The 10 Branches Of Biology: Their Objectives And Characteristics
Like any self-respecting science, Biology diversifies its efforts into different disciplines in order to cover as much knowledge as possible. This is something necessary, because there is more and more information and knowing everything in detail about the science of life is something that can be described as impossible, or for which we would need all the time in the world.
The different branches of biology allow us to limit and concentrate knowledge to be able to investigate and continue advancing in the discovery of new information that reveals the mysteries hidden in living beings.
The branches of Biology (and what object of study each one has)
Biology is divided into a multitude of disciplines created to better adapt to its different objects of study and objectives, and as knowledge advances, new ones appear. Furthermore, some are related and partially overlap with other major sciences with which they complement each other, such as chemistry or geology.
Even taking into account that the limits of these fields of research are to a certain extent blurred, it is possible to distinguish between several branches of biology; Let’s see which are the main ones.
1. Cell biology
The cell is the primordial unit of living beings, since they are all made up of them. Therefore, it is not strange that one of the branches of biology focuses on the study of it. Previously known as cytology, this discipline, as its name indicates, specializes in the knowledge of the structures and functions carried out by cells. This not only includes the processes by which they stay alive, but also the way in which they contribute to the functioning of the organism in which they are, if they are part of multicellular life forms.
One of the most impressive phenomena in life is how an entire multicellular organism can be generated from the union of two gametes. I’m talking about fertilization by a sperm and an egg (in the case of animals) to form a zygote. This branch of biology specializes in the study of all the cellular processes that are carried out in the development of a new organism through sexual reproduction.
3. Marine biology
The Earth is also known as the blue planet, and almost 71% of its extension is occupied by water. Life in the seas is no small thing Proof of this is the fact that there is an entire branch of biology that focuses on the study of it, from the beings that inhabit it to their interaction with the environment. In fact, the aquatic environment is probably the origin of all forms of life, and therefore there is a great diversity of living beings, some totally different from those found on land.
4. Molecular biology
If I previously talked about cell biology, which specializes in the study of the structures and functions of cells, molecular biology focuses on the tools that cells use to carry out such functions. This discipline studies proteins and the processes carried out from them, such as the synthesis of these components or processes related to metabolism. It is a hybrid field of study between biology and chemistry.
5. Botany
Living beings are the main object of study in biology, but there is a great variety of them, so it is necessary to diversify. The botanic specializes mainly in the study of vegetables, such as plants, shrubs and trees, but also life forms that are not plants and yet share characteristics with them, such as algae, fungi and cyanobacteria. All of them have in common a reduced mobility and that they can carry out photosynthesis (except fungi).
The environment is a very important element for life and an increasingly topical topic. Ecology is the branch of biology that studies the intimate interactions established between living beings and their environment or habitat, forming what are known as ecosystems. We must not forget that living beings have their reason for existence in the environment to which they have adapted through evolution.
7. Physiology
If cell biology focuses on the functions of cells, physiology is the discipline that specializes in the study of the processes that occur in organs, that is, functions that are carried out by a set of cells. For example, the circulation of internal fluids or breathing mechanisms There are both physiology for animals and plants.
8. Genetics
The cell is the unit of life, but without DNA it would be nothing. Genetic material contains all the information necessary to develop an organism, since it makes it possible for cells to create proteins.
For this reason, there is an entire discipline that focuses on the study of genetic content, which is none other than genetics. The study of the genome has always been of special interest for biology, and currently, it is also important in the development of new technologies and resources obtained through technology, such as genetic editing, artificial selection, etc.
9. Microbiology
If botany mainly covers plants, microbiology focuses on the study of microorganisms, single-celled living beings of very small size, only visible through a microscope. Among the beings being investigated are bacteria, archaea (formerly called archaebacteria), protozoa (single-celled eukaryotic organisms) or the enigmatic viruses, although it is still debated whether the latter are living beings.
The last branch of biology that we will talk about here is also one of the oldest in terms of its precedents: it is zoology, which covers the study of animals From sponges to mammals, a wide range of living beings are under its field of study. Additionally, several of his sub-specializations include the study of behavior and partially overlap with psychology and cognitive science.
