biology biology natural science concerned study life living organisms including structure function growth evolution distribution identification taxonomy modern biology vast eclectic field composed branches despite broad scope biology certain general concepts govern study research consolidating single coherent field general biology recognizes cell basic unit life genes basic unit evolution engine synthesis creation new species understood today organisms survive consuming transforming energy regulating internal environment maintain stable vital condition known sub disciplines biology defined scale organisms studied kinds organisms studied methods study examines rudimentary chemistry life molecular biology studies complex interactions biological molecules studies biology plants cellular biology examines basic building block life cell physiology examines physical chemical functions tissues organs organ systems organism evolutionary biology examines processes produced diversity life ecology examines organisms interact environment history term biology derived greek word life study latin language form term appeared swedish scientist work entitled iii disciple german use translation work august term preface book der der term restricted sense study human beings morphological psychological perspective der term came modern usage volume treatise der announced objects research different forms life conditions laws phenomena occur causes effected science concerns objects indicate biology doctrine life modern biology relatively recent development sciences related included studied ancient times natural philosophy studied early ancient egypt indian china origins modern biology approach study nature traced ancient greece formal study medicine dates aristotle contributed extensively development biology especially important history animals works showed naturalist later works focused biological diversity life aristotle successor wrote series books survived important contribution antiquity plant sciences middle ages scholars medieval islamic world wrote biology included wrote wrote anatomy physiology medicine especially studied islamic scholars working greek philosopher traditions natural history drew heavily thought especially fixed hierarchy life biology began quickly develop grow dramatic improvement microscope scholars discovered bacteria diversity microscopic life investigations jan led new interest helped develop basic techniques microscopic advances profound impact biological thinking early 19th century number pointed central importance cell began promoting universal ideas basic unit organisms cell individual cells characteristics life opposed idea cells come division cells thanks work 1860s accepted came known cell theory taxonomy classification focus natural historians published basic taxonomy natural world variations use introduced scientific names species treated species artificial categories living forms suggesting possibility common descent opposed evolution key figure history evolutionary thought work influenced evolutionary theories darwin evolutionary thinking originated works present coherent theory evolution evolution result environmental stress properties animals meaning frequently organ complex efficient adapting animal environment believed acquired traits passed animal offspring develop perfect british naturalist combining approach geology writings population growth morphological expertise extensive natural observations forged successful evolutionary theory based natural selection similar reasoning evidence led wallace independently reach conclusions subject controversy continues day darwin theory quickly spread scientific community soon central rapidly developing science biology discovery physical representation came evolutionary principles population 1940s early 1950s experiments pointed dna component held trait carrying units known genes focus new kinds model organisms bacteria discovery double structure dna marked transition era molecular 1950s present times biology vastly extended molecular domain genetic code cracked dna understood contain finally launched goal mapping general human project essentially completed analysis published step effort incorporate accumulated knowledge biology functional molecular definition human body bodies organisms foundations modern biology cell theory cell theory states cell fundamental unit life living things composed cells products cells shells hairs nails etc cells arise cells cell division organisms cell organism body derives ultimately single cell egg cell considered basic unit processes addition phenomenon energy flow occurs cells processes function known finally cells contain hereditary information dna passed cell cell cell division evolution central organizing concept biology life changes develops evolution life forms known common origin theory evolution organisms earth living extinct descended common ancestor ancestral gene pool universal common ancestor organisms believed appeared billion years ago generally regard genetic code definitive evidence favor theory universal common descent bacteria origin life introduced scientific evolution established years later viable scientific model articulated driving force natural selection wallace recognized concept helped research experiment concept evolution evolution explain great variations life found earth darwin species breeds developed processes natural selection artificial selection selective breeding genetic drift embraced additional mechanism evolutionary development modern synthesis theory evolutionary history species describes characteristics species descended relationship species known phylogeny widely varied approaches biology generate information phylogeny include comparisons dna sequences conducted molecular biology comparisons fossils records ancient organisms organize analyze evolutionary relationships methods including summary major events evolution life currently understood evolutionary timeline genes primary units inheritance organisms gene unit corresponds region dna influences form function organism specific ways organisms bacteria animals share basic machinery copies translates dna proteins cells dna gene version gene translates protein sequence translation code acid organisms slightly different example sequence dna codes humans codes inserted organisms plants dna usually occurs linear circular organized structure consisting dna set cell hereditary information found locations collectively known dna located cell nucleus small amounts dna held irregularly shaped body called genetic information held genes complete information organism called ability open system regulate internal environment maintain stable conditions means multiple dynamic adjustments controlled regulation mechanisms living organisms exhibit maintain dynamic effectively carry certain functions system detect respond detection biological system normally responds negative feedback means conditions reducing increasing activity organ system example release sugar levels low energy survival living organism depends continuous input energy chemical reactions responsible structure function tuned extract energy substances act food transform help form new cells sustain process molecules chemical substances constitute food play roles contain energy transformed biological chemical reactions second develop new molecular structures organisms responsible introduction energy ecosystem known producers nearly organisms originally draw energy sun plants use solar energy process known convert raw materials organic molecules bonds broken release energy ecosystems depend entirely energy extracted non energy sources captured energy produce sustain life provide energy growth development majority rest energy lost heat waste molecules important processes converting energy trapped chemical substances energy useful sustain life cellular study research structural molecular biology study biology molecular level field overlaps areas biology particularly molecular biology chiefly concerns understanding interactions systems cell including dna protein synthesis learning interactions regulated cell biology studies structural properties cells including behaviors interactions environment microscopic molecular levels organisms bacteria specialized cells organisms humans understanding structure function cells fundamental biological sciences similarities differences cell types particularly relevant molecular biology anatomy considers forms structures organs organ systems science genes variation organisms genes information necessary proteins turn play central role influencing final organism modern research provides important tools investigation function particular gene analysis genetic interactions organisms genetic information generally carried represented chemical structure particular dna molecules developmental biology studies process organisms grow develop originating modern developmental biology studies genetic control cell growth process progressively gives rise tissues organs anatomy model organisms developmental biology include round worm fruit fly mouse model organism species extensively studied understand particular biological phenomena expectation discoveries organism provide insight workings organisms physiology studies mechanical physical processes living organisms attempting understand structures function theme structure function central biology studies traditionally divided plant physiology animal physiology principles physiology universal matter particular organism studied example learned physiology cells apply human cells field animal physiology extends tools methods human physiology non human species plant physiology techniques research fields physiology studies example nervous immune respiratory systems function interact study systems shared medically oriented disciplines evolutionary evolutionary research concerned origin descent species change time includes scientists oriented disciplines example generally involves scientists special training particular organisms use organisms systems answer general questions evolution evolutionary biology partly based uses fossil record answer questions mode tempo evolution partly developments areas population 1980s developmental biology entered evolutionary biology initial exclusion modern synthesis study evolutionary developmental biology related fields considered evolutionary biology taxonomy systematic multiple events create tree structured system relationships species role study relationships differences similarities species groups species active field research long evolutionary thinking common traditionally living things divided kingdoms fungi scientists consider kingdom system outdated modern alternative classification systems generally begin domain system originally bacteria originally including fungi plants animals domains reflect cells differences chemical composition key kingdom broken species separately classified order domain kingdom class order family genus species outside categories parasites edge life terms activity meaning scientists actually classify structures alive lack fundamental functions characteristics define life classified satellites scientific organism generated genus species example humans listed genus species writing scientific organism proper capitalize letter genus species additionally entire term dominant classification system called taxonomy includes ranks nomenclature organisms named governed international agreements international code nomenclature algae fungi plants international code nomenclature international code nomenclature bacteria classification sub viral agents demonstrate biological characteristics conducted known international code viral classification systems exist merging draft published attempt nomenclature areas formally adopted draft received little attention originally planned implementation date january passed unnoticed revised instead replacing existing codes provide unified context proposed international botanical congress declined consider proposal remains outside include viral classification kingdoms ecological environmental ecology studies distribution abundance living organisms interactions organisms environment habitat organism described local factors climate ecology addition organisms factors share environment reason biological systems difficult study different interactions organisms environment possible small scales microscopic local sugar gradient responding environment lion searching food african species behaviors operative competitive parasitic matters complex species interact ecosystem ecological systems studied different levels individuals populations ecosystems term population biology population ecology population biology frequently studying diseases population ecology commonly studying plants animals ecology draws studies animal behavior particularly social animals considered branch particularly concerned evolution behavior understanding behavior terms theory natural selection sense modern book expression emotions man animals influenced come studies spatial distribution organisms earth focusing topics like plate climate change dispersal migration basic unresolved problems biology despite profound advances recent decades understanding life fundamental processes basic problems remained unresolved example major unresolved problems biology primary function sex particularly key processes view sex evolved primarily adaptation increasing genetic diversity references alternative view sex adaptation promoting accurate dna repair line dna increased genetic diversity primarily useful long run evolution sexual reproduction basic unresolved problem biology basis aging present consensus view underlying cause aging competing theories outlined branches main branches biology study airborne organic particles agriculture study producing crops raising livestock emphasis practical applications anatomy study form function plants animals organisms specifically humans study cells tissues microscopic branch anatomy known study evolution distribution future life universe study chemical reactions required life exist function usually focus cellular level study biology means engineering emphasis applied knowledge especially related study distribution species use information technology study collection storage biological data mathematical biology mathematical study biological processes emphasis modeling considered branch medicine study mechanics living beings emphasis applied use research study health disease study practical application preparation use effects drugs synthetic study music biological point view study biological processes physics applying theories methods traditionally physical sciences study biological processes applying models meaning making communication study manipulation living matter including genetic modification synthetic biology synthetic biology research integrating biology engineering construction biological functions found nature building biology study indoor living environment study plants cell biology study cell complete unit molecular chemical interactions occur living cell biology study biological function conservation biology study preservation protection restoration natural environment natural ecosystems vegetation wildlife study effects lower normally preferred temperatures living beings developmental biology study processes organism forms structure study development embryo birth ecology study interactions living organisms non living elements environment environmental biology study natural world particular area especially affected human activity major component public health research studying factors affecting health populations evolutionary biology study origin descent species time study genes study changes gene expression cellular caused mechanisms changes underlying dna sequence known study blood blood forming organs biology study organisms study inland waters marine biology biological study ocean ecosystems plants animals living beings study microscopic organisms interactions living things study bacteria study fungi study parasites study virus like agents molecular biology study biology biological functions molecular level cross study biology study living organisms parts level organization study nervous system including anatomy physiology population biology study groups organisms including population ecology study population dynamics extinction population study changes gene frequencies populations organisms study fossils geographic evidence prehistoric life study diseases causes processes nature development disease physiology study functioning living organisms organs parts living organisms study plant diseases called study biological bases psychology quantum biology study quantum mechanics biological objects problems study biological bases structural biology branch molecular biology concerned molecular structure biological study animals including classification physiology development behavior including study animal behavior study insects study reptiles amphibians study fish study mammals study birds
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