology' Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.