What Is Biology?

Biology is the study of life and living organisms. It is a broad field including many branches and
subdisciplines. Biologists study structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, identification and
taxonomy. Below are the main branches of study included in this field.

The Main Branches of Biology

A through C
• Aerobiology is the study of airborne organic particles.
• Agriculture is the study of producing crops and raising livestock.
• Anatomy is the study of the internal structures of living things.
• Bacteriology is the study of bacteria.
• Biochemistry is the use of chemistry in the study of living things.
• Bioengineering is the study of living things through the means of
engineering.
• Biogeography is the study of the geographical distribution of
living things.
• Bioinformatics is the the use of information technology for the
study, collection, and storage of genomic and other biological
data.
• Biomechanics is the study of the mechanics of living beings.
• Biological Earth Sciences are the use of earth sciences, such as
geography, in the study of living things.
• Biomathematics is the application of math to the study of living
things.
• Biomedical research is the study of health and disease.
• Biomusicology is the study of music from a biological
perspective.
• Biophysics is application of physics to the study of living things.
• Biological Psychology is the application of biology to the study
of the human mind.
• Biosemiotics is the study of biological processes through
semiotics, by applying the models of meaning-making and
communication.
A through C
• Botany is the study of plants.
• Building biology is the study of the indoor living environment.
• Cell biology is the study of the cell as a complete unit.
• Cognitive biology is the study of cognition as a biological
function.
• Conservation biology is the study of preservation, restoration,
and protection of the natural environment.
• Cryobiology is the study of lower than normally preferred
temperatures on living beings.
• Cytology is the study of cells.
• Developmental biology is the study of the processes through
which an organism forms.
• Ecology is the study of the relationships of living things to each
other and to the environment.
• Embryology is the study of the formation and development of
living things from fertilization to birth as independent organisms.
• Endocrinology is the study of hormones.
• Entomology is the study of insects.
• Environmental biology is the study of the natural world
especially as affected by human activity.
• Epidemiology is the study of the health of populations.
• Evolutionary biology is the study of the origin and descent of
species over time.
Genetics is the study of heredity and the lifelong development of
living things.
• Histology is the study of tissues.
• Helminthology is the study of worms.
• Hematology is the study of blood and blood-forming organs.
• Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.
• Ichthyology is the study of fish.
A through C
• Integrative biology is the study of whole organisms.
• Lichenology is the study of lichen.
• Limnology is the study of inland waters.
• Mammology is the study of mammals.
• Marine biology is the study of ocean ecosystems.
• Microbiology is the study of microrganisms.
• Molecular biology is the study of biological functions at the
molecular level.
• Mycology is the study of fungi.
Nanobiology is the study of biological functions at the nanoscale.
• Ornithology is the study of birds.
• Paleontology is the study of fossils.
• Pathology is the study of diseases, generally in animals.
• Pharmacology is the study of the actions of chemicals on and
within living things.
• Phyology is the study of algae.
• Physiology is the study of the normal functions of living things.
• Phytogeography is the study of the land and its plants.
• Phytopathology is the study of diseases in plants.
• Population biology is the study of groups of species.
• Protozoology is the study of one-celled organisms.
• Psychobiology is the study of the biological bases of
psychology.
Quantum biology is the study of quantum mechanics on
biological functions.
• Sociobiology is the study of the biological bases of sociology.
• Structural biology is the study of the molecular structure of
biological macromolecules.
A through C
• Taxonomy is the study of the classification and naming of living
things.
• Virology is the study of viruses.
• Zoology is the study of animals.
• Zoogeography is the study of the land and its animals.

Famous Biologists
The field of biology has seen many important discoveries throughout the centuries. From
vaccines to theories of the beginning and progression of life on Earth, the many discoveries
have improved not only our understanding of history but also our quality of living. The
following is a list of the greatest biologists of all time, along with their most significant
contributions to the scientific world.

Charles Darwin (1809–1882) Gregor Mendel (1822-1884)

Famous For: Theory of Evolution
After attending the University of Cambridge and taking up
medicine at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Darwin was
considered a naturalist. As a biologist, he proposed the concept
that “all species of life” came from a single source. His theory of
evolution marked the beginning of the discussion on natural
selection.
Famous For: Modern Genetics
When he wrote “Experiments on Plant Hybridization”, he paved
the way for biology students to study genetic traits in peas.
During his experiments, Gregor found that a specific trait would
be dominant over other traits in the same species. This became
to be recognized as the Mendelian inheritance.

Aristotle (384–322 BC) Claude Bernard (1813–1878)

Famous For: Classified organisms into a “Ladder of Life”
Aristotle is forever linked with philosophy and logic. Few
associate him with biology and medicine. His work on the
classification of living things was still in use up to the 19th
century. He differentiated them by calling animals and plants as
Famous For: Blind experimental method for objective results
Born in Saint Julien, France in 1813, Claude Bernard has been
considered “one of the greatest of all men of science.” He
fostered the use of blind experiments in order to produce
objective results. He also believed that vivisection, the use of
he saw them, with blood, without blood, and so on.
Louis Pasteur (1822–1895)
Famous For: Created the process of pasteurization for treating
milk and wine
As one of the founders of medical microbiology, Louis Pasteur’s
education in the field of chemistry and microbiology may be
credited with his success. His germ theory of disease became
the catalyst to his process we know as pasteurization.
Hippocrates (c.460–370 BC)
Famous For: The Father of Western Medicine
Considered the “father of western medicine”, he is the first
person to attribute diseases to natural causes rather than
caused by the superstition that it is caused by gods. More
importantly was his professional approach and discipline in the
practice of medicine during his time, which has been carried
over to this day.
Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794)
Famous For: Observing metabolism
Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier was a French biologist and
chemist born in 1743 in Paris. He is credited with the naming of
hydrogen, oxygen, and silicon. This has led him to be considered
surgery on a living thing for knowledge, was useful in the study
and practice of medicine.
Robert Hooke (1635–1703)
Famous For: Coined the term “cell”
Born on 1635 in the Isle of Wight, England, Robert Hooke
received his higher education at Oxford University where he
studied physics and chemistry. His work included the
application what is known today as Hooke’s law, his use of
microscopy, and for the discovery of the “cell” in 1665 using
cork and a microscope.
Edward Jenner (1749–1823)
Famous For: Creating the first effective vaccine for smallpox
Edward Jenner is considered as the “father of immunology”
mainly because of his pioneering work on the smallpox vaccine
and the use of vaccination. Born in Berkeley, England in 1749,
he specialized in microbiology at the University of St. Andrews
and the University of London.
Rachel Carson (1907–1964)
Famous For: Movement against using pesticides
Rachel Louise Carson was a marine biologist born in Springdale,
Pennsylvania in 1907. Carson is credited with creating
awareness for the preservation of the environment. She led the
the father of modern chemistry. As a biologist, Lavoisier
identified that living things generated heat, leading to the
concept of metabolism.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723)
Famous For: The Father of Microbiology
Antoine Philips van Leeuwenhoek was born in Delft,
Netherlands in 1632. His interest in lensmaking and curiosity led
him to be the first to observe single cell organisms. He is
considered a biologist and microscopist which has earned him
the distinction of being the father of microbiology.
Galen (129–161 AD)
Famous For: First to introduce medicinal experimentation
The world of science and medicine would not be the same
without the early work of Galen, also known as Galen of
Pergamon, Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus. He is viewed as
the top medical researchers of his time, 129-200 AD. His
contributions include those in the field of anatomy, logic,
neurology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology.
Robert Brown (1773–1858)
crusade against the use of DDT in the United States of America,
which resulted in the creation of the EPA, Environmental
Protection Agency.
Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859)
Famous For: Humboldtian science
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt was born
in 1769. He was an explorer, geographer, and naturalist. His
work in biogeography paved the way to the idea that the land in
Africa, South America, and those along the Atlantic Ocean were
once joined together. He believed in the approach of combining
the different branches of the physical sciences, such as biology,
geology, and meteorology, this we know today as Humboldtian
science.
Joseph Lister (1827–1912)
Famous For: Using antiseptics for cleaning and sterilizing
wounds
Joseph Lister was born in 1827 in the city of Upton, Essex,
England where he attended the University of London, and later
in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh and University of
Glasgow. He became a surgeon and pioneered the work of
antiseptic or sterile surgery. He used carbolic acid to cleanse
wounds and to sterilize instruments used for surgery.
Joseph Priestley (1733–1804)
Famous For: Discovered the cell nucleus
Specializing in botany, Scottish born Robert Brown introduced
the model that help describe random movements of cells which
is known as particle theory, or more aptly, Brownian motion.
Among his contributions to the world of science was his
description in detail of the cell nucleus in all living things.
Famous For: Believed to have discovered oxygen
An Englishman born in 1733, Joseph Priestly’s contribution to
the world of science includes his identification of oxygen in its
gaseous state. His other work includes the invention of soda
water and discovery of other “gases.” Of course, his most
famous discovery of “dephogisticated air”, oxygen, remains his
most famous discovery.

Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564)

Famous For: On the Fabric of the Human Body
Born in Brussels, Habsburg Netherlands in 1514, Andreas
Vesalius is the noted author of one of the earliest books on
anatomy, “On the Fabric of the Human Body.” He is considered
as the “founder of modern human anatomy”. He served as the
royal physician under Emperor Charles V and as professor at the
University of Padua in Italy.