Biology is the study of living organisms and their interactions. The document outlines the definition of biology, its major divisions (botany, zoology, microbiology), and branches such as anatomy, physiology, genetics, and molecular biology. It also discusses how biology relates to other sciences like physics, chemistry, mathematics, and discusses levels of biological organization from atoms to ecosystems. Finally, it notes how the Quran instructs humans to study and reveal knowledge about the origins and characteristics of life.

3. 1. DEFINITION OF BIOLOGY:
 The word biology comes from Greek language “Bios”
meaning “live” and “Logos” meaning “Thought or
Reasoning”.
 A branch of Natural Sciences which deals with the study
of living beings.
 It provides the knowledge about living organisms which
differ from each other in shape, size, composition etc.

4. 2. DIVISION OF BIOLOGY:
 Biology is divided into three major
branches :
a) Botany
b) Zoology
c) Microbiology

5. A. ZOOLOGY
 Zoology is derived from Greek language, “Zoon”
meaning animals and “Logos” meaning “study or
knowledge”.
 The branch of Biology that is connected with the
study of different aspects of animals.

6. B. BOTANY
 Botany is taken from Greek language, “Butane”
meaning plants and “Logos” meaning “study or
knowledge”.
 The branch of Biology which deals with the study of
different aspects of plants.

7. C. MICRO-BIOLOGY
 Micro-organisms and their activities are vitally important to
virtually all processes on Earth. Micro-organisms matter
because they affect every aspect of our lives – they are in us,
on us and around us.
 Micro-biology deals with the study of microscopic organisms
such as Bacteria etc, which can be seen only with the help of
microscope.
 This discipline includes fundamental research on the
biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, ecology, evolution and
clinical aspects of microorganisms, including the host
response to these agents.

9. BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY
 Modern biology deals with the structure,
function and many other descriptions of living
things.
 Advance research during the 20th Century has
led to the division of biology into specialized
branches.
 Some important branches are defined below :

10.  Morphology
 Anatomy
 Cell biology
 Histology
 Physiology
 Taxonomy
 Genetics
 Developmental biology
 Environmental biology
 Paleontology

11.  Biotechnology
 Socio-biology
 Parasitology
 Pharmacology
 Molecular biology

12. 1. Morphology:
It is the study of external form, size, shape, color,
structure and relative position of various living organ of
living beings.
2. Anatomy:
It is the study of internal structure which can be observed
with unaided eye after dissection.
3. Cell biology:
It is the study of morphological, organizational, biochemical,
physiological, genetic, developmental, pathological and
evolutionary aspects of cell and its components.
4. Histology:
It is the study of tissue organization and structure as
observed through light microscope.

13. 5. Physiology: It is the study of different types of body
functions and processes.
6. Taxonomy: It is the science of identification,
nomenclature and classification of organisms.
7. Genetics: It is the study of inheritance of characters or
heredity and variations.
Heredity is the study of expression and transmission of
traits from parents to offspring.
8. Developmental biology :
The study of formation and development of embryo.

14. 9. Environmental biology:
The study of relationship between living Organisms and non-
living factors of environment and their effects on each other .
10. Paleontology:
The study of remote past organic life, with the help of fossils.
11. Biotechnology:
The study about techniques for manipulination of gene to bring
the changes in structure and location of genes to achieve
desirable characters is called biotechnology.
12. Socio-biology: The study of social behavior of living
organisms. i.e interaction between themselves.

15. 13. Parasitology:
The study of parasites.
14. Pharmacology:
The study about action of drugs.
15. Molecular biology:
The study of Composition, Structure
& interactions of Cellular Molecules – such as nucleic
acids and proteins – that carry out the biological processes
essential for the cell's functions and maintenance.

16. 3. RELATION-SHIP OF BIOLOGY
WITH OTHER SCIENCES:
 Biology constitutes the relation with every aspect of
human and every science.
 The study of biology needs experiences of almost all
the branches of science including chemistry, physics,
mathematics, sociology, geology, economics etc.
 Biology is considered as interdisciplinary science,
which is related with other sciences. Some of these are
mentioned below:

17. A. BIO-PHYSICS
 The study of physical phenomena & physical
processes in living things, on scales spanning
molecules, cells, tissues and organisms.
 Bio-physicists use the principles and methods of
physics to understand biological systems.
 It is an interdisciplinary science, closely related to
quantitative and systems biology.

18. RADIO-PHYSICS
 The radio-physics branch where radioactive isotopes
are used to trace the translocation of different
materials within the organisms.
 Radio-labeling and carbon-dating also show some
uses of radioactive isotopes in determining the age
of fossils, uses of sound waves as ultrasound and
laser technology show relation of physics with
biology.

19. B. BIO-MATHEMATICS/BIOMETRY
 Biomathematics is the use of mathematical models to
help understand phenomena in biology. OR
 Biomathematics (also known as mathematical biology)
is an interdisciplinary field that uses mathematical
techniques and tools to model natural and biological
processes.
 Mathematical models are important tools in basic
scientific research in many areas of biology, including
physiology, ecology, evolution, toxicology, immunology,
natural resource management, and conservation biology.

20. C. BIO-CHEMISTRY
 Branch of biology which deals with the study of
molecules which form living organisms or cell and
requires authentic knowledge about biology and
chemistry to explain the synthesis of bio-molecules &
function of different molecules in the body of an
organism.
 It deals with the chemistry of life, and as such it draws
on the techniques of analytical, organic, & physical
chemistry, as well as those of physiologists concerned
with the molecular basis of vital processes.

21. D. BIO-GEOGRAPHY
 It deals with the distribution of different
living organisms in different
Geographical regions of the world.
Many living organisms are restricted to
particular geographical regions due to
environmental conditions.

22. E. BIO-ECONOMICS
 This deals with the economically important
organisms involved in production, e.g. meat
production, etc. are calculated for cost value
and profit value.

23. QURAN INSTRUCTS TO REVEAL
THE STUDY OF LIFE

24. 4. QURAN INSTRUCTS TO
REVEAL THE STUDY OF LIFE :
 The Almighty Allah has conveyed a great knowledge
about the origin and characteristics of animals and
plants through our Holy Book, the Quran.
 A few of Ayah are quoted as under :

25.  It says about the origin of life that:
“ We made every living thing from water. Will they not then
believe? ”
(Surah: Al-Anbiyah 21, Verse: 30)
“ And Allah has created every animal from water of them
there are some that creep on their bellies, some that walk
on two legs; and some that walk on four.
Allah creates what He wills Lo! Allah is able to do all
things.”
(Surah Al-Nur, Ayah-45)

26.  THE GLORIOUS QURAN HAS ALSO REVEALED SOME
FACTS ABOUT THE GROWTH & VARIETY OF PLANTS:
“And in the earth are neighboring tracks, vineyards and ploughed
lands, and date-palms, like and unlike which are watered with
one water.
And we have made some of them to excel others in fruit. Lo! Here
in verily are portents for people who have sense.”
(Surah: Al-Ra'd, Ayah: 4)

27.  THE HOLY QURAN ALSO INFORMS ABOUT US
THE MECHANISM OF REPRODUCTION:
“Glory be to Him , who created all the sexual pairs, of
that which the Earth growth & of themselves, & of
that which they know not.”
(Surah: Ya-sin, Ayah: 6)

28. 5. THE LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION
 The levels of organization in living world are based on
chemical foundation. These are structures in nature,
usually defined by part-whole relationships, with things
at higher levels being composed of things at the next
lower level.
 Typical levels of organization that one finds in the
literature include the atomic, molecular, cellular, tissue,
organ, organism, group, population, community, eco-
system, landscape, and biosphere levels.

29.  Atoms:
All the matter is made up of elements, which is composed of atom.
The atom is the smallest and most fundamental unit of matter. It consists of
sub-atomic particles, such as nucleus surrounded by electrons and protons.
 Molecules:
Molecules are formed by the binding of two or more atoms. These
are chemical structures consisting of at least two atoms held together by
one or more chemical bonds.
 Macro-molecules:
Organic molecules of cells , called as bio-molecules, are constructed
in great variety and complexity. They are classified as micro-molecules and
macromolecules.
• Example: An example of a macromolecule is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA),
which contains the instructions for the structure and functioning of all living
organisms.

31.  CELLS:
 The bio-molecules when work together in the form of
suspension, it is called Protoplasm.
 Protoplasm is the combination of organic and specific
inorganic substances. When protoplasm works in the
form of a unit, this is called Cell.
 Cell is the basic unit of living organisms.

32.  TISSUES:
A group of cells functioning together as a tissue.
For example, epithelial tissue.
These are organized to perform one or more specific
functions.
 ORGAN AND ORGAN SYSTEM:
Different types of tissues arranged in a particular manner
to work together are called Organs.
Organs of different types work in a co-ordinated manner to perform
a function is called Organ-system, such as the Respiratory System.

33.  ORGANISM:
When different organ-system functions in co-
ordination in as a unit, they form a body or Multi-
cellular organism.
 POPULATION:
A group of the same organism living together in an
area is a population, such as a pride of lions

34.  COMMUNITY:
The members of different species living in specific habitat are
called as Community. A group of different kind of birds, living
on tree, is called as bird community.
 ECO-SYSTEM:
Communities always depends upon their non-living
environment in a reciprocal interaction for their survival. For
example oxygen for respiration is obtained from environment
and in turn given out CO. This interaction is called Ecosystem
or Ecological system.
 Biosphere level:
The part of earth where life exists is called biosphere. It
consists of different kinds of eco- systems.

35. END OF CHAPTER # 01