Biology: Branches & Terminologies

Subdivisions of Biology

Notes

• The word ‘Science’ comes from the Latin word ‘Scientia’, meaning ‘knowledge’.
• Science is the systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
• Science has been classified into – (1) Natural Science and (2) Social Science.
• Natural Science has further classified into – (i) Physical Science and (ii) biological Science which has been further divided into many branches and sub-branches.
• Lamarck and Treviranus introduced the term ‘biology’ independently in modern sense in 1802.

Branches and Subbranches of Biology

• Zoology –Detailed study of different living and extinct animals.
• Botany – Detailed study of plants and their life.
• Palaeontology – The study of history of life on Earth as based on fossils. Fossils are the remains of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and single celled living things that have been found in layers of rock materials or impressions of organisms preserved in rocks.
• Palaeobotany – Study of plant fossils.
• Ecology – The branch of biology that deals with the relation of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
• Genetics- The study of heredity or how the characteristics of living things are transmitted from one generation to the next. Every living thing contains the genetic material that makes up DNA molecule. This material is passed on when organism reproduces. The basic unit of heredity is ‘Gene’.
• Physiology – Study of normal functions of living creatures and their parts.
• Pedology – It is the study of soils in their natural environment. It deals with pedogenesis, soil morphology and soil classification.
• Edaphology – It concerns with the influence of soils on living things, particularly plants.
• Gerontology – Study of the social, cultural, physiological, cognitive, and biological aspects of ageing, or the scientific study of old age, the process of ageing and the particular problems of old people.
• Ethology – It is the scientific and objective study of non-human animal behavior usually with a focus on behavior under natural conditions, and viewing behavior as an evolutionary adaptive trait.
• Bionics – – It is the study of mechanical systems that function like living organisms or parts of living organisms. Bionics is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. The word ‘bionic’ was coined by Jack E. Steele in 1958.
• Bionomics – The study of the mode of life of organisms in their natural habitat and their adaptations to their surroundings. Bionomics is the comprehensive study of an organism and its relation to its environment. It is also referred as ‘ecology’.
• Bionomy – Branch of biology concerned with the laws of life.
• Biometry – It is also known as biostatistics. It is the development and application of statistical and mathematical methods to analyze the data results from biological observations and phenomenon.
• Phrenology – The detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities.
• Anthology – Study of flowers.
• Agrostology – It deals with the scientifc study of true grasses. It is also called Graminology – Scientifc study of grasses (the family Poaceae or Gramineae).
• Palynology – The study of pollen grains and other spores especially as found in archaeological or geological deposits. Pollen extracted from such deposits may be used for radiocarbon dating and for studying post climates and environments by identifying plants then growing.
• Oncology – A branch of biology that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tumours/cancer.
• Teratology – The scientifc study of congenital abnormalities and abnormal formations.
• Osteology – It is the scientifc and detailed study of the structure of bones, skeletal elements, teeth, microbone, morphology etc.
• Chondriology – A branch of anatomy that deals with cartilage.
• Serology – The scientific study or diagnostic examination of blood serum, especially with regard to the response of the immune system to pathogens or introduced substances.
• Pathology – The science of the causes and effects of diseases, especially the branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes.
• Parasitology – Parasitology is the study of parasites (viruses, bacteria, fungus, worms, insects), their hosts and the relationship between them. Parasites are organisms that use other species of plants and animals as a host. The hosts provide the environment
  in which the parasite lives.
• Virology – Virology is the study of viruses – submicroscopic, parasitic particles of genetic material contained in a protein coat and virus – like agents.
• Bacteriology – Study of the morphology, ecology, genetics and biochemistry of bacteria as well as many other aspects related to them.
• Entomology – A branch of zoology that deals with insects.
• Malacology – Malacology is the branch of invertebrate zoology that deals with the study of the Mollusca, the second -largest phylum of animals in terms of described species after the arthropods. Molluscs include snails and slugs, clams, octopus, and squid (largest invertebrate) and numerous other kinds, many of which have shells made of calcium carbonate.
• Ichthyology – Ichthyology, also known as fish science, is the branch of zoology that deals with fishes.
• Serpentology – A branch of zoology that studies snakes.
• Herpetology – Herpetology is the branch of zoology which deals with the study of reptiles and amphibians such as snakes, turtles, lizards, tortoises, crocodilians etc. It deals with their behavior, geographic ranges, physiologies, development, genetics etc.
• Ornithology – Ornithology is a branch of zoology that deals with the study of birds.
• Dermatology – A branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of skin, nails and hair diseases.
• Trophology – Study of nutrition. A nutritional approach that advocates specific combinations of foods as central to good health and weight loss
• Cell biology – Cell biology is a branch of biology that studies the structure and function of the cell, which is the basic unit of life.
• Histology – The branch of biology dealing with the study of the microscopic structure of tissues.
• Embryology – A branch of biology concerned with the study of embryos and their development.
• Phycology or Algology – A branch of biology which deals with the scientific study of seaweeds and other algae.
• Mycology – A branch of biology which deals with the scientific study of fungi.
• Lichenology – It is the study of lichens, symbiotic organisms made up of an intimate symbiotic association of a microscopic alga (or a cyanobacterium) with a filamentous fungus (mycobiont). Main Terminologies and related by-products
• Apiculture – The raising and care of bees for commercial (honey production) and agricultural purposes (cross pollination).
• Aviculture – The breeding and rearing of birds.
• Aquaculture – The rearing of aquatic animals or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food.
• Algaculture – Algaculture is a form of aquaculture involving the farming of species of algae. Algae are used in wastewater treatment facilities, reducing the need for greater amounts of toxic chemicals. Algae can be used to capture fertilizers in run of from farms, when subsequently harvested, the enriched algae itself can be used as fertilizer. Microalgae are called phytoplanktons.
• Pisciculture – The controlled breeding and rearing of fishes.
• Agriculture – The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool and other products. Sericulture – The production of silk and the rearing of silkworms for this purpose.
• Silviculture – Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition, health and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values.
• Spongiculture – The cultivation and growing of sponges. Horticulture – Horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers and crops like spices, condiments and other plantation crops.
• Floriculture – Floriculture or flower farming, is a discipline of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of fowering and
• ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry.
• Olericulture – Olericulture is the science of vegetables growing, dealing with the culture of non-woody (herbaeous) plants for food.
• Arboriculture – Cultivation of trees and shrubs.
• Pomology – The science that deals with fruit and fruit growing.
• Agronomy – A branch of agriculture dealing with crop production and soil management.
• Vermiculture – The cultivation of earthworms, especially in order to use them to convert organic waste into fertilizer.
• Ostriculture – The breeding of oysters for food and pearls.
• Heliculture – It is also known as snail farming. It is the process of raising land snails especially for human use, either to use their flesh to eat or to obtain snail slime for use in cosmetics and snail eggs for human consumption as a type of caviar.
• Viticulture – Cultivation and harvesting of grapes.
• Mariculture – Mariculture is a specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms (animal and plant) for food and other products.
• Moriculture – Moriculture is the science of mulberry cultivation for silk production because silk worm (Bombyx mori) reared on it.
• Citriculture – Cultivation of citrus fruit trees.
• Vegeculture – The cultivation of vegetables, also the cultivation of plants, especially root crops, propagated by vegetative means.
• Aeroponics – A plant-cultivation technique without soil, in which the roots hang suspended in the air while nutrient solution is delivered to them in the form of a f ne mist.
• Aeroculture – A method of growing plants without soil by suspending them above sprays that constantly moisten the roots with water and nutrients.
• Hydroponics – It is a method of growing plants without soil by instead of using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent (see f g.).