BIOLOGY

- is a science that ​attempts to understand the diversity of life on earth​, of which we, human
beings are a part of.

Three Classifications of Science

1. ​Pure Science​ -Is the gathering of information through ​experimentation​.

a. ​Life​ - The ​scientific study of living organisms

– such as microorganisms, plants, animals, and human beings – as well as related

considerations like bioethics.

Includes: ​Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Ornithology, Anatomy, Cytology and Ecology.

b. ​Earth​ - The branch of pure science ​dealing with the physical constitution of the earth and its
atmosphere.

Includes: ​Meteorology, Geology, Oceanography, and Petrology

c. ​Physical​ - The sciences concerned with the study of ​inanimate natural objects.

Includes: ​Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, and Related subjects.

2. ​Applied Science​ - The study of science that is a discipline ​used to apply existing scientific
knowledge to develop more practical applications.

3. ​Technology Science​ - It came from the ​greek word “tekne” that means art, skill and craft of
harnessing scientific knowledge.

What is Life?

- LIFE is ​not a simple concept.

- Living organisms are manifestations of life in that they exhibit certain general properties that
we recognize as the definition of life.
- Living organisms are built by assembling large molecules that include ​carbohydrates &
lipids​(molecules that give energy), ​proteins​(molecules that speed up specific chemical
reactions), and ​nucleic acids​ (molecules in which hereditary information is stored)

- All organisms are made up of CELLS, some are composed of single cell and some, like us, are
composed of many cells.

- Among the cell’s most important activities are its transactions with the environment, a
give-and-take that never stops.

Biology as a Science

A. Definition of Biology

- Comes from 2 Greek words: ​bios = life + logus = to study

- The science of life

- The study of living things

- Deals with the investigation of the origin, history,structure, function, identification,

classification,distribution, development, inheritances, and significanceof living things as well as
their relationships andinteractions with the environment.

B. De​velopment of Biology As A Science

From Copernicus to Newton, the focus was on thephysical sciences.Little attentions were given
to some importantbiological discoveries and inventions.​Vesalius (1543) – human
anatomyHarvey (1628) – circulation of bloodMalphigi (1661) – blood capillariesRobert Hooke
(1665) – cellVan Leeuwenhoek (1674) – microscopySchwann (1838), Schleiden (1839), &
Virchow (1858) – cell theory​Attention was turned to biological science when ​Charles Darwin, an
English naturalist, published the “Origin of Species” in 1859, which marked the birth of the
modern era of biology​.This was followed by:​Louis Pasteur (1865) – rejection of spontaneous
generation theoryGregor Mendel (1866) – genetics d. Watson & Crick (1953) – DNA Knoll &
Ruska (1935) – electron microscope

C. ​Methods of Biology
- As a science, biology also uses the scientific method in solving or investigating a biological
problem.

- ​Scientific Method​ is the ​logical process of learning facts​ through observation and
experimentation from which, certain conclusions or theories are drawn.

Steps of the Scientific Method:

Identification of the Problem

- Any scientific process ​starts with observation using all the senses.

- From observation, a problem may be identified.

Formulation of Hypotheses

- A set of ​assumptions or possible explanations​ to the problem will be formulated.

- ​Hypothesis​ is a ​preliminary conclusion​ or scientific guess about the problem.

Experimentation or Testing of Hypotheses

- ​Experiment​ is a ​special procedure​ used to test the hypotheses,

- There must be 2 sets of experiments

Control Set-UpExperimental Set-Up​: similar to the control set-up in every aspect except the
presence of the variable

- The ​variable​ is the ​factor or parameter to be tested.

Analysis and Interpretation of Data and Results

- Data or results must be gathered during and after experimentation.

- Data include records collected while making observations during an experiment.

- One way to analyze or interpret records of observation is by using tables and graphs.

Generalization or Formulation of Conclusion

- Based from the analyzed data, a theory may be formulated supported by experimental
evidence.

- The theory may be developed into a scientific law or into a principle.

- ​Theory​ is a ​synthesis of a large body of information​ that encompasses well-tested and verified
hypotheses about certain aspects of the natural world.

- ​Law​ is a ​general hypothesis or statement​ about the relationship of natural quantities that has
been tested over and over again and has not been contradicted. It is also known as a princ

Limitations of the Scientific Method:Existence of God

Differences Between Science & Religion:

Science is concerned with understanding the physical universe, while religion is concerned with
spiritual matters, such as belief and faith in, and the worship of, a supreme being and the
creationof human community—not the practice of science.

b. Scientific truth is a matter of public scrutiny while religion is a deeply personal matter.

Similarities Between Science & Religion:

Both are motivated by curiosity for the natural.Both have great impact on society. Science,
forexample, leads to useful technological innovations, while religion provides a foothold for
many social services.Beauty appreciation

Differences Between Science & Art:

ART is about creative communication of ideas and emotions while SCIENCE is about
establishing truth or finding objective facts through verifiable experimentation.ART seeks
aesthetic response while SCIENCE seeks knowledge and understanding.ART is subjective
while SCIENCE is objective.ART is conceptual, while SCIENCE is theoreticalART needs no
proof since it cannot be proved.ART is the representation of human thought while SCIENCE is
the representation of natural order. ARTISTS who express a new idea must communicate it to
their audience for justification. SCIENTISTS who explain a natural phenomenon must validate it
based on the body of knowledge available.ART values break with tradition while SCIENCE
values building on tradition and adherence to standards.
Similarities between Art & Science. Both ART & SCIENCE:

Value the careful observation of their environments to gather information through the
senses.Value creativity.Propose to induce change, innovation, or improvement over what
exists.Use abstract models to understand the world.Aspire to create works that have universal
relevance.Value judgmentScientists may become biased based on their beliefs.

D. Branches of Biology

According to Methods of Aspect of Study:

Anatomy – dissection of body parts

Physiology - functions
Biogeography – distribution of living thingsCytology – cells
Ecology – interactions and relationships within an ecosystem
Embryology – development of the embryo
Evolution – origin of species
Genetics - heredity
9. Histology – tissues
Limnology – fresh water habitats
Oceanography – marine water habitats
Organology - organs
Paleontology – fossils/evidences of the past
Pathology – diseases
Systematics – identification & classification
Taxonomy - classification
Nomenclature - naming/assigning of specific name

According to Type of Organisms​:

Botany – plants
Zoology – animals
Mammalogy – mammals
Ichthyology – fishes
Helminthology – worms
Herpertology – reptiles and amphibians
Carcinology – crustaceans
Malacology – mollusks
Microbiology - micoorganisms
Bacteriology – bacteria
Mycology – fungi
Parasitology – parasites
Virology – viruses

Protozoology – protozoans

Ornithology – birds

Phycology – algae

Entomology – insects

Nature of Life

Theories on the Origin of Life

​Divine Creation Theory ​Based on the book of Genesis in the Bible (story of Creation)Life is
believed to have been created by the Almighty God

Cosmozoic or Interplanetary Theory​A protoplasm in the form of a resistant spore originated from
outer planets propelled by radiation pressureThe spore reached the Earth and started the first
form of life
Philosophical Theory of EternityLife​ has no beginning and no end; life has been there right from
the very beginning of time

Abiogenesis or Spontaneous Generation​ TheoryLife originated spontaneously from non-living

thingsDisproved by Francesco Redi, an Italian scientist in 1668, and Louis Pasteur, a French
chemist in 1865

Big Bang Theory​Also called the Physico-chemical or Cosmological TheoryMost scientific and
most accepted theoryDeveloped in the 1940s by George Gamow and R. A. AlpherHeavenly
bodies, including the Earth, originated from the explosion of a hot rotating ball of gas and
eventually life was formed from the chemical evolution of different compounds present in the
primitive earth