>Biology and it's Importance
The study of structure,function,growth,origin,evolution and distribution of living organisms is known as Biology. This word is derived from two Greek words bios meaning life and logos meaning study.There are several branches of biology:-
Anatomy
Botany
Ecology
Genetics
Marine biology
Microbiology
Molecular biology
Physiology
Zoology.
> Importance of Biology
We can't deny the fact that biology holds a very important place in our day to day lives like:-
-It helps us in learning the interaction between living organisms.
-It helps in the treatment of diseases by developing new medicines.
-It helps us in producing food in bulk for the increasing population.
-It helps us understand the changing environment.
>Incredible diversity of Life on Earth
The existence of variety of genes,species and ecosystems as well as their interactions is termed as Biodiversity.
It is of three types:-
*Species diversity: It is the diversity on the species level which reside in ecosystems.For example-Different plants,birds,fishes and mammals species.
*Genetic diversity: It is the variation in genes within the species. For example-Different breeds of plants and animals
*Ecosystem diversity: The variety of ecosystems on earth. For example- ponds,desserts,tropical rainforest etc.
Incredible Biological Processes
>Photosynthesis: The transformation of light energy into chemical energy by green plants and certain other organisms. Green plants capture light energy and convert water,carbon dioxide,minerals into oxygen and energy rich compounds.It occurs in algae and some type of bacteria when they are exposed to sunlight.
It plays a very important role in carbon cycle by eliminating harmful carbon dioxide and providing oxygen for animals and human beings.
Jan Ingenhousz , a Dutch born British physician and Scientist is known for the discovery of this process.
>Cellular Respiration: The process of energy generation from glucose inside the cells involving glucose and oxygen as inputs. The outcome of this process is carbon dioxide and water and energy ATP (adenosinetriphosphate). The reactions involved are catabolic breaking large molecules into smaller one which produce large amount if energy.
It can be aerobic (presence if oxygen) or anaerobic( absence of oxygen).38 ATP molecules are produced in each cycle.
>DNA Replication: The process of making exact copies of cells from pre existing cells by copying their DNA,it occurs in all living organisms making it the essential part of biological inheritance.
It is essential for the growth of cells and repair of damage tissues ensuring cell receive its own copy of DNA, it is a double helix structure with two complementary strands. Hence, a semi conservative replication takes place,the new helix has one original strand and the other is newly synthesized strand.
>Immune System Function: The ability of a body to defend itself against harmful pathogens by recognizing them. Immunity is of three types:
-Innate immunity- In this case skin,mucus,acids in the stomach, enzymes in tears and skin oils act as a barrier towards pathogens.
-Adaptive immunity- In this case B and T lymphocytes which develop after birth are involved helping the body to identify and destroy pathogens.
-Memory- The immune system has the ability to remember the pathogens it has defeated so it quickly identifies and destroys the pathogen if it enters again in the body.
Amazing Biological Structures
>The Human Eye: It is an organ which allows us to see the beautiful world around us and the eyelids on it work as a shutter helping them to open and close.It has many parts such as cornea,iris,pupil,Retina,optic nerve,lens,vitreous humor and macula. These parts work together to send signal to the brain making us see the wonderful world.
>The Brain: It is an organ controlling all the body functions like movement, memory and thoughts. It is the most complex organ in the body with billions of nerve cells and parts like cerebrum,cerebellum and brain stem. It controls movement, memories and interpretation of the information, it even controls the non voluntary movements like beating of heart and digestion of food.
>The Circulatory System: It includes cardiovascular system with heart and blood vessels which circulate blood throughout the body. It is divided into two
Pulmonary circulation and Systemic circulation. There are large elastic arteries ,veins,other smaller arterioles and capillaries which make up the system of blood vessels. The largest artery is known as Aorta and largest vein is the Vena Cava.
These arteries and veins carry the blood infused with oxygen and nutrients,also dispose the waste materials.
EXCEPTION: Pulmonary artery is the only artery carrying deoxygenated blood and
Pulmonary vein is the only vein carrying oxygenated blood.
>The Skeleton: The internal framework of bones and cartilage which supports and protects the organs of an animal body. There are two types of Skeletons:
- Exoskeleton:which is an outer rigid shell supporting the organism.
- Human Skeleton: It is an internal framework of 206 bones in the human body which are made up around adulthood.
The bony skeleton has two parts:
Axial skeleton - Consist of skull,vertebrae,ribs and sternum.
Appendicular Skeleton- Consist of bones of other extremities.
Incredible Biological Discoveries
>The Discovery of DNA Structure
Double helical structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick marking a significant discovery in the field of Biology.
>The Development of Vaccines
A vaccine is any substance which can create antibodies to provide immunity against any disease. It's production changed the entire living community as now less people died because of life threatening diseases. It takes upto 10-15 years of laboratory research to develop the functioning vaccine as many trails are done. Dr Edward Jenner created the world's first vaccine against smallpox.
>The Discovery of Penicillin
Nowadays, antibiotics are considered as very important parts of our lives but it's foundatio dates back in 1928 when Alexander Flemming proposed the idea of Penicillin,it was later in 1945 , Fleming, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain discoverd penicillin and by 1940s it's large scale production as antibiotic started. It helped in fighting the bacteria affecting skin,ear,eyes,throat,lungs and even UTIs.
The Future of Biology
>Gene Editing
The ability to make highly specific changes in the DNA sequences of living organisms,it is performed using enzymes like nucleases that are manipulated to target a specific DNA sequence. They enable cuts in strand replacing the existing DNA strand with new strands.
The discovery of CRISPR/Cas9, a gene editing tool, was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier.
>Biotechnology
The use of knowledge in biology to develop products,methods and organisms intended to improve human health and society.
In 1919, Hungarian agricultural engineer Karl Ereky foresaw a time when biology could be used for turning raw materials into useful products. He coined the term biotechnology to describe that merging of biology and technology. Ereky's vision has now been realized by thousands of companies and research institutions.
