Branches of Biology Guest Author - Alegra Bartzat Branches of Biology Biology, the study of life, has many aspects

to it and many specializations within this broad field. Below is an alphabetical list of many of the branches of biology. Agriculture - study of producing crops from the land, with an emphasis on practical applications Anatomy - the study of the animal form, with an emphasis on human bodies 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. Bioinformatics - also classified as a branch of information technology (IT) it is the study, collection, and storage of genomic data Biomathematics or Mathematical Biology - the study of biological processes through mathematics, 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 artificial limbs, etc. 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 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 living cell. 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 organism develops, from zygote to full structure.

Ecology - the study of the ecosystem as a complete unit, with an emphasis on how species and groups of species interact with other living beings and non-living elements. 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, it is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations Ethology - the study of animal behavior. Evolution or Evolutionary Biology - the study of the origin and decent of species over time Genetics - the study of genes and heredity. Herpetology - the study of reptiles (and amphibians?) Histology - The study of cells and tissue, a microscopic branch of anatomy. Ichthyology - the study of fish Macrobiology - the study of biology on the level of the macroscopic individual (plant, animal, or other living being) as a complete unit. Mammology - the study of mammals Marine Biology - the study of ocean ecosystems, plants, animals, and other living beings. Medicine - the study of the human body in health and disease, with allopathic medicine focusing on alleviating or curing the body from states of disease Microbiology - the study of microscopic organisms (microorganisms) and their interactions with other living things Molecular Biology - the study of biology and biological functions at the molecular level, some cross over with biochemistry Mycology - the study of fungi Neurobiology - the study of the nervous system, including anatomy, physiology, even pathology Oceanography - the study of the ocean, including ocean life, environment, geography, weather, and other aspects influencing the ocean. See Marine Biology

Ornithology - the study of birds Paleontology - the study of fossils and sometimes geographic evidence of prehistoric life Pathobiology or pathology - the study of diseases, and the causes, processes, nature, and development of disease Parisitology - the study of parasites and parasitism Pharmacology - the study and practical application of preparation, use, and effects of drugs and synthetic medicines. Physiology - the study of the functioning of living organisms and the organs and parts of living organisms Phytopathology - the study of plant diseases Pre-medicine - a college major that covers the general aspects of biology as well as specific classes relevant to the study of medicine Virology - the study of viruses and some other virus-like agents, usually considered part of microbiology or pathology

there are five branches: inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry. they could be further broken down into sub-branches such as organometallic chemistry, physical organic chemistry, electroanalytical chemistry, and so on and so forth.

The term "biophysics," first used in 1892 in Karl Pearson's book "The Grammar of Science," describes a broad scientific field that aims to investigate the structure and operation of living systems with the aid of the concepts, theories and methods of theoretical and experimental physics. There are several methods to categorize the branches of biophysics. One taxonomy derives from the branches of physics. According to this criterion, the branches of biophysics are biomechanics, biothermodynamics, bioelectricity, physiological optics, photobiophysics, radiation biophysics, and theoretical and computational biophysics.

Biomechanics

Biomechanics studies the mechanics of living systems. There are multiple applications for this discipline, ranging from sports medicine and rehabilitation to cybernetics. It is closely related to physiology, or the study of the constitution and normal functions of living beings. Thus, diagnosis, surgery and prosthesis are closely associated with biomechanics.

Bioelectrics

The science of bioelectrics is focused on the biological processes with the capability of producing bioelectric potentials. Those electric signals range in strength from one to a few hundred millivolts, or to a thousand volts in the case of the electric eel, and are often triggers for distinctive physiological functions.

Biothermodynamics

Biothermodynamics is the study of energy and entropy in living organisms. It is closely related to biochemistry and is concerned with protein-protein, protein-DNA and small molecule interactions. By providing information on the metabolic processes, biothermodynamics can be used to design new drugs and medical treatments.

Theoretical Biophysics

The problems tackled by theoretical biophysics are often mathematically and computationally intensive. For example, the challenge of understanding the physics and function of proteins at atomic levels goes beyond biology and physics. The simulation of molecular dynamics calls for the development of advanced computer science methods and massive multiparallel algorithms.

Alternate taxonomies

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of biophysics, there is not a single, universally agreed upon taxonomy for its branches. Another approach towards its definition comes from taking as a reference the different levels of living matter organization. This criterion defines four main branches of biophysics as quantum biophysics, molecular biophysics, supra-molecular and cellular biophysics, and complex system biophysics. Definitions based on specific techniques such as chromatography and electrophoresis, spectroscopy, microscopy and electron microscopy, crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and computational techniques are also in common use.

Organic Chemistry This specific type of chemistry is concerned with elements containing carbon.

Carbon is only the fourteenth most common element on earth, yet it creates the largest number of different compounds. This type of chemistry is important to the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and textile industries. All living organisms contain at least some amount of carbon in their body. Inorganic Chemistry This branch of chemistry deals with substances not containing carbon and that are not organic. Examples of such substances are minerals found in the earth's crust and non-living matter. There are many branches of inorganic chemistry. They include bioinorganic chemistry, nuclear science and energy, geochemistry, and synthetic inorganic chemistry, just to name a few. Physical Chemistry This type of chemistry deals with the discovery and description of the theoretical basis of the behavior of chemical substances. This means also that it provides a basis for every bit of chemistry including organic, inorganic, and analytical. This chemistry is defined as dealing with the relations between the physical properties of substances and their chemical formations along with their changes. Biochemistry Biochemistry is a science that is concerned with the composition and changes in the formation of living species. This type of chemistry utilizes the concepts of organic and physical chemistry to make the world of living organisms seem much clearer. Some people also consider biochemsitry as physiological chemistry and biological chemistry. The scientists that study biochemistry are called biochemists. They study such things as the properties of biological molecules, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Other topics they focus on are the chemical regulation of metabolism, the chemistry of vitamins, and biological oxidation. Analytical Chemistry This kind of chemistry deals mostly with the composition of substances. All these branches of chemistry must deal with each other one way or another. If they didn't work in unison it would be impossible for these chemistries to perform the functions we need for experiments. For example you wouldn't be able measure the change of an organic substance without knowing how to use analytical chemistry.

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Biotechnology is the integration of engineering and technology to the life sciences. Biotechnologists frequently use microorganisms or biological substances to perform specific processes or for manufacturing. Examples include the production of drugs, hormones, foods and converting waste products. There are many sub-branches involved in the biotech industry. A few of the more common branches include; molecular biology, genetic engineering, and cell biology. Soil Science,Crop Science,Agronomy,Horliticultuer,Animal husbandry, poultry farmer,forestry, agro-fishing, veterining, agricultural economics, Agricultural Engineeing,plant Partology,Entology.....Why Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Branches_of_agriculture#ixzz1PL4enWPV

These are some of the important fields in bioinformatics 1. Structural Bioinformatics: Predicting the 3D structure of a protein from its protein sequence. Homology modelling is the best method for predicting the protein structures by using already structured or crystallized protein as a template. MODELLER is one of the best software for Homology modelling. Protein Data Bank is the data base for 3D co-ordinates of a protein. Recent Studies ..

Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0760c at 1.50 A resolution, a structural homolog of Delta(5)-3-ketosteroid isomerase. 2. Drug Designing: Drug design is the approach of finding drugs by design, based on their biological targets. Typically a drug target is a key molecule involved in a particular metabolic or signalling pathway that is specific to a disease condition or pathology, or to the infectivity or survival of a microbial pathogen. Computer-assisted drug design uses computational chemistry to discover, enhance, or study drugs and related biologically active molecules. Click to see the drug discovery softwares. 3. Phylogenetics:

Predicting the genetic or evolutionary relation of set of organisms. Mitochondrial SNPs and Microsatellites ( DNA repeats) are mostly used in Phylogenetics. MEGA,PAUP are PAUP* are some of the important softwares. Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelyhood are mostly used methods. 4. Computational biology: Computational biology is an interdisciplinary field that applies the techniques of computer science, applied mathematics, and statistics to address problems inspired by biology.

Branches of Zoology Anatomy and Morphology Anatomy is the science of the structure and organization of living things. When dealing with animals specifically, it is sometimes referred to as animal anatomy (zootomy). Animal anatomy may include the study of the structure of different animals, when it is called animal morphology. Morphology is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny. Animal Nutriology Animal nutriology is the study of animal diet, such as nutritional requirement. Biochemistry Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. Biochemists study the structure and function of cellular components, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules. Biodiversity and Conservation Biodiversity is the diversity of life on both a large and small scale. Conservation is a rather broad topic, but in terms of zoology it refers to the efforts to conserve population number of endemic animal species. Biophysics Biophysics is a science that applies the theories and methods of physics to questions of biology. Developmental Biology Developmental Biology deals with the processes by which organisms grow and develop. Modern developmental biology studies the genetic control of cell growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis.

Ecology Ecology is the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how the distribution and abundance are affected by interactions between the organisms and their environment. Ethology Ethology is the study of animal behavior. Ethologists endeavor to determine the nature of animal interactions, emotions, and the ability to learn. Evolution Evolution is the study of change in the heritable traits of a population over successive generations, as determined by shifts in the allele frequencies of genes. The study of Evolution also deals with the mechanisms that cause organisms to evolve. Genetics Genetics is the study of genes and their relation to heredity and the variation of offspring. Genetics provides important tools for the investigation of the gene function. Molecular biology and Cell biology Molecular biology is the study of biological organisms at a molecular level. Overlapping with other fields, such as genetics and biochemistry, molecular biology deals with the interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the interrelationship of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis and learning how these interactions are regulated. Cell biology deals with biological function the cellular level. The study of cell biology focuses on the physiological properties and function of cells and organelles as well as the cell life cycle. Paleontology Paleontology is the study of the history and development of all life on Earth, based on the fossil record. Parasitology and Pathology Parasitology is the study of the relationship between parasites and their hosts, and pathology is the study of pathogens and their relationship to their hosts. Both disciplines study the underlying processes and function of parasites and disease. Physiology Physiology is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms, plants, animals, and fungi. Ideally, principles of physiology are universal. That is, though function may be different, the physiological principles that apply to an animal cell will also apply to cells of plants and fungi.

Reproductive Biology Reproductive biology is the study of the function of the sex organs and gametes. Taxonomy and Systematics Taxonomy is the science that deals with the classification of living organisms, while systematics is the study of the diversity of life and the relationship between living things throughout the course of evolutionary history. Zoogeography Zoogeography is the study of the geographic distribution of animal species and the attributes of these geographical regions.