🌱 Subdivisions of Biology

🔬 What is Science?

  • The word Science comes from the Latin word scientia meaning knowledge.
  • Science is the systematic study of the natural world through observation and experimentation.

🔍 Classification of Science

  1. Natural Science
    • Physical Science
    • Biological Science (Biology)
  2. Social Science

🌿 Origin of Biology

  • The term Biology was introduced independently in 1802 by:
    • Lamarck
    • Treviranus

🌳 Major Branches of Biology

🐾 1. Zoology

  • Study of animals (living and extinct)

🌱 2. Botany

  • Study of plants

🦴 3. Palaeontology

  • Study of fossils (remains of ancient organisms)

🌍 4. Ecology

  • Study of relationships between organisms and environment

🧬 5. Genetics

  • Study of heredity and genes (DNA)

❤️ 6. Physiology

  • Study of functions of living organisms

🌿 Important Sub-Branches

🌍 Environment & Soil

  • Pedology – Study of soil
  • Edaphology – Soil’s effect on plants
  • Bionomics – Organisms and environment (similar to ecology)

🧠 Behavior & Age

  • Ethology – Animal behavior
  • Gerontology – Study of ageing

⚙️ Applied Biology

  • Bionics – Applying biological systems to engineering
  • Biometry (Biostatistics) – Use of maths/statistics in biology

🌸 Plant-related Fields

  • Anthology – Study of flowers
  • Agrostology – Study of grasses
  • Palynology – Study of pollen
  • Phycology (Algology) – Study of algae
  • Mycology – Study of fungi
  • Lichenology – Study of lichens

🧍 Animal-related Fields

  • Entomology – Insects
  • Ichthyology – Fish
  • Ornithology – Birds
  • Herpetology – Reptiles & amphibians
  • Serpentology – Snakes
  • Malacology – Molluscs

🧫 Medical & Health Sciences

  • Oncology – Cancer
  • Pathology – Diseases
  • Serology – Blood serum
  • Dermatology – Skin
  • Teratology – Abnormalities in development

🧬 Cell & Development

  • Cell Biology – Cells
  • Histology – Tissues
  • Embryology – Development of embryo

🦠 Microbiology

  • Virology – Viruses
  • Bacteriology – Bacteria
  • Parasitology – Parasites

🌾 Applied Biology (Cultivation & Farming)

🐝 Animal Rearing

  • Apiculture – Beekeeping
  • Pisciculture – Fish farming
  • Sericulture – Silk production
  • Aviculture – Bird rearing
  • Vermiculture – Earthworms

🌿 Plant Cultivation

  • Agriculture – Farming
  • Horticulture – Fruits, vegetables, flowers
  • Floriculture – Flowers
  • Olericulture – Vegetables
  • Pomology – Fruits
  • Viticulture – Grapes
  • Silviculture – Forests

🌊 Water-based Farming

  • Aquaculture – Aquatic organisms
  • Mariculture – Marine organisms
  • Algaculture – Algae farming

🌱 Modern Techniques

  • Hydroponics – Growing plants without soil (in water)
  • Aeroponics – Roots suspended in air with nutrient mist

🧠 Quick Revision Tips

  • Zoology = Animals
  • Botany = Plants
  • Genetics = Heredity
  • Ecology = Environment
  • Physiology = Functions

FAQs

1. Study of Zoology deals with :– Both living and dead animals

2. Match List-I to List-II.

 List -I                                 List- II

A. Birds                           1. Ornithology 

B. Inheritance                2. Genetics 

C. Environment             3. Ecology

D. Fossil                          4. Palaeobiology

Ans :- 1 2 3 4

3. The study of the flower is known as :– Anthology

4. The scientific study of insects is known as :– Entomology

5. Which subjects of data set is associated with the study of concerning population and humanity :-  Demography

6. The comparative study of the different cultures and the scientific explanation is known as :-Ethnology

7. The study of properties and method of biological systems found in nature and use of this knowledge in mechanical world is known as :- Bionics

8. Under Palaeobotany, one studies :- identification of plant remains from geological contexts and  biological reconstruction

9. Rearing silk worms is known as :- Sericulture

10. Honey bees are used in :–  Apiculture

11. Which one of the following is correctly matched?

 Cultivation                          Nomenclature of Cultivation

 (a) Flower Cultivation –         Floriculture

 (b) Crop Cultivation –            Agronomy

 (c) Vegetable Cultivation –   Olericulture 

 (d) Fruit’s Cultivation –         Pomology

Ans. (all)

12. Which of the following is correctly matched?

(a) Apiculture – Honey bee  (b) Sericulture – Silkworm

 (c) Pisciculture – Fish    (d) Horticulture – Flower

Ans. (all)

13. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?

(word and meaning)

(a) Lexicography – Compilation of dictionary

 (b) Philology – Study of language structure and its history 

 (c) Entomology – Study of insects 

 (d) Iconography – Study of idols/arts etc.

Ans. (all)

14. Lexicography is related to :– Compilation of dictionary

15. The study related to the plants being used as vegetable is called :- Olericulture

16. Which one of the following is produced through viticulture :– Grapes

17. What is Vermiculture :- The science of raising worms

18. In Vermiculture, the worm used is :– Earthworm

19. Genetics deals with :– Heredity and variations

20. The study of Gerontology, is related to which :-  Old age

21. The branch of study dealing with old age and ageing is called :- Gerontology

22. Pedology is the science related to the study of :– Soil

23. Study of bones, are under which branch of science :- Osteology

24. The study of snakes is known as :– Serpentology

25. Find the correct :

(a) Physiology, Pathology, and Bacteriology are the branches of biology

(b) Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour

Ans :- All of the above

26. What is hydroponics :- Growing plant without soil

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