ANIMAL GENETICS & BREEDING

UNIT – I

Introduction to Biostatistics

Dr K G Mandal
Department of Animal Genetics & Breeding
Bihar Veterinary College, Patna
Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna
Meaning of Statistics:
• To some it is an imposing form of mathematics.
• To others it is the numerical forms of facts and
figures commonly finds in newspapers, journals,
books, various reports, political speech, TV, Radio,
etc. in the form of tables, charts & figures.
• Examples:
There are 932 females per 1000 males in India
whereas in Russia there are 1170 females per 1000
males.
The per day per capita availability of milk has been
increased from 100g in 1980 to 354g in 2018.
The density of human population has gone up from
216 in 1981 to 315 in 2018.
• Numbers play an essential role in statistics.
• Study of statistics involve methods of refining
numerical information into useful forms.
• Statements contain facts and figures, and as
such they are called statements of facts.
• Numerical information are highly convenient
for communication and at the same time quite
clear, precise and meaningful.
• An analysis of statements can help in framing
suitable policies by the Government.
• Whenever numbers are collected and
compiled they become statistics.
• In other words, the term statistics is
considered with ways and means of
presenting and handling of data, making
inferences logically and drawing relevant
conclusions.
• In addition to meaning data, statistics also
refers to a subject just like mathematics
having symbols, formulae, and theorems.
• In this sense statistics is a body of
methods of obtaining and analyzing data.
• Thus, the word statistics refers either to
quantitative information or to a method
dealing with quantitative information.
• Statistics may be used in plural or singular
sense.
• Quantitative (numerical) information i.e.
the statistics of birth, death, imports,
exports, etc. are used in plural sense
• Various statistical methods like mean or
average, correlation, regression, measures
of dispersion, analysis of variance, etc. are
used in singular sense.
• The methods by which statistical data are
analysed are called statistical methods.
• Thus, statistics deals with the collection,
compilation, presentation, analysis and
interpretation of quantitative
information.
• Statistical methods are applicable to a
large number of fields – economics,
sociology, anthropology, management,
agriculture and its allied fields such as
veterinary, dairy, medicine, etc.
Origin of statistics:
• Statistics is not a new discipline but as old as the human
society itself.
• It has been used right from the existence of life on this
earth.
• The word ‘statistics’ has come from the Italian word
‘statesman’ or German word ‘statistik’ which means
State.
• The term statistics was first used by Professor Gottfried
Achenwall (1719 – 1772) to refer the subject matter as
a whole.
• Achenwall defined statistics as “the political science of
the several countries”.
• The word stastistics appeared for the first
time in the famous book, Elements of
Universal Erudition by Baran J. F. Von Bielfeld
and translated by W. Hooper in 1770.
• The science of statistics is said to have
originated from two main sources:
– Government records
– Mathematics
(a) Government Records
• Since statistical data were collected for use
in various purposes of the Govt., statistics
was then described as ‘the science of king’
or ‘the science of Statecraft’.
(b) Mathematics
• Statistics is said to be a branch of applied
mathematics.
• The present form of statistical methods is based
on theory of probability which marked a major step
in the history of world.
• The gamblers of 17th century attracted the
attention of De Moivre, Galileo and great
mathematicians like James Bernoulli, Daniel
Bernoulli, Laplace and Karl Gaus who discovered and
developed the theory of probability while
estimating the chance of wining or losing in gamble.
• De Moivre (1667 – 1754) discovered the normal
curve which forms the important part of modern
statistical theory.
• Laplace and Gaus independently arrived at the same
results of De Moivre.
• Great mathematician Jaques Quetlet (1796 – 1855)
discovered the fundamental principle of ‘ the
constancy of great numbers’ which is the basis of
sampling.
• Sir Francis Galton (1822 – 1911) developed the
concept of Regression.
• Karl Pearson (1857 – 1936) developed the Chi-square
test of goodness of fit & Correlation.
• Sir Ronald A Fisher (1890 – 1962) made major
contributions in the field of Experimental Designs
and Analysis of Variance.
• Contributions of all these scientists have made
significant advances in the development of statistics.
Statistics Defined
• According to Prof. Horace Secrist, Statistics
means aggregate of facts affected to a marked
extent by multiplicity of causes, numerically
expressed, enumerated or estimated according
to reasonable standards of accuracy, collected
in a systematic manner for a predetermined
purpose and placed in relation to each other.
Characteristics of statistics (numerical data):
• i. Statistics are aggregates of facts.
• ii. Statistics are affected to a marked extent
by multiplicity of causes or multiple factors.
• iii. Statistics are numerically expressed.
• iv. Statistics are enumerated or estimated
according to reasonable standards of accuracy.
• v. Statistics are collected in a systemic manner.
• vi. Statistics are collected for a predetermined
purpose.
• Statistics should be placed in relation to each
other.
Conclusion: All statistics are numerical statement
of facts but all numerical statements of facts
are not statistics.
• Statistical Methods:
i. Collection
ii. Compilation
(a) Editing
(b) Classification
(c) Tabulation
iii. Presentation
(a) Diagrams
(b) Graphs
iv. Analysis
v. Interpretation
• Definition of Biostatistics:
Biostatistics is a branch of Mathematics which deals
with the collection, compilation, presentation,
analysis and interpretation of numerical data or
quantitative information of biological organism.
• Statistics : Science or Art?
Science is a systematised body of knowledge.
Accordingly, statistics is regarded as a science
because it is a branch of mathematics which deals
with various principles, laws and theorem.
On the other hand it is an art because it is
concerned with ways and means of presenting and
handling data, making inferences logically and
drawing relevant conclusions.
Application of Statistics:
• Industry or commerce
• Economics
• Biology
• Botany
• Astronomy
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Education
continued ………….
• Medical science
• Agriculture
• Veterinary
• Dairy
• Sociology
• Meteorology, etc.
Functions of Statistics:
• It presents facts in a definite form.
• It simplifies mass of figures.
• It facilitates comparison.
• It helps in formulating and testing of
hypothesis.
• It helps in prediction.
• It helps in the formulation of suitable
policies.
Sl. Title of book Authors Publication
No.

1. Statistical Methods Dr S P Gupta Sultan Chand

3. Biostatistics P. N. Arora & PK Himalaya Pub.

4. Statistical Methods for SK Pillai & HC Ram Prasad &