This document provides an introduction to biology, including definitions and key concepts. It discusses biology as the study of living things and describes its main branches as zoology, botany, and microbiology. The importance of biology is explained as helping to understand body functions and use natural resources sustainably. The basic unit of life, the cell, is introduced, along with its history of discovery. The modern cell theory states that all organisms are composed of cells, cells are the basic units of structure and function, and new cells arise from existing cells. The main differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are outlined.

1. College of Health Sciences
Dep. of Anesthesia
Biology/1st Stage
Lecture 1
Dr: Shameeran S. Ismael
BVM & S, M.Sc Medical Microbiology(Parasitology),
PhD Molecular Parasitology

2. Introduction to Biology
What is Biology?
Derived from two Greek words; Bio: it is mean
life and logoy it is mean knowledge.
Therefore, Biology is the study of living
things(organisms). It is divided in different
branches.

3. Branches of biology:
• There are many branches, but the main
branches are:
1. Zoology: is a study of animals
2. Botany: is a study of plants
3. Microbiology: is a study of microscopic
organisms such as bacteria and viruse

4. • Other branches:
Biotechnology:- which is deals with development of
techniques for the application if biological processes
to produce materials for use in medicine, industry and
farming.
Anatomy: is a study of internal structure of living
things.
Physiology: is a study of body functions.
Genetics: is a study of inheritance and variation.

5. Ecology: is a study of relationship/interaction between
living organisms and their environment.
Parasitology: is a study of parasites.
Entomology: is a study of insects.
Cytology: is a study of cell

6. Why biology is important?
Need to know about cells to learn more about
whole organisms

7. Why we study Biology?
Study of Biology helps us:
 To understand how our bodies work/function
when we are healthy or diseased.
To understand our environment and use the
natural resources well/sustainably e.g. forests,
water and soil and avoid pollution.
 To make career choices e.g. medicine,
agriculture, veterinary, dentistry etc. that are
based on Biology knowledge.

8. Cell:
• Cell : is the basic structural and functional unit
of all living organisms.
• It is the smallest unit of life and can replicate
independently
• The study of cell is called Cell Biology

9. Systemic classification cell is:

10. Cellular Composition
• Made up of at least one cell
• Unicellular - made of one cell (bacteria,
amoeba, paramecium)
• Multicellular - made up of two or more cells
(plants, fungi, animals)

11. The functions of life
• Metabolism
• Nutrition
• Growth
• Reproduction
• Homeostasis
• Response to stimuli

12. History
Robert Hooke (1635-1703): He observed that
cork has small regular boxes in it that he called
“cells
1675 Dutchman Antonie van Leeuwenhoek:
discovers unicellular organisms. (A replica of
his microscope at left)

13. Rudolph Virchow (1821-1902): German scientist
who discovered that all cells come from pre
existing – cells
Theodor Schwann and Matthais Schleiden
stated that all living things are made of cells .
(1839)

14. History

17. Cell theory:
• All organisms are composed of one or more
cells .
• Cell is the basic unit of life in all living things.
• All cells are produced by the division of
preexisting cells
• New cells are only made from existing cells.

18. Modern cell theory
Modern Cell Theory contains four statements, in
addition to the original Cell Theory:
1. All organisms composed of cells.
2. An organism’s structure/functions are due to
the activities of its cells.
3. Cells come from preexisting cells; all life traces
its ancestry to the same original cells.
4. The cells of all species have fundamental
similarities.

19. Uses of Cell Theory
• Disease/Health/Medical Research and Cures
(AIDS, Cancer, Vaccines, Cloning, Stem Cell
Research etc.)
• It is amazing to think that the cells that make
up our bodies are just as alive as we are.
Humans are just a designed community of
cells, which must work together to survive.
• The average human being is composed of
around 100 Trillion individual cells

20. These are two types of cells with
structural differences.

21. Types of cell:
• There are two types of cell; prokaryotic and
Eukaryotic cell:
• Eukaryotic cell contains a nucleus and
Prokaryotic do not.
• Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms,
while Eukaryotes can be either single-celled or
multi-celled

22. • Prokaryotic cell: it is mean Pro- first formed,
Karyo- nucleus
• Eukaryotic cell: it is Eu- true, Karyo- nucleus

23. 1.Prokaryotes cell
1. They do not have a nucleus, and their genetic
material is not stored in the nucleus.
2. They have some organelles( structures), but
not many.
3. They are less complicated that eukaryotes.
4. All bacteria are prokaryotes.
5. Most are unicellular, but some prokaryotes
are multicellular

24. 2.Eukaryotes cell
1. They all have a nucleus where the genetic
material of the cell is stored.
2. They have many organelles that work together to
help the cell function.
3.Eukaryotic cells are much more complex then
prokaryotic cells.
4. They can be just one cell or can make up more
complex multi-cellular organisms.
5. All plants, animals, fungi, and protists are
eukaryotic cells

26. Prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes
in several ways including:

27. Thanks for attention