Join with a free account for more service, or become a member for full access to exclusives and extra support of WorldSupporter >>
Biological sciences, also commonly referred to as biology, is the overarching field dedicated to studying life on Earth in all its forms. It encompasses a vast array of disciplines, each focusing on different aspects of living organisms.
What are the main features of biological sciences?
- Interdisciplinary: Biological sciences draw upon various disciplines like chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science to understand living things. This collaborative approach provides a comprehensive view of life's complexities.
- Diversity of Focus: The field celebrates the incredible variety of life, from the microscopic world of single-celled organisms to complex ecosystems. Sub-areas specialize in specific aspects, like animal behavior, plant physiology, or the structure and function of cells.
- Scientific Approach: Biologists rely on the scientific method to investigate life. They formulate hypotheses, conduct experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions, constantly refining our understanding of the natural world.
What are important sub-areas in biological sciences?
- Biochemistry: Focuses on the chemistry of life, exploring the structure, function, and interactions of molecules essential for biological processes.
- Cell Biology: Examines the fundamental unit of life, the cell, its structure, function, and how different cell types work together in an organism.
- Genetics: Investigates genes, heredity, and how traits are passed down from generation to generation.
- Microbiology: Studies microscopic organisms like bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, and their impact on health and the environment.
- Molecular Biology: Zooms in on the role of molecules like DNA and RNA in cellular processes and heredity.
- Zoology: Delves into the animal kingdom, its diversity, behavior, evolution, and conservation.
- Botany: Focuses on plants, their structure, physiology, ecology, and evolution.
- Ecology: Examines the interactions between living organisms and their environment, including how populations, communities, and ecosystems function.
- Evolutionary Biology: Studies how living things change over time and the mechanisms that drive this change, such as natural selection.
What are key concepts in biological sciences?
- Cell Theory: The cornerstone of biology, stating that all living things are composed of cells, the basic units of life.
- DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information and is responsible for heredity.
- Evolution by Natural Selection: The theory proposed by Charles Darwin, explaining how organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to evolution of populations over time.
- Homeostasis: The ability of an organism or a biological system to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.
- Metabolism: The sum of all chemical reactions that occur in living organisms, allowing them to grow, reproduce, maintain their structure, and respond to their environment.
Who are influential figures in biological sciences?
- Louis Pasteur: A French microbiologist whose discoveries on vaccines and fermentation had a profound impact on public health.
- Charles Darwin: A British naturalist who revolutionized our understanding of life with his theory of evolution by natural selection.
- Gregor Mendel: An Austrian monk considered the father of genetics for his pioneering work on inheritance patterns.
- Rosalyn Yalow: An American medical physicist who co-developed the radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique, revolutionizing medical testing and diagnostics.
Why is biological sciences important?
- Understanding Ourselves: Biology underpins our understanding of ourselves as living organisms, our health, and our place in the natural world.
- Medical Advancements: Biological knowledge is crucial for developing new drugs, vaccines, and treatments for diseases.
- Agriculture and Food Production: Understanding biological processes allows us to improve food production, combat pests and diseases, and develop sustainable agricultural practices.
- Environmental Issues: Biology is essential for addressing environmental challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
- Biotechnology: Biological knowledge is applied in various fields like genetic engineering and biotechnology to create new products and technologies.
How is biological sciences applied in practice?
- Medicine: Biologists work in various medical fields, from developing medications to conducting research on diseases.
- Agriculture: Plant and animal biologists contribute to improving crop yields, breeding disease-resistant plants and animals, and developing sustainable agricultural practices.
- Biotechnology: Biologists are involved in genetic engineering, creating new products like biofuels and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- Environmental Science: Understanding biological systems is essential for addressing environmental challenges, protecting ecosystems, and conserving biodiversity.
- Forensics: Biologists can use biological evidence, like DNA analysis, to solve crimes and identify individuals.
Nature and environmental sciences: The best concepts summarized
Nature and environmental sciences: The best concepts summarized
A short introduction to the best concepts of nature and environmental sciences: From agriculture to water conservation
Summaries and Study Assistance - Start
Summaries, study notes, tips and tools for study and know how
For optimal and free use of summaries, study help, exam tickets, practice exams, bullet points notes
- join JoHo WorldSupporter
- then check the study and exam tips;
- study the material through the summaries;
- repeat the material through the bullets or notes
- master the material through the practice exams.
- 1 of 32
- next ›
JoHo can really use your help! Check out the various student jobs here that match your studies, improve your competencies, strengthen your CV and contribute to a more tolerant world
Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams
- Check out: Register with JoHo WorldSupporter: starting page (EN)
- Check out: Aanmelden bij JoHo WorldSupporter - startpagina (NL)
How and why would you use WorldSupporter.org for your summaries and study assistance?
- For free use of many of the summaries and study aids provided or collected by your fellow students.
- For free use of many of the lecture and study group notes, exam questions and practice questions.
- For use of all exclusive summaries and study assistance for those who are member with JoHo WorldSupporter with online access
- For compiling your own materials and contributions with relevant study help
- For sharing and finding relevant and interesting summaries, documents, notes, blogs, tips, videos, discussions, activities, recipes, side jobs and more.
Using and finding summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter
There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.
- Use the menu above every page to go to one of the main starting pages
- Starting pages: for some fields of study and some university curricula editors have created (start) magazines where customised selections of summaries are put together to smoothen navigation. When you have found a magazine of your likings, add that page to your favorites so you can easily go to that starting point directly from your profile during future visits. Below you will find some start magazines per field of study
- Use the topics and taxonomy terms
- The topics and taxonomy of the study and working fields gives you insight in the amount of summaries that are tagged by authors on specific subjects. This type of navigation can help find summaries that you could have missed when just using the search tools. Tags are organised per field of study and per study institution. Note: not all content is tagged thoroughly, so when this approach doesn't give the results you were looking for, please check the search tool as back up
- Check or follow your (study) organizations:
- by checking or using your study organizations you are likely to discover all relevant study materials.
- this option is only available trough partner organizations
- Check or follow authors or other WorldSupporters
- by following individual users, authors you are likely to discover more relevant study materials.
- Use the Search tools
- 'Quick & Easy'- not very elegant but the fastest way to find a specific summary of a book or study assistance with a specific course or subject.
- The search tool is also available at the bottom of most pages
Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?
- Check out: Why and how to add a WorldSupporter contributions
- JoHo members: JoHo WorldSupporter members can share content directly and have access to all content: Join JoHo and become a JoHo member
- Non-members: When you are not a member you do not have full access, but if you want to share your own content with others you can fill out the contact form
Quicklinks to fields of study for summaries and study assistance
Field of study
- All studies for summaries, study assistance and working fields
- Communication & Media sciences
- Corporate & Organizational Sciences
- Cultural Studies & Humanities
- Economy & Economical sciences
- Education & Pedagogic Sciences
- Health & Medical Sciences
- IT & Exact sciences
- Law & Justice
- Nature & Environmental Sciences
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
- Public Administration & Social Sciences
- Science & Research
- Technical Sciences
Add new contribution