BIOLOGY

BRANCHES OF SCIENCE
Lesson 1: Lecture

Science

- is a systematic and evidence-based approach

to understanding the natural world.

The pursuit and application of knowledge and

understanding of the natural and social world
following a systematic methodology based on
evidence. Natural Science (Biotic)

- is a scientific discipline that focuses on

SPECIFIC - PRECISE - ACCURATE investigating, describing, explaining, and
predicting occurrences in nature. Natural
- It involves the observation, experimentation, Sciences are the core of the branches of
and analysis of data to develop theories and science as they study the nature of our
explanations for various phenomena. physical world and the universe.

- Science aims to uncover knowledge and Here are some examples of natural science
improve our understanding of the universe, disciplines:
from the smallest particles to the vastness of
1.​ Biology: The study of living organisms,
space.
including their structure, function, growth,
- It encompasses a wide range of disciplines, evolution, and interactions with their
including biology, chemistry, physics, and environment.
psychology, among others.
2.​ Chemistry: The study of matter, its
- Through the scientific method, scientists properties, composition, and the changes it
strive to gather reliable and objective undergoes during chemical reactions.
information to make informed decisions and
3.​ Physics: The study of matter, energy, and
advancements in various fields.
the fundamental forces of nature, exploring
concepts such as motion, electricity,
magnetism, and thermodynamics.
Experimentation
4.​ Earth Science: This includes various fields
- to prove facts that study the Earth and its processes, such
as geology (study of the Earth's solid
- theories are made and applied
materials), meteorology (study of weather
- to create principles & method and climate), oceanography (study of
oceans), and environmental science (study
 of interactions between humans and the ●​ Psychology
environment). ●​ Sociology
●​ Anthropology
5.​ Space Sciences: This will also be referred to
●​ Economics
by some as astronomy, but it’s a lot more
●​ Archaeology
than just astronomy since space sciences
●​ History
involve everything from studying planets to
●​ Geography
planning space exploration. Some of the
●​ Law
topics that make up space sciences are
●​ Politics
fields like aerospace engineering,
cosmology, astrobiology, planetary science,
and more.
Biology
Physical Science (Abiotic)
- is the study of all life or living organisms.
- is the study of all things that are not alive. Biology is a branch of science that deals with
The analysis of physical objects such as stars, living organisms and their vital processes.
cans, water, rocks, and baseballs are examples
Biology is the natural science that studies life
of physical science. It has two main branches,
and living organisms, including their physical
physics and chemistry, but it also involves
structure, chemical processes, molecular
geology, astronomy, and meteorology.
https://leverageedu.com/blog/branches-of-science/ interactions (such as DNA and protein
synthesis), cellular organization, biological
evolution, etc.

The most well-known concepts are:

Anatomy
Anatomy is the study of how bodily structures
are put together in an organism. These

Social Science structures include bones, muscles, organs, and

tissues.
- Social Sciences study human societies from
across the globe as well as the relationship of
human beings with their social environment. Botany
Botany is the scientific study of plants. Some
of the aspects studied in botany are
morphology, taxonomy, evolution and ecology
of plant life. Plant biologists also focus on
topics such as tree identification and tree
ranges, plant breeding and other relevant
The major branches of Social Science are: details.
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the classification of organisms Parasitology
into various ranks. This can be done at a Parasitology is the study of parasites and their
variety of levels, from grouping organisms into effects on their hosts. Parasites rely on their
families to classifying them according to host for resources and habitat, but at the same
certain features. time most parasites have an adverse effect on
their host’s life cycle.
Zoology
Zoology is the branch of biology that studies Virology
the animal kingdom, including the structure, A branch of microbiology, virology is the study
embryology, evolution, classification, habits, of viruses. Viruses are found in almost all living
and distribution of all animals. organisms. Viruses are also clinically
significant as these are disease causing
Microbiology pathogens. Virologists and researchers must
Microbiology is the branch of biology that understand what they’re looking for as well as
deals with the study of microorganisms, such how they work.
as bacteria, archaea, and protists.
Microbiologists are interested in studying how Physiology
these organisms live and grow. Physiology is the branch of biology which deals
with the functioning of living organisms.
Mycology Physiology examines how different physical
Mycology is the study of fungi. Fungi are stimuli are translated into chemical and then
eukaryotic organisms that can be found in electrical responses in organisms. The tools
most environments around the world, they are that are used to study this area include
most easily identified by their long thread-like observational research, animal studies,
structures called mycelia. computer modelling, clinical trials, and more.

Phycology Theoretical Biology

The term Phycology is used to describe the
study of algae. Algae are the most diverse
group of eukaryotic organisms on Earth. It is a
difficult task to classify all the algae types
because they have such a wide range of
characteristics.
Theoretical biology is the branch of biological Biochemistry is the study of chemical
research that is concerned with the processes within living organisms. It explains
mathematical modeling, computer simulation, the processes which happen at the molecular
and statistical analysis of biological systems. level.
Theoretical biologists study phenomena such
as pattern formation, ecological processes, Biophysics
spatiotemporal evolution, evolutionary game Biophysics is the study of the physical
theory and population genetics. interactions of biological macromolecules,
mainly proteins. In other words, biophysics
Cell Biology applies methods and approaches traditionally
Cell Biology is the main branch of biology that used in physics to study biological phenomena.
deals with the structure and function of cells,
cell organelles, and more. Molecular Biology
Molecular biology is the study of how cells
Genetics work at a molecular level. It’s all about DNA,
Genetics is the study of genes, inheritance, and RNA, proteins, RNAs, and other important
variation in living organisms. It’s about how biomolecules.
traits are passed from one generation to the
next. Structural Biology
Structural biology is the study of the molecular
Ecology structure of macromolecules like proteins,
Ecology is broadly defined as the study of how nucleic acids, and lipids. These macromolecules
living things interact with each other and their are important in many biological processes.
environment. It includes the study of plants, Structural biology has developed rapidly with
animals, and ecosystems. technological advances in methods which allow
for detailed analysis of these molecules.
Evolution
Evolution is the process of gradual change in a Biotechnology
population of organisms. Evolution can be an Biotechnology is a branch of biology that
adaptation to changing environmental exploits biological processes and techniques to
conditions, like becoming resistant to drought produce substances of biological origin, or to
or developing limbs for living on land. modify organisms or their products, or to
develop microorganisms for specific uses, or
Biochemistry for other industrial purposes.
https://byjus.com/biology/branches-of-biology/
●​ All living things have complex chemistry.

●​ All forms of life are built of cells. A cell is the

basic unit of the structure and function of
Living Matter
living things.
Definition: any organism or a life form that
possesses or shows the characteristics of life or
being alive. Lesson 1: Laboratory

- shows attributes such as growth, metabolism,

energy transformation and reproduction. Scientific Method

- the process of objectively establishing facts

through testing and experimentation. It is an
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
empirical method for acquiring knowledge.
1. Reproduction - For Survival of Species

2. Homeostasis - Adaptation

3. Energy - Need of energy for everyday life

4. Metabolism - Use energy by breaking down

and building

5. Regulation - Conveyor to transport nutrients

6. Made of cells - all living organism are made

of cell

7. DNA/Genetics - Store genetic information.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

8. Universal genetic - based same genetic code

Summary
●​ All living things detect changes in their
environment and respond to them. Steps:

●​ All living things grow and develop. 1.​ Ask a question

2.​ Conduct a research
●​ All living things are capable of
3.​ Make a hypothesis
reproduction, the process by which living
4.​ Create the experiment
things give rise to offspring.
5.​ Conduct the experiment
●​ All living things are able to maintain a 6.​ Gather Data and Analyze Results
constant internal environment through 7.​ Draw a conclusion
homeostasis. 8.​ Communicate results.
To tell if the specific method is scientific it 3. Propose a hypothesis.
must show:
A hypothesis is a potential answer to the
1.​ Observation
question, one that can somehow be tested.
2.​ Experimentation
3.​ Measuring For example, our hypothesis in this case
4.​ Testing could be that the toast didn't toast because
5.​ Formulation the electrical outlet is broken.
6.​ Modify hypothesis

AN EXAMPLE
Scientific method example: Failure to
toast

Let's build some intuition for the scientific

This hypothesis is not necessarily the right
method by applying its steps to a practical
explanation. Instead, it's a possible
problem from everyday life.
explanation that we can test to see if it is
likely correct, or if we need to make a new
1. Make an observation. hypothesis.

Let's suppose that you get two slices of

bread, put them into the toaster, and press Can any explanation count as a
the button. However, your bread does not hypothesis?
toast.
Is a hypothesis a theory?

4. Make predictions.

A prediction is an outcome we'd expect to

see if the hypothesis is correct. In this case,
2. Ask a question.
we might predict that if the electrical outlet
Why didn't my bread get toasted? is broken, then plugging the toaster into a
different outlet should fix the problem.
5. Test the predictions. The last step of the scientific method is to
reflect on our results and use them to guide
To test the hypothesis, we need to make an
our next steps.
observation or perform an experiment
associated with the prediction. For instance,
in this case, we would plug the toaster into a
different outlet and see if it toasts.

●​ If the toaster does toast, then the

●​ If the hypothesis was supported, we
hypothesis is supported—likely correct.
might do additional tests to confirm it, or
●​ If the toaster doesn't toast, then the
revise it to be more specific. For instance, we
hypothesis is not supported—likely wrong.
might investigate why the outlet is broken.

The results of a test may either support or ●​ If the hypothesis was not supported,

contradict—oppose—a hypothesis. Results we would come up with a new hypothesis.

that support a hypothesis can't conclusively For instance, the next hypothesis might be

prove that it's correct, but they do mean it's that there's a broken wire in the toaster.

likely to be correct. On the other hand, if

In most cases, the scientific method is an
results contradict a hypothesis, that
iterative process. In other words, it's a cycle
hypothesis is probably not correct. Unless
rather than a straight line. The result of one
there was a flaw in the test—a possibility we
go-round becomes feedback that improves
should always consider—a contradictory
the next round of question asking.
result means that we can discard the
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/intro-to-biol
hypothesis and look for a new one. ogy/science-of-biology/a/the-science-of-biology#:~:text=As
%20an%20example%2C%20suppose%20we,turn%20out%20to
%20be%20green.
More about hypotheses, proof, and
disproof

6. Iterate.