CHAPTER# 01
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY
Q. Define Biology and its branches.
BIOLOGY
The branch of Science that deals with the study of life is called Biology.
BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY
To study the different branches of biology, it is necessary to have an outlook on these branches along with the definitions.
For the purpose of brief study Biology has been divided into following three major branches, which are:
|
DIVISIONS OF BIOLOGY |
DEFINITION |
|
BOTANY |
The study of plants. |
|
ZOOLOGY |
The study of animals. |
|
MICROBIOLOGY |
The study of micro-organisms via using microscope. |
|
BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY |
DEFINITION |
|
MORPHOLGY |
The study of external characteristics of plants and animals is known
as Morphology. It also deals with the characteristics of Micro-organisms |
|
ANATOMY |
Anatomy is the branch in which we study about the internal
characteristics of plants and animals. |
|
PHYSIOLOGY |
The branch of biology which deals with the functions of cell and cell
organelles along with the function of organs and organs system |
|
CYTOLOGY |
The study of different types of cell is known as cytology. Formerly,
it was known as cell biology. |
|
HISTOLOGY |
The study of tissues of plants and animals is named as Histology. |
|
GENETICS |
It deals with the inheritance and transmission of heredity
characters. |
|
ECOLOGY |
The study of environment is known as Ecology or Environmental biology. It also deals with the relationship between living organisms and non-living organisms. |
|
TAXONOMY |
This is a very different branch because it deals with the
description, identification, classification and scientific naming of all
living organism. |
|
PALEONTOLOGY |
In this branch we used to study the fossils of ancient living
organisms. It has been further classified into: b. Paleozoology; study of animal fossils |
|
EMBRYOLOGY OR DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY |
The study of progressive development from fertilization till zygote
formation is known as Embryology. |
|
SOCIO-TECHNOLOGY |
It is concerned with the study of social behavior of living organism
i.e. interaction between living organisms with each other. |
|
PARASITOLOGY |
It is concerned with the study of parasites. |
|
PHARMACOLOGY |
The study of action of drugs is called Pharmacology. |
|
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY |
It is the study of organic molecules which constitute cell and cell
organelles. |
|
BIOMETRY |
This is the branch in which we study about the data and measurement
related to living organisms. It is used in data analysis and statistics. |
|
BIOPHYSICS |
The laws and principles which explain the metabolism of living
organisms to find out the age of fossils etc. are dealt under the Biophysics. |
|
BIOCHEMISTRY |
The chemistry of life or the study of chemicals and their impact on
living organism is termed as Bio-chemistry. |
|
BIOTECHNOLOGY |
The study of different techniques which are responsible for the human
welfare is carried out by Bio-technology. |
|
BIOGEOGRAPHY |
It deals with the distribution of different living organisms in
different geographical regions of the world. |
|
BIO-ECONOMICS |
It deals with the economically important organisms involved in
production of various useful substances. For e.g. meat production etc. |
Q. Describe the role of scientists in the development of Biology.
ROLE OF SCENTISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOLOGY
A number of scientists played vital role in the progress of Developmental Biology. They part their role via using different researches, techniques and described many species [including their characteristics]. Role of few scientists are describing below:
|
MUSLIM SCIENTISTS |
JABIR BIN HAYAN |
He explained the general features of plants and animals in the Book
“Al-Nabatat” and “Al-Haywanat” on plants and animals respectively |
|
ABDUL MALIK ASMAI |
He described the structure and functions of the body parts of horses,
camel, sheep, wild animals, and human beings in his Books “Al-Kheil”,
“Al-Ibil”, “Al-Wahoosh”, “As-Sha”, “Khalaqul Insan”. |
|
|
AL FARABI |
He was the renowned scientist, hakim and the surgeon of the Islamic
World. He introduced his two Famous books, which are “Kitab-ul-Nabatat” and
“Kitab-ul-Haywanat”. |
|
|
BU ALI SINA |
He wrote books “Al-Qanoon” and “Fil Tib Al Shifa”, on plants, animals
and non-living organsisms. He is also known as the Father of Medicines. |
Q. Name the organs which are found in the following organs system.
|
ORGAN SYSTEM |
ORGANS |
|
Digestive system |
Mouth, buccal cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine,
large intestine, cloaca, liver, gall bladder, pancreas |
|
Circulatory system |
Heart, arteries, veins, capillaries |
|
Respiratory system |
Lungs, trachea, nostrils |
|
Excretory system |
Kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra |
|
Reproductive system |
Testes, vasa efferent, ovaries, oviduct, ovisac |
|
Nervous system |
Brain, spinal cord, nerves |
Q. Briefly describe the scope of Biologists.
SCOPE OF BIOLOGISTS
Following are the disciplines which a student can choose to bright his
career:
· Agriculture
·
Medicine and
surgery
·
Horticulture
·
Forestry
·
Farming
·
Animal husbandry
AGRICULTURE
It deals with the production of varieties of crops, fruits, vegetables, dairy products etc.
MEDICINE
Medicine deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases
SURGERY
Surgery deals with repair, replacement or removal of affected organs.
In horticulture, work is carried out for the development of new variety
of plants and their products.
Forestry is important in development of new forests as well as
preservation of existing ones.
FARMING
Farming is actually development of various farms like fish farm,
poultry farm, cattle farm etc. In farming, technologies are used for production
of animals as source of meat, milk, leather, wool.
It deals with the care and breeding of animals which are beneficial for
man.
This professional deals with the increased quality and quantity of fish
production.
Q. Write some
verses from Holy Quran to describe life.
VERSES
ORIGIN OF LIFE
Life starts from the clay and He (GOD) make water; a necessary compound
for the survival. Surely, He (GOD) is the only one who has ability to create.
As He declares in Surah Al NUR:
“And Allah has created every animal of water, of them is (a kind) that goes upon its belly and (a kind) that goes upon two legs and (a kind) that goes upon four. Allah creates what He will. Lo! Allah is able to do all the things.”
And also in Surah Al Anbiya:
“We made every living thing of water. Will they not then believe?”
Man surprises by studying the functions of the living organisms; questions generate in his mind that how heart can pump the blood against the gravity, likewise which mechanism is responsible for the response action? How organisms can be identified by the single layer of skin/ hairs, and similarly how one can generate its tail after injury /cut (lizard). But all the questions have been answered by the GOD in Surah Al Sajda as:
“He (Allah) who created all the things in the best way. He first created man from clay, then bred his off springs from a drop of paltry fluid. He then moulded him and breathed into him of His spirit. He gave your eyes and ears, and hearts yet you are seldom thankful.”
Survival is possible only through the living organisms. No organisms
can be possible unless of parents. As many of the English scientists tried to
proof the origin of species via non living organisms; having a theory on hand
(Abiogenesis) which will describe shortly.
But the GOD declares in Surah Al Mominoon that:
“Then fashioned we the drop a clot, then fashioned we the clot a little
lump, then fashioned we the little lump bones, then clothed bones with flesh.”
Q. Describe the level of organization.
LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION
The levels of organization in living world are based on chemical
foundation. All the living organisms are made up of cells and the protoplasm of
cell is physical as well as chemical basis of life. These levels are as
follows:
·
Atomic level of
organization:
All the matter is made up of
elements and element is composed of atom. Atom is made up of sub atomic
particles called electron, proton and neutron.
There are 16 bio-elements which are essential for life among which six are basic including C, H, O, N, S and P.
·
Molecular level
of organization
Molecules are formed by the binding
of atoms. Molecules are classified into micromolecules like glucose, amino
acids and fatty acids whereas macromolecules are carbohydrates, proteins and
lipids.
Cellular level of organization
The biomolecules when work together in the form of suspension, it is called Protoplasm. When protoplasm work in the form of a unit, this is called Cell. Cell is the basic unit of living organisms. When similar type of cells organize together in a group, called tissues. The different types of tissues arranged in a particular manner to work together are called Organs. Organs of different types work in a coordinated manner to perform a function is called Organ-system. When different organ-system function in co-ordination in as a unit, they form a body or Multicellular Organism.
·
Taxonomic level
of organization
The Species is the smallest unit of
taxonomic level of organization, which can be defined as the organisms which
are reproductively isolated from other groups.
·
Population level
All the members of a species, living in specific habitat are called Population. A group of parrots living on tree, is called parrot population.
·
Community level
of organization
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.
·
Ecological
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 CO2.
·
Biosphere level
The part of earth where life exists
is called biosphere. It consists of different kinds of eco systems.
Q. Write note
on Mustard plant.
MUSTARD PLANT
Scientific name of Mustard plant is Brassica campestris and it is
commonly called ‘Sarsoon’. The plant consists of two parts:
·
Vegetative parts
[It consists of root, stem and leaves]
·
Reproductive
parts [it consists of fruits and flower]
The leaves of this plant are used as vegetable and seeds are used for
oil extraction.
Q. Write note
on Frog.
FROG
Scientific name of Frog is Rana tigrina.
Frog is terrestrial animal i.e. found in water as well as on land. Body is
divided into head and trunk. Organs are made up of epithelial tissues,
glandular tissues, muscular tissues, nervous tissues etc.
It is heterotroph i.e. depend on other organisms for their food
content.
Q. Write note on Amoeba.
AMOEBA
Amoeba is a unicellular aquatic organism having irregular shape.
The cell is covered by cell membrane which helps in transport of
molecules in and out of the cell and it also protects the cell. The cell
membrane is composed of two layers, the outer transparent layer is called
ectoplasm (gel) and the inner layer is called endoplasm (sol). The cell
contains nucleus, food vacuoles, mitochondria etc. the movement in amoeba is
carried out by pseudopodia (false foot).
VOLVOX
Volvox was first reported by Antonie von Leeuwen Hoek in 1700. It forms
colonies of upto 50,000 cells.
Each Volvox has two flagella which helps in movement. Cell contains chlorophyll
by which Volvox prepare their own food by the mechanism of photosynthesis.
EXERCISE
(i) Why subject biology is named as multidimensional subject?
Biology is considered as multidimensional subject because it describe various aspects of life and has links with other sciences.
For example,
The movement of animals follows the law of motion in Physics.
(ii) How farming profession helps mankind?
Farming creates various opportunities for individuals in under-developed countries to escape poverty and/or to overcome the inflation. Farmers, agricultural manufacturers, food processing companies, transportation, infrastructure and manufacturing all contribute to the creation of new jobs in agriculture.
(iii) Why species is called as smallest taxonomic level?
The basic and fundamental unit of classification is Species. So. all the organisms which are reproductively isolated from other organisms and have essential similarities are considered as species in taxonomic studies.
(iv) How population is different from community?
Population is different from Community in a way that the members of a species, living in a specific habitat are called Population whereas the members of different species living in a specific habitat are called as Community.
