biological science - the science that studies living organisms biology cell - (biology) the basic structural and

functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals culture - (biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar); "the culture of cells in a Petri dish" monad - (biology) a single-celled microorganism (especially a flagellate protozoan) homogeny - (biology) similarity because of common evolution isomorphism, isomorphy - (biology) similarity or identity of form or shape or structure heterology - (biology) the lack of correspondence of apparently similar body parts valence, valency - (biology) a relative capacity to unite or react or interact as with antigens or a biological substrate coarctation - (biology) a narrowing or constriction of a vessel or canal; especially a congenital narrowing of the aorta spindle - (biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle; "chromosomes are distributed by spindles in mitosis and meiosis" meme - a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation); "memes are the cultural counterpart of genes" bioscience, life science - any of the branches of natural science dealing with the structure and behavior of living organisms biogeography - dealing with the geographical distribution of animals and plants phytology, botany - the branch of biology that studies plants cryobiology - the branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living tissues or organs or organisms cytology - the branch of biology that studies the structure and function of cells bionomics, environmental science, ecology - the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment embryology - the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms astrobiology, exobiology, space biology - the branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial life forestry - the science of planting and caring for forests and the management of growing timber genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms microbiology - the branch of biology that studies microorganisms and their effects on humans molecular biology - the branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role) morphology - the branch of biology that deals with the structure of animals and plants neurobiology - the branch of biology that deals with the anatomy and physiology and pathology of the nervous system palaeobiology, paleobiology - a branch of paleontology that deals with the origin and growth and structure of fossil animals and plants as living organisms physiology - the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms radiobiology - the branch of biology that studies the effects of radiation on living organisms sociobiology - the branch of biology that conducts comparative studies of the social organization of animals (including human beings) with regard to its evolutionary history zoological science, zoology - the branch of biology that studies animals cell doctrine, cell theory - (biology) the theory that cells form the fundamental structural and functional units of all living organisms; proposed in 1838 by Matthias Schleiden and by Theodor Schwann evolutionism, theory of evolution, theory of organic evolution - (biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals theory of inheritance - (biology) a theory of how characteristics of one generation are derived from earlier generations cybernetics - (biology) the field of science concerned with processes of communication and control (especially the comparison of these processes in biological and artificial systems) taxonomy - (biology) study of the general principles of scientific classification cataplasia - (biology) degenerative reversion of cells or tissue to a less differentiated or more primitive form subkingdom - (biology) a taxonomic group comprising a major division of a kingdom

Biological scientists study living organisms and their relationship to the environment. They perform research to gain a better understanding of fundamental life processes or apply that understanding to developing new products or processes. Most specialize in one area of biology, such as zoology (the study of animals) or microbiology (the study of microscopic organisms) Subdisciplines Most biological scientists specialize in the study of a certain type of organism or in a specific activity, although recent advances have blurred some traditional classifications. Aquatic biologists study micro-organisms, plants, and animals living in water. Marine biologists study salt water organisms, and limnologists study fresh water organisms. Much of the work of marine biology centers on molecular biology, the study of the biochemical processes that take place inside living cells. Marine biologists sometimes are mistakenly called oceanographers, but oceanography is the study of the physical characteristics of oceans and the ocean floor. Biochemists study the chemical composition of living things. They analyze the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, and growth. Biochemists do most of their work in biotechnology, which involves understanding the complex chemistry of life. Botanists study plants and their environments. Some study all aspects of plant life, including algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, conifers, and flowering plants; others specialize in areas such as identification and classification of plants, the structure and function of plant parts, the biochemistry of plant processes, the causes and cures of plant diseases, the interaction of plants with other organisms and the environment, and the geological record of plants. Microbiologists investigate the growth and characteristics of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Most microbiologists specialize in environmental, food, agricultural, or industrial microbiology; virology (the study of viruses); immunology (the study of mechanisms that fight infections); or bioinformatics (the use of computers to handle or characterize biological information, usually at the molecular level). Many microbiologists use biotechnology to advance knowledge of cell reproduction and human disease. Physiologists study life functions of plants and animals, both in the whole organism and at the cellular or molecular level, under normal and abnormal conditions. Physiologists often specialize in functions such as growth, reproduction, photosynthesis, respiration, or movement, or in the physiology of a certain area or system of the organism.

Biophysicists study how physics, such as electrical and mechanical energy and related phenomena, relates to living cells and organisms. They perform research in fields such as neuroscience or bioinformatics. Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals and wildlifetheir origin, behavior, diseases, and life processes. Some experiment with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings, while others dissect dead animals to study their structure. Zoologists and wildlife biologists also may collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of current and potential uses of land and water areas. Zoologists usually are identified by the animal group they studyornithologists study birds, for example, mammalogists study mammals, herpetologists study reptiles, and ichthyologists study fish. Ecologists investigate the relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environments, examining the effects of population size, pollutants, rainfall, temperature, and altitude. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, ecologists may collect, study, and report data on the quality of air, food, soil, and water