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Biology is the study of life.

Alongside physics and chemistry, biology is one of the largest and most important branches of science. At the highest level, biology is broken down based on the type of organism being studied: zoology, the study of animals; botany, of plants; and microbiology, of microorganisms. Each field has contributed to mankind or the Earths well-being in numerous ways. Most prominently: botany, to agriculture; zoology, to livestock and protection of ecologies; and microbiology, to the study of disease and ecosystems in general. Besides classifications based on the category of organism being studied, biology contains many other specialized sub-disciplines, which may focus on just one category of organism or address organisms from different categories. This includes biochemistry, the interface between biology and chemistry; molecular biology, which looks at life on the molecular level; cellular biology, which studies different types of cells and how they work; physiology, which looks at organisms at the level of tissue and organs; ecology, which studies the interactions between organisms themselves; ethology, which studies the behavior of animals, especially complex animals; and genetics, overlapping with molecular biology, which studies the code of life, DNA.

The foundations of modern biology include four components: cell theory; that life is made of fundamental units called cells; evolution, that life is not deliberately designed by rather evolves incrementally through random mutations and natural selection; gene theory, that tiny molecular sequences of DNA dictate the entire structure of an organism and are passed from parents to offspring; and homeostasis, that each organisms body includes a complex suite of processes designed to preserve its biochemistry from the entropic effects of the external environment. The basic picture in biology has stayed roughly the same since DNA was first imaged using x-ray crystallography in the 1950s, although there are constant refinements to the details, and life is so complex that it could be centuries or even millennia before we begin to understand it in its entirety. But it should be made clear that we are moving towards

complete understanding: life, while complex, consists of a finite amount of complexity that only appreciably increases on relatively long timescales of hundreds of thousands or millions of years. Evolution, while creative, operates slowly. In recent years, much excitement in biology has centered on the sequencing of genomes and their comparison, called genomics, and the creation of life with custom-written DNA programming, called synthetic biology. These fields are sure to continue grabbing the headlines in the near future.

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Physician

In order to become a doctor you must complete a college degree, four years of medical school and then an internship and residency. Many doctors also go on to complete additional training in areas such as internal medicine or cardiology. A doctor must have a complete understanding of biological processes as an extensive background in human anatomy.

Nurses

Nurses directly care for patients. If you want to become a nurse, you must complete at least nine to nineteen months of medical training at a nursing school or college and then pass state certification exams. Many nurses complete an additional two to four years of training in nursing. Nurses study biology very closely. They must understand human anatomy in order to administer medication and answer patient questions.

Scientific Researcher

Scientific researchers conduct biological research to find better ways to treat disease and more effective uses of current medical treatment. In order to become a scientific researcher you should have an undergraduate degree and at least a master's degree. Many researchers also have a doctorate in the field. Knowledge of biology is essential. Researchers must understand how biological processes work as well as how to conduct research according to accepted scientific methodology. Most researchers work in a laboratory for the federal government or a private research facility.

Marine Biologist

Marine biologists study organisms that live in the ocean and seas. A marine biologist may explore dolphin behavior; study the mating habits of salmon or work to figure out why certain species cannot be bred in captivity. Some marine biologists also help educate the public about marine ecology. In order to become a marine biologist

you must study all forms of biology. Most marine biologists have a master's degree and a doctorate in the subject of marine biology.

Biology Teacher

Biology teachers teach students about biological processes. Most biology teachers are employed in junior high schools and high schools. Educational districts look to hire candidates who have majored in biology and education. Many biology teachers also complete a master's degree in biology or biology education teaching.

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Biology is a natural science which studies living organisms and how they interact with each other and their environment. It examines the structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution of living things. Also, it classifies and describes organisms, their functions, and how species come into existence. Four unifying principles form the foundation of modern biology: cell theory, evolution, genetics and homeostasis. Biology as a separate science was developed in the nineteenth century as scientists discovered that organisms shared fundamental characteristics. Biology is now a standard subject of instruction at schools and universities around the world, and over a million papers are published annually in a wide array of biology and medicine journals. Most biological sciences are specialized disciplines. Traditionally, they are grouped by the type of organism being studied: botany, the study of plants; zoology, the study of animals; and microbiology, the study of microorganisms. The fields within biology are further divided based on the scale at which organisms are studied and the methods used to study them: biochemistry examines the fundamental chemistry of life; molecular biology studies the complex interactions of systems of biological molecules; cellular biology examines the basic building block of all life, the cell; physiology examines the physical and chemical functions of the tissues and organ systems of an organism; and ecology examines how various organisms and their environment interrelate.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_importance_of_biology The Average Salary That Related To Biology


NATIONAL

Biologist

$58,200

Chemical Laboratory Technician Clinical Laboratory Scientist Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Clinical Research Coordinator Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) Lab Technologist Medical / Clinical Laboratory Technician Medical Assistant Microbiologist Pharmacy Technician Project Manager, Environmental Quality Control (QC) Specialist Research Assistant, Medical Research Associate, Biotechnology Research Scientist Research Technician Research Technician, Biotechnology Secondary School Teacher Veterinary Technologist / Technician

$42,900 $64,400 $64,700 $46,300 $62,800 $45,000 $39,500 $31,100 $50,600 $30,000 $72,200 $43,100 $32,600 $61,200 $75,000 $34,400 $45,200 $49,400 $34,000

Methodology All data is limited to those with a Bachelor's degree and no higher degrees who work full-time in the United States. Jobs are listed in order of relative popularity amongst graduates with a Bachelor's degree in the given major from any college. Median sal See full methodology for more.

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Study Idea #1. Type out your notes. I type out my notes for every class. It's a great thing to do for several reasons: 1. It eliminates visual distractions on the page. It makes your notes appear clean and, hopefully, concise. 2. It forces you to re-visit the material. This is especially helpful when you have not reviewed the material for awhile. You will have an easier time when you eventually sit down and try to memorize things, trust me. 3. It produces a "self-test". When I sit down to type my notes, I often format them into two columns. One column is the "question" side, and one column is the "answer" side. This way I can cover up the "answer" column and test myself before the exam. Another format I use when typing my notes is simply to write out the question, skip a few lines of text, and then type out the answer. I quiz myself by trying to answer the questions on a piece of paper and then checking them with the typed answer.

Study Idea #2.Use your artistic abilities. This idea is good for studying complex processes and detailed concepts. I start by breaking down my complicated notes into little segments of information. Whenever possible I try to

incorporate simple, bright illustrations. In creating these "mini-billboards" of information, I am able to familiarize myself with the material without getting overwhelmed by all the details. After I have come to understand the basic concepts, I build on my knowledge and start memorizing the details. Typically, this means that I turn to note-cards or my typed notes to help with memorization. But visual aids are a great way to start tackling complicated information.

Study Idea #3.You can learn a lot in 15 minutes. I take my notes everywhere and study them during all of life's "in-between" moments. These short study periods are helpful because the material is more familiar to me when I sit down at night to really concentrate on memorizing. A couple minutes here and there eventually add up, and when you are pressed for time, these precious snippets of studying really count.

Study Idea #4.Break things up. To help break up the material and the long periods of study time, I divide my typed notes into short packets of four or five pages each. Each day I try and learn the material of one packet. As my learning progresses, I review multiple packets in one study session. To really learn the material, I normally plan out my study schedule so that I have two full days to review all of the material. This means that I have to start studying well before the exam date, but I am able to walk into the classroom on the day of testing feeling very confident with my knowledge of the material.

Study Idea #5. It's all about the atmosphere. Find a place that is conducive to studying. This means: 1. You want to go somewhere where you won't be interrupted. Sometimes this means getting away from webmail and telephones and the like. 2. Make sure you have plenty of pencils and paper, and that you bring your textbook along to answer any questions that may arise during the course of your studying.

Study Idea #6.Go to all the review sessions. This will work for you in multiple ways. First off. your professor will know that you are serious about learning the material. Secondly, they incorporate yet another way for you to familiarize yourself with the topics under study. Review sessions are also helpful for the obvious reason that they allow you the chance to ask questions concerning material that still is unclear to you. Finally, they allow you to hear the questions of others. This is important because other students may present questions that you never thought of. I always look at review sessions as an opportunity to "polish-up" on my knowledge of the material.

Study Idea #7.Write down your questions and visit your professor during office hours. Professor's are often pressed for time, especially when an exam is near. When studying, I keep a running list of questions. I make note of concepts that are still unclear to me. To answer these questions and clear up my understanding of the material, I

first consult my textbook. If the textbook does not sufficiently cover my question, then I approach my professor during office hours. I bring the list of questions with me this way I am assured that all of my questions will be answered.

Study Idea #8.Believe in yourself. If you have taken an active role in learning the material, then walk into the classroom on the day of the exam with a smile. You prepared yourself well. Now is the chance to show your professor how much you've learned.

Study Idea #9. Review the content pages by clicking on the links at the left. I have created a number of webpages that summarize some of the material that is covered in Biology 113. Reviewing these pages may help you study. Click on the links at the left to view this material. Better yet, take an active role and create your own web notes!

http://biology.kenyon.edu/HHMI/Biol113/aboutme.htm

What is biology? Simply put, it is the study of life -- life in all of its grandeur. From the very small algae to the very large elephant, life has a certain wonder about it. With that in mind, how do we know if something is living? Is a virus alive or dead? What are the characteristics of life? These are all very important questions with equally important answers. Characteristics of Life Living things include both the visible world of animals and plants, as well as the invisible world of bacteria. On a basic level, we can say that life is ordered. Organisms have an enormously complex organization. We're all familiar with the intricate systems of the basic unit of life, the cell. Life can also "work." No, not the daily employment variety, but living creatures can take in energy from the environment. This energy, in the form of food, is transformed to maintain metabolic processes and for survival.

Life grows and develops. This means more than just getting larger in size. Living organisms also have the ability to rebuild and repair themselves when injured. Life can reproduce. Have you ever seen dirt reproduce? I don't think so. Life can only come from other living creatures. Life can respond. Think about the last time you accidentally stubbed your toe. Almost instantly, you flinched back in pain. Life is characterized by this response to stimuli. Finally, life can adapt and respond to the demands placed on it by the environment. There are three basic types of adaptations that can occur in higher organisms. Reversible changes occur as a response to changes in the environment. Let's say you live near sea level and you travel to a mountainous area. You may begin to experience difficulty breathing and an increase in heart rate as a result of the change in altitude. These symptoms go away when you go back down to sea level. Somatic changes occur as a result of prolonged changes in the environment. Using the previous example, if you were to stay in the mountainous area for a long time, you would notice that your heart rate would begin to slow down and you would begin to breath normally. Somatic changes are also reversible. The final type of adaptation is called genotypic (caused by mutation). These changes take place within the genetic makeup of the organism and are not reversible. An example would be the development of resistance to pesticides by insects and spiders. In summary, life is organized, "works," grows, reproduces, responds to stimuli and adapts. These characteristics form the basis of the study of biology. Basic Principles of Biology The foundation of biology as it exists today is based on five basic principles. They are the cell theory, gene theory, evolution,

homeostasis, and laws of thermodynamics. Cell Theory: all living organisms are composed of cells. The cell is the basic unit of life. Gene Theory: traits are inherited through gene transmission. Genes are located on chromosomes and consist of DNA. Evolution: any genetic change in a population that is inherited over several generations. These changes may be small or large, noticeable or not so noticeable. Homeostasis: ability to maintain a constant internal environment in response to environmental changes. Thermodynamics: energy is constant and energy transformation is not completely efficient. Subdiciplines of Biology The field of biology is very broad in scope and can be divided into several disciplines. In the most general sense, these disciplines are categorized based on the type of organism studied. For example, zoology deals with animal studies, botany deals with plant studies, and microbiology is the study of microorganisms. These fields of study can be broken down further into several specialized subdisciplines. Some of which include anatomy, cell biology, genetics, and physiology. Share Your Opinions Have a question about biology? Come on over to the Biology Forum and share your thoughts, opinions and feelings. Until next time...

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biology has 2 branches: Botany-study of plants Zoology-study of animals Various fields of specialization in Biology: Morphology-study of structures and forms of organisms Anatomy-study of parts or structure of organisms Physiology-study of the normal functions of the parts of an organism Cytology-study of structure and function of a cell Histology-study of tissues Embryology-study of growth and development of new organisms Ecology-study of environment and the interrelationships of the organisms on it Taxonomy-study of classification and naming of plants and animals Genetics-study of hereditary Evolution-study of origin and differentiation of diff. kinds of an organism Paleontology-study of fossils of living things and their distribution in time Microbiology-study of microorganisms 3 classifications of Microbiology: 1.Bacteriology-study of bacteria 2.Virology-study of virus 3.Protozoology-study of protozoans Classification according to the specific kind of organism being studied: Entomology-study of insects Helmintology-study of worms Ichthyology-study of fishes Ornitology-study of birds Mammalogy-study of mammals Conchology-study of shells

Anthropology-study of man

Bio-Chemistry-chttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index? qid=20080613225136AAKUd6Shemistry of life

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