1.) Define Biology and its branches.

Biology is the study of life and living organisms. It is a broad field including many
branches and sub disciplines. Biologists study structure, function, growth, evolution,
distribution, identification and taxonomy. Below are the main branches of study included
in this field.

3 MAIN BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY

BIOLOGY

Botany Microbiology Zoology

1. Botany- the scientific study of plants, including their physiology, structure, genetics,
ecology, distribution, classification, and economic importance.
2. Microbiology- is the study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell),
multicellular (cell colony), or a cellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses
numerous sub-disciplines including virology, parasitology, mycology and bacteriology.
3. Zoology- Zoology, or animal biology, is the field of biology that involves the study of
animals. The word zoology comes from the Greek words zōion, meaning “animal”, and
logos, meaning “the study of”. It encompasses all aspects of scientific knowledge about
animals, like embryonic development, evolution, behavior, ecological distribution, and
classification.
*Other Branches of Biology from A-Z*
• Aerobiology is the study of airborne organic particles.
• Agriculture is the study of producing crops and raising livestock.
• Anatomy is the study of the internal structures of living things.
• Bacteriology is the study of bacteria.
• Biochemistry is the use of chemistry in the study of living things.
• Bioengineering is the study of living things through the means of engineering.
• Biogeography is the study of the geographical distribution of living things.
• Bioinformatics is the use of information technology for the study, collection, and storage
of genomic and other biological data.
• Biomechanics is the study of the mechanics of living beings.
• Biological Earth Sciences are the use of earth sciences, such as geography, in the study
of living things.
• Biomathematics is the application of math to the study of living things.
• Biomedical research is the study of health and disease.
• Bio musicology is the study of music from a biological perspective.
• Biophysics is application of physics to the study of living things.
• Biological Psychology is the application of biology to the study of the human mind.
• Bio semiotics is the study of biological processes through semiotics, by applying the
models of meaning-making and communication.
• Building biology is the study of the indoor living environment.
• Cell biology is the study of the cell as a complete unit.
• Cognitive biology is the study of cognition as a biological function.
• Conservation biology is the study of preservation, restoration, and protection of the
natural environment.
• Cryobiology is the study of lower than normally preferred temperatures on living beings.
• Cytology is the study of cells.
• Developmental biology is the study of the processes through which an organism forms.
• Ecology is the study of the relationships of living things to each other and to the
environment.
• Embryology is the study of the formation and development of living things from
fertilization to birth as independent organisms.
• Endocrinology is the study of hormones.
• Entomology is the study of insects.
• Environmental biology is the study of the natural world especially as affected by human
activity.
• Epidemiology is the study of the health of populations.
• Evolutionary biology is the study of the origin and descent of species over time.
• Genetics is the study of heredity and the lifelong development of living things.
• Histology is the study of tissues.
• Helminthology is the study of worms.
• Hematology is the study of blood and blood-forming organs.
• Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.
• Ichthyology is the study of fish.
• Integrative biology is the study of whole organisms.
• Lichenology is the study of lichen.
• Limnology is the study of inland waters.
• Mammology is the study of mammals.
• Marine biology is the study of ocean ecosystems.
• Molecular biology is the study of biological functions at the molecular level.
• Mycology is the study of fungi.
• Nan biology is the study of biological functions at the nan scale.
• Ornithology is the study of birds.
• Paleontology is the study of fossils.
• Pathology is the study of diseases, generally in animals.
• Pharmacology is the study of the actions of chemicals on and within living things.
• Phycology is the study of algae.
• Physiology is the study of the normal functions of living things.
• Phytogeography is the study of the land and its plants.
• Phytopathology is the study of diseases in plants.
• Population biology is the study of groups of species.
• Protozoology is the study of one-celled organisms.
• Psychobiology is the study of the biological bases of psychology.
• Quantum biology is the study of quantum mechanics on biological functions.
• Sociobiology is the study of the biological bases of sociology.
• Structural biology is the study of the molecular structure of biological macromolecules.
• Taxonomy is the study of the classification and naming of living things.
• Virology is the study of viruses.
• Zoology is the study of animals.
• Zoogeography is the study of the land and its animals.

2. Explain the interdependency of Biology to other branches of Science. Cite

at least 3 examples.

1. Interdependency of Biology with Sociology: Study of human behavior, social

relationship and antisocial relationships needs idea of biological science. For example,
investigation on criminals and terrorists requires the study of human nervous system and
study of glands, hormones, etc.
2. Interdependency of Biology with Physics: Physics provides the basis for biology.
Without space, matter, energy and time -- components that make up the universe --
living organisms would not exist. For instance, physics helps explain how bats use sound
waves to navigate in the dark and how wings give insects the ability to move through the
air.
3. Interdependency of Biology with Chemistry: Body of all living organisms s made
up of organic and inorganic compounds, dissolved in water. • All the metabolic activities
inside the body of living beings involve chemical reactions and chemical changes.

3. Discuss the differences of Scientific methods.

1. The first step in the scientific method is stating a problem based on observation. In
this stage, the scientist recognizes that something has happened and that it occurs
repeatedly. Therefore, the scientist formulates a question or states a problem for
investigation.
2. Next, a hypothesis is formed, meaning that the scientist proposes a possible solution
to the question, realizing that the answer could be incorrect. The scientist tests the
hypothesis through experiments that include experimental and control groups. Data from
the experiments are collected, recorded, and analyzed.
3. After analyzing the data, the scientist draws a conclusion. A valid conclusion must be
based on the facts observed in the experiments. If the data from repeated experiments
support the hypothesis, the scientist publishes the hypothesis and experimental data for
other scientists to review and discuss.
4. Other scientists not only may repeat the experiments but also may carry out additional
experiments to challenge the findings. If the hypothesis is tested and confirmed often
enough, the scientific community calls the hypothesis a theory. Then numerous additional
experiments test the theory using rigorous experimental methods. Repeated challenges
to the theory are presented. If the results continue to support the theory and are found
to be universally applicable, the theory is elevated to a scientific law.

4. Research an article on when Biology is applied in any field.

Biologists Find Twenty Seven New Bee Viruses

July 2, 2018 by Natali Anderson

A team of scientists has identified 27 new viruses that infect European honeybees
(Apis mellifera) and other bee species. “Populations of bees around the world are
declining, and viruses are known to contribute to these declines. Despite the importance
of bees as pollinators of flowering plants in agricultural and natural landscapes and the
importance of viruses to bee health, our understanding of bee viruses is surprisingly
limited,” said Dr. David Galbraith, a researcher at Pennsylvania State University.

To improve their ability to detect bee viruses, Dr. Galbraith and co-authors developed a
new high-throughput sequencing technique.

“Typically, we would have to develop labor-intensive molecular assays to test for the
presence of specific viruses,” said Dr. Zachary Fuller, a postdoctoral researcher at
Columbia University.

“With our new method, we can sequence all the viruses present in a sample without
having any prior knowledge about what might be there.”
In the new study, the researchers collected samples of DNA and RNA — which is
responsible for the synthesis of proteins — in populations of 12 bee species from nine
countries, across four continents and Oceania.

“Although our study nearly doubles the number of described bee-associated viruses, there
are undoubtedly many more viruses yet to be uncovered, both in well-studied regions
and in understudied countries,” Dr. Fuller said.

Among the new viruses they identified was one that is similar to a virus that infects plants.

“It is possible that bees may acquire viruses from plants, and could then spread these
viruses to other plants, posing a risk to agricultural crops,” said Pennsylvania State
University’s Professor Christina Grozinger.

“We need to do more experiments to see if the viruses are actively infecting the bees —
because the viruses could be on the pollen they eat, but not directly infecting the bees
— and then determine if they are having negative effects on the bees and crops.”

“Some viruses may not cause symptoms or only cause symptoms if the bees are stressed
in other ways.”

To identify viruses that may be circulating among co-foraging bee populations, the team
exclusively sampled foraging bees in the landscapes in the summer months.

“Beyond identifying the new viruses, we also found that some of the viruses exist in
multiple bee species — such as in honeybees and in bumblebees — suggesting that these
viruses may freely circulate within different bee populations,” the study authors
explained.

“This finding highlights the importance of monitoring bee populations brought into the
United States due to the potential for these species to transmit viruses to local pollinator
populations,” Dr. Galbraith said.

The results were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

SOURCES:
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/biology/biology/the-science-of-
biology/scientific-method
https://www.thoughtco.com/scientific-method-p2-373335
https://education.seattlepi.com/relationship-between-physics-biology-4698.html
https://www.slideshare.net/JuinMondal/interrelation-inter-dependece-of-biology-with-
other-subjects
https://owlcation.com/stem/Branches-of-Biology-and-its-Meaning
http://www.sciencemag.org/category/biology