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Biological Science: Different Branches and Significance

The main aspect of biological science deals with the study of life as well as living organisms. It is considered to be one of the broadest groups in science and has many subdisciplines and branches. The main job of biologists is to study the structure, growth, function, identification, evolution, taxonomy, and distribution of different organisms that exist on the planet and outside it as well. 


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Some of the main branches of biological science tend to deal with all these important details that are related to the quality of life. Some aspects of environmental science are also included in biological sciences meaning and hence it forms the foundational structure of study in the scientific fields. 


What is Biological Science? 

In order to answer what is biological science, it can be said that it is the science that includes the study of living organisms and the life process that they have. As a branch of scientific studies, there are different branches of biological science that go into the details of studying the different issues and aspects of the subject. Some of the most commonly included topics of study are the evolution, morphogenesis, and reproduction of the organisms. In a general sense, there are three main branches included in the study of biological science. These branches are known as zoology, botany, and microbiology.

 

What are the Various Branches of Biological Science? 

Here are some of the main branches of biological science as well as their subdivisions. 

  • Zoology 

It is a branch of biological science that studies the life of animals. The term zoology is derived from the Greek term ‘Zoon’ and ‘logos’ and these translate to animals and study respectively. Zoology can be grouped into other branches such as Applied Zoology that deals with the production and non-production animals, Systematic Zoology that deals with the taxonomy and evolution of living things, Organismal Zoology that deals with the animals present in the Hemisphere along with many other options. Some other divisions include entomology, ethology, physiology, anatomy, etc. 

  • Botany 

Another name of botany is phytology and it is the study of plant life. It is a very prominent branch of biological sciences and contains a vast range of subjects. The study mostly deals with the development and life processes of different plant species. Botany also delves into the growth, structure, physical properties, chemical properties, metabolism, as well as evolution of different species of flora. 

  • Microbiology 

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms and it deals with the different life cycles, processes, nutrition, growth, development, and reproduction of different microscopic organisms. This is also considered to be one of the most important parts of biological science and it studies different bacteria, fungi, viruses, amoeba, and other structures that cannot be seen by the naked eye. 

Some other important branches of biological science include aquatic biology, mycology, biochemistry, marine biology, ecology, cryobiology, etc.

 

Significance of Important Discoveries in Biology

Since its inception, there have been many changes and advancements made in the field of biology. Biological science has actually matured to form the modern biology that we study today. This particular branch of study has unprecedented sophistication due to the most recent discoveries that have been made in the last 200 years. One of the most important things to know about biological science is that this remarkable growth in the biological study discipline has actually led to the creation of newer disciplines, more discoveries about DNA, cell biology, evolution, and biotechnology as a whole. Not just that but it has also led to a lot of scientific progress in the world. This is especially in the case of the studies of the biological systems that have surfaced recently.

However, it can be worth noting that the speed and pace of these scientific discoveries have gone through an increase during the period of the 20th century. This advancement has actually led to an appreciable breakthrough related to industrial biochemistry, agricultural production, medicine, and healthcare. Not to mention that some of the discoveries made in the 1950s have actually formed a good base for other advanced discoveries in the field of vaccine development, environmental control, and genetic engineering. One such example of great discoveries that have significantly contributed to the development of biological science is in the field of cell biology. In the year 1946, the technique of genetic recombination was properly demonstrated by McLeod, Avery, and McCarty after they studied the hereditary effects of DNA on the organisms.


Conclusion 

Biological science is surely one of the most significant branches of scientific studies as it allows researchers to study the life of organisms and their different aspects. Biological science and its different branches have led to the creation of the modern-day biology that people study. The following article provides details about biological science that can be useful for students.

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FAQs on Biological Science

1. What is biological science and what is its importance? 

Biological science is a very interesting subject that studies all living organisms and the life process that they have. The presence of life on earth has been the topic of fascination for several great minds over the years. Despite having exponential developments in the study of organisms as well as their life processes, there are a lot of mysteries that are yet to be discovered. Biological science provides a basis for the origin of human beings as well as other organisms that are present in the universe. This form of scientific study provides a huge scope of research as the secret to the existence of different species lies within this branch of science. Every single creation that is a part of nature today has its own unique characteristics which can be studied with the help of biological science. Biological science also helps us study the interactions between living organisms and the environment that we live in.

2. Define physiology as a branch of biological science.

One of the subdivisions of biological science includes physiology. This branch can be perfectly described as the study of different functions as well as the processes of the living organisms on earth. There are other divisions of the subject of physiology on the basis of the studies that are included in the subject. Physiology can be divided into Evolutionary Physiology that deals with the physiological evolution of organisms, Cell Physiology that deals with the interaction between cells and their different mechanisms, Developmental Physiology that deals with the different physiological processes related to embryonic evolution, Comparative physiology that deals with the study of different animals apart from human beings, and Environmental Physiology that deals with the study of the response of organisms to the different environmental factors.