1. Branches of biology
 Aerobiology – the study of airborne organic particles
 Agriculture – the study of producing crops fromthe land, with an emphasis on practical
applications
 Anatomy – the study of formand function, in plants, animals, and other organisms, or
specifically in humans
 Arachnology – the study of arachnids
 Astrobiology – the study of evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe—also
known as exobiology, exopaleontology, and bioastronomy
 Biochemistry – the study of the chemical reactions required for life to exist and function,
usually a focus on the cellular level
 Bioengineering – the study of biology through the means of engineering with an
emphasis on applied knowledge and especially related to biotechnology
 Biogeography – the study of the distribution of species spatially and temporally
 Bioinformatics – the use of information technology for the study, collection, and storage
of genomic and other biological data
 Biomathematics (or Mathematical biology) – the quantitative or mathematical study of
biological processes, with an emphasis on modeling
 Biomechanics – often considered a branch of medicine, the study of the mechanics of
living beings, with an emphasis on applied use through prosthetics or orthotics
 Biomedical research – the study of the human body in health and disease
 Biomusicology - study of music from a biological point of view.
 Biophysics – the study of biological processes through physics, by applying the theories
and methods traditionally used in the physical sciences
 Biotechnology – a new and sometimes controversial branch of biology that studies the
manipulation of living matter, including genetic modification and synthetic biology
 Building biology – the study of the indoor living environment
 Botany – the study of plants
 Cell biology – the study of the cell as a complete unit, and the molecular and chemical
interactions that occur within a livingcell
 Conservation biology – the study of the preservation, protection, or restoration of the
natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife
 Cryobiology – the study of the effects of lower than normally preferred temperatures on
living beings
 Developmental biology – the study of the processes through which an organismforms,
fromzygote to full structure
 Ecology – the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with the
non-living elements of their environment
 Embryology – the study of the development of embryo (fromfecundation to birth)
 Entomology – the study of insects
 Environmental biology – the study of the natural world, as a whole or in a particular
area, especially as affected by human activity
 Epidemiology – a major component of public health research, studying factors
affecting the health of populations

2. Living vs Non-living Things
1. Living things can move, but non-living things cannot.
2. Energy is required by living things, whilenon-livings do not require energy.
3. Living things are capable of growth, reproduction and death.
4. Non-living things are non-motile, but living things can move around.
5. Living things respire; non-living things do not respire.
6. Living things adapt to the surroundings and respond to stimulus.
Characteristics of Living Things
1. Living things are highly organized, from the smallest part to the largest.
On the chemical level: atoms make up elements. Each element has a specific number
of electrons that orbit the nucleus. In the center of the element, the nucleus has protons
and neutrons. The number of protons in an element is always equal to the number the
electrons. The number of neutrons may vary to make isotopes of that element. Elements
come together to give up, accept or equally share electrons to make molecules.
2. All living things have an ability to acquire materials and energy.
Most of us call this eating! Then we have to be able to convert our food, a formof
energy, to chemicals our cells can use through metabolism. Some organisms like plants,
algae, and some microorganisms are autotrophs. The autotrophs we are most familiar
with are the green plants that use photosynthesis to make their own "food." Some
bacteria use chemosynthesis for their energy source. Animals and fungi are
heterotrophs and capture their food in a variety of ways.
The ability to acquire and use energy is extremely important. Without a constant input
of usable energy, organisms would quickly become "disorganized" and die.
3. All living things have an ability to respond to their environment.
This often results in movement of the individual toward safety. This helps to ensure
survival of the organism. For example, as young children we learned to avoid hot stoves
and busy streets.
Plants also have some limited ability to move. They grow up toward the sun, and some
have leaves able to turn to follow the sun, allowingthemto photosynthesize better.
Their roots grow down to search for water and minerals. If a plant doesn't get enough
sunlight, water or minerals it will die.
4. All living things have an ability to reproduce.
All living things, even the smallest bacteria, have a chromosome containing DNA.
Prokaryotes like bacteria only have one circular chromosome, called a plasmid.
Eukaryotes, multicellular organisms like plants and humans, have a species-specific
number of chromosomes. As humans, we have 46 chromosomes, in 23 pairs. Genes on
chromosomes contain the instructions for the organism's structure and function.
5. All living things have an ability to adapt.
Modificationsenable an organismto survivein its environment. Natural selection allows
individuals with better adaptations to survive better and reproduce more. Thus, their
characteristics are passed into future generations and that makes the species stronger.
However, it is important to note that individuals can only adapt to their environment,
and species don’t adapt, they evolve.