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Bio1- Introduction to Biology

The document provides an introduction to biology, defining it as the study of living organisms and detailing its main branches: zoology and botany, along with several sub-disciplines. It highlights the importance of biology in addressing environmental issues, career opportunities, and the development of scientific skills. Additionally, it outlines the characteristics of living things, methods for specimen collection, and compares plants and animals.

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macyehsteven
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6 views

Bio1- Introduction to Biology

The document provides an introduction to biology, defining it as the study of living organisms and detailing its main branches: zoology and botany, along with several sub-disciplines. It highlights the importance of biology in addressing environmental issues, career opportunities, and the development of scientific skills. Additionally, it outlines the characteristics of living things, methods for specimen collection, and compares plants and animals.

Uploaded by

macyehsteven
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Biology

 Biology- is a branch of science that deals with the study of living things.
-The term biology came from two Greek words-Bios meaning life and
logos meaning knowledge.

Branches of Biology
Biology is such a broad field of knowledge. It is divided into two broad
branches
 Zoology- the study of animals.
 Botany- study of plants.
Within the two branches, there exist even smaller branches because the
branches
The smaller branches of biology include:
a) Ecology- This is the study of the interrelationships between
organisms and their environment.
b) Genetics- the study of inheritance and variation.
c) Entomology- This is the study of insects.
d) Parasitology- This is the study of parasites.
e) Physiology- This deals with the study of the functions of various
structures of an organism.
f) Anatomy- The study of the internal structure of organisms
g) Microbiology- This is the study of microorganisms
h) Bacteriology- The study of bacteria
i) Ornithology- This is the study of birds
j) Cytology- The study of cell

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Importance of biology
 The knowledge acquired from the study of biology can be very helpful in
solving environmental problems such as food shortage, pollution and
environmental degradation.
 The study of biology can grant entry into various careers such as
medicine, veterinary medicine, animal horticulture and dentistry.
 The study of biology leads to development of scientific skills which are
very useful in life. These include skills of observing, identifying,
recording, classifying, measuring, analysing and evaluating.
 Biological knowledge acquired in the study of biology is very useful in
enhancing international cooperation. Some biology related international
conventions include:
 Joint development of HIV/AIDS vaccine by Kenyan and British
scientists.
 The fight to save the ozone layer from depletion through various
international agreements such as the Kyoto protocol.

Characteristics of Living Things


Living things share a lot of characteristics in common. These characteristics
includes;

a) Nutrition
 Nutrition is the process by which living things (acquire)obtain and
assimilate (utilize) nutrients.
 Living things require nutrients for various purposes; growth, repair of
worn out tissues and for provision of energy.

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 Plants manufacture their own food using light energy, carbon (IV) oxide,
water and mineral salts through the process of photosynthesis.
 Conversely, animals feed on already manufactured foods from plants
and other animals.
b) Respiration
 Respiration is the process by which food substances are chemically
broken down to release energy.
 During respiration, oxygen is used while energy, carbon (IV) oxide and
water are released. Respiration occurs in all living cells.
 The energy produced in living things is very useful as it enables the living
organisms to;
 carry out some of their physiological processes.
 carry out growth and development, movement and repair of worn
out tissues.
c) Gaseous Exchange
 Gaseous exchange refers to the process by which respiratory gases
(oxygen and carbon (IV) oxide) pass across the respiratory surfaces.
 Animals always take in air rich in oxygen and give out air rich in carbon
(IV) oxide (as a waste product of chemical reactions in the body)
 Plants, however, require carbon (IV) oxide for photosynthesis during the
day and give away oxygen as a by-product. Plants equally require oxygen
for respiration

d) Excretion
 This is the process by which living things separate and eliminate the
waste or harmful materials resulting from chemical reactions within
the cells.

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 These harmful waste products of metabolism maybe toxic to the body if
they are left to accumulate in the cells of the living things

e) Growth and Development


 Growth refers to an irreversible increase in size and mass of an
organism.
 Development refers to the irreversible change in complexity of the
structure of living things.
 Growth and development of living things is essential as it enables the
living things to attain maximum size that can enable them to perform
their functions and roles.
f) Reproduction
 This is the process by which living things give rise to new individuals of
the same kind.
 Reproduction is essential as it leads to perpetuation of species thus
avoiding extinction of animal and plant species.

g) Irritability
 This is the ability of living things to perceive (detect) changes in their
environment and respond to them appropriately.
 Living things respond to changes in temperature, humidity, light,
presence or absence of certain chemicals.
 Response of organisms to these changes is crucial as it enables them to;
 escape from harmful stimuli.
 obtain resources in their environment.

h) Movement
 Movement refers to change is position of a part of or the whole
organism.

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 Movement in plants includes folding of leaves, closing of flowers and
growing of shoots towards light.
 The change of position by the whole organism is referred to as
locomotion.

Collection of Specimen
-For effective study, a biologist may have to collect some living things or some
parts of living things for observation and analysis.
- The living things or parts of living things that are used for biological study are
called specimens.
- Knowledge on proper specimen collection and handling of is very important.
Some of the apparatus used in specimen collection.
a) Sweep net- This is used for catching flying insects.

b) Fish net- This is used for trapping small fish and other small water
animals.

c) Pooter- This is used for sucking small animals from rock surfaces or barks
of trees.

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d) Bait trap- This is used for attracting and trapping small animals as rats.

e) Pit fall trap- This is used for catching crawling animals.

f) Pair of forceps- This is an apparatus used for picking up small crawling


animals e.g. stinging insects

.
g) Specimen bottles- These are bottles used for keeping collected
specimen. They are of different sizes depending on the size of the
specimen being studied.

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h) Magnifying lens- This is used to enlarge small objects. A hand lens is a
common magnifying lens used in the laboratory.

 The magnifying power of the hand lenses is always indicated on the


lens e.g. X10, X5, X8.
 The magnifying power of a lens shows how many times the image will
be enlarged compared to the object.
Precautions During Collection and Observation of Specimen
While collecting specimen for observation, a biologist should play close
attention to the following:
 Collect only the number of specimen you need; do not collect more than
you need.
 Do not harm the specimen during the capture/collection exercise.
 Do not destroy the natural habitat of the specimens.
 Handle dangerous/injurious specimens with care. Such injurious
specimens can be stinging plants or insects. Forceps and hand gloves
should be used in such cases.

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Comparison Between Plants and Animals
Plants Animals
(a) Most have chlorophyll hence (a) They lack chlorophyll hence feed on

manufacture their own food. already made food.

(b) Their cells have cellulose cell walls. (b) Their cells lack cellulose cell walls.
(c) They respond slowly to changes in their (c) They respond quickly.
environment
(d) Plants do not move about. (d) Most animals move about in search of
food and shelter.
(e) They lack specialised excretory organs (e) They have complex excretory organs
(f) They have indefinite growth (f) They have indefinite growth.

Revision Questions on the Topic

The End
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