Biology Goals and Objectives

Goals
At the completion of the bachelor of science degree in the department of biology, a graduate will have
acquired an understanding of major biological concepts and awareness of how these are connected with
areas of the biological, physical and social sciences.
Objectives
Biology majors will gain specific knowledge and skills in the following core competencies:
Disciplinary Breadth
understand functional categories of biological organization and interconnections among them;
develop a solid foundation of basic biological concepts that inform scientific understanding; and
understand how evolutionary mechanisms apply in molecular, cellular, organismal and community level
dynamics.
Scientific Literacy
develop skills of observation and critical reading of texts and environments;
interpret representations of data and models;
understand hypotheses and conclusions;
identify gaps in knowledge;
formulate scientific questions; and
recognize synthesis of new ideas.
Communication Skills
develop skills to interpret and construct a scientifically based argument;
develop oral communication skills for formal presentations and informal scientific discourse; and
develop facility with scientific writing and model making.
Analyzing Scientific Data and Results
interpret quantitative and qualitative representations of data in tabular, graphical or descriptive form;
identify significant trends in scientific data;
evaluate scientific results in terms of original hypothesis; and
apply statistical analysis to scientific interpretation.
Science as an Experimental Process
synthesize scientific hypothesis and derived research questions;
design hypothesis-driven, controlled experiments;
construct appropriate data sets; and

critique experimental approaches.

Developing Technical Expertise
develop proficiency in accurate data collection;
conduct proper calibration and use of scientific instrumentation; and
develop appropriate use of scientific techniques in experimental design.
Science As a Way of Knowing
understanding the process of science compared to other modes of inquiry;
integrating scientific knowledge and biology within a social, political or historical context; and
recognizing both the potential and limitations of scientific application.
Integrated Identity
exploring intersections of identity as a Spelman biology major;
reflecting on how academic preparation and professional aspirations impact your worldview; and
reflect on how your worldview impacts your professional and academic aspirations and your value system.

Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function,
growth,evolution, distribution, and taxonomy.[1] Modern biology is a vast and eclectic field, composed of
many branches and subdisciplines. However, despite the broad scope of biology, there are certain general and
unifying concepts within it that govern all study and research, consolidating it into single, coherent fields. In general,
biology recognizes the cell as the basic unit of life, genes as the basic unit of heredity, and evolution as the engine
that propels the synthesis and creation of new species. It is also understood today that all organisms survive by
consuming and transforming energy and by regulating their internal environment to maintain a stable and vital
condition.
Subdisciplines of biology are defined by the scale at which organisms are studied, the kinds of organisms studied,
and the methods used to study them: biochemistry examines the rudimentary chemistry of life; molecular
biology studies the complex interactions among biological molecules; botany studies the biology of plants; cellular
biology examines the basic building-block of all life, thecell; physiology examines the physical and chemical
functions of tissues, organs, and organ systems of an organism; evolutionary biology examines the processes that
produced the diversity of life; and ecology examines how organisms interact in their

Scientific reasoning is the foundation supporting the entire structure of logic underpinning scientific research.
It is impossible to explore the entire process, in any detail, because the exact nature varies
between the various scientific disciplines.
Despite these differences, there are four basic foundations that underlie the idea, pulling
together the cycle of scientific reasoning.

Biology, the scientific study of life, includes several relevant branches. Below is a list of major
branches of biology with a brief description for each.
Agriculture - science and practice of producing crops and livestock from the natural resources of
the earth.
Anatomy - study of the animal form, particularly human body
Astrobiology - branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and
the search for extraterrestrial life.
Biochemistry - the study of the structure and function of cellular components, such
as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules, and of their functions
and transformations during life processes
Bioclimatology - a science concerned with the influence of climates on organisms, for instance the
effects of climate on the development and distribution of plants,animals, and humans
Bioengineering - or biological engineering, is a broad-based engineering discipline that deals with
bio-molecular and molecular processes, product design, sustainability and analysis of biological systems.
Biogeography - a science that attempts to describe the changing distributions
and geographic patterns of living and fossil species of plants and animals
Bioinformatics - information technology as applied to the life sciences, especially
the technology used for the collection, storage, and retrieval of genomic data
Biomathematics - mathematical biology or biomathematics is an interdisciplinary field of academic
study which aims at modelling natural, biological processes using mathematical techniques and
tools. It has both practical and theoretical applications in biological research.
Biophysics - or biological physics is an interdisciplinary science that applies the theories and
methods of physical sciences to questions of biology
Biotechnology - applied science that is concerned with biological systems, living organisms, or
derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use
Botany - the scientific study of plants
Cell biology - the study of cells at the microscopic or at the molecular level. It includes studying the
cells physiological properties, structures, organelles, interactions with their environment, life
cycle, division and apoptosis
Chronobiology - a science that studies time-related phenomena in living organisms
Conservation Biology - concerned with the studies and schemes
of habitat preservation and species protection for the purpose of alleviating extinction crisis and
conserving biodiversity
Cryobiology - the study of the effects of low temperatures on living organisms
Developmental Biology - the study of the processes by which an organism develops from
a zygote to its full structure
Ecology - the scientific study of the relationships between plants, animals, and their environment
Ethnobiology - a study of the past and present human interactions with the environment, for
instance the use of diverse flora and fauna by indigenous societies
Evolutionary Biology - a subfield concerned with the origin and descent of species, as well as their
change over time, i.e. their evolution
Freshwater Biology - a science concerned with the life and ecosystems of freshwater habitats
Genetics - a science that deals with heredity, especially the mechanisms of hereditary transmission and
the variation of inherited characteristics among similar or related organisms
Geobiology - a science that combines geology and biology to study the interactions of organisms with
their environment
Immunobiology - a study of the structure and function of the immune system, innate and
acquired immunity, the bodily distinction of self from nonself, and laboratory techniques involving
theinteraction of antigens with specific antibodies
Marine Biology - study of ocean plants and animals and their ecological relationships
Medicine - the science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease
Microbiology - the branch of biology that deals with microorganisms and their effects on other
living organisms
Molecular Biology - the branch of biology that deals with the formation, structure,
and function of macromolecules essential to life, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and especially with their
role in cell replication and the transmission of genetic information

Mycology - the study of fungi

Neurobiology - the branch of biology that deals with the anatomy and physiology and pathology of
the nervous system
Paleobiology - the study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times, as
represented by the fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms
Parasitology - the study of parasites and parasitism
Pathology - the study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and
consequences
Pharmacology - the study of preparation and use of drugs and synthetic medicines
Physiology - the biological study of the functions of living organisms and their parts
Protistology - the study of protists
Psychobiology - the study of mental functioning and behavior in relation to other biological
processes
Toxicology - the study of how natural or man-made poisons cause undesirable effects in living
organisms
Virology - study of viruses
Zoology - The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the
structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals
Ethology - the study of animal behavior
Entomology - the scientific study of insects
Ichthyology - the study of fishes
Herpetology - the study of reptiles and amphibians
Ornithology - the study of birds
Mammalogy - the study of mammals
Primatology - the science that deals with primates
1)Know your problem
2)Gather facts about your problem
3)Formulate Hypothesis
4)Experiment
5)Observe & Interpret
6)Formulate generalization
7)Application
Scientific Attitude
*Beliefs
-a scientist believe that everything thats happens in this world has a cause or reason
*Curiosity
-a scientist shows interest and pays particulars attention to object or events.He also ask question
and seeks answer.
*Objectivity
-a scientist is objective if he does not allow his feelings and bases to influence his recording of
observation, interpretation of data, and formulation of conclusion.
*Critical-Mindedness
-a scientist bases suggestions and conclusions on evidences. When in doubt, he question the
veracity of a statement in relation to the evidence presented.
*Open-Mindedness
-a scientist listens to and respects ideas of others. He accept criticism and changes his mind if
reliable evidences contradict his beliefs.
*Inventitiveness
-a scientist can generate new and original ideas.
*Risk-taking
-a scientist expresses his opinions and tries new ideas even at risk of failure or cristicism
*Itelestual Honesty
-a scientist gives a truthful report of observation. He does not w/hold important information just
to please himself or others.

*Humility
-a scientist is humble when he admits that he is not free from committing errors. He recognize
that there maybe better ideas and realized that there are individuals whom he may have to
consult to arrive at correct observation and conclusion.
*Responsibility
-actively participates in a task and also dutifully perform task assigned to him.