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The biosciences — the branches of natural science dealing with
the structure and behavior of living organisms — are as diverse
as the animals, plants and microbes that make up life on Earth. The
scope of the biosciences reaches across many different scales of
size and of time, from the microscopic and submicroscopic levels
of cells and molecules to the global scale of biological communities
and ecosystems; as well as from the present through vast stretches
of the past. The bioscience disciplines are highly allied and interdependent,
and some, such as biophysics and biomedical engineering, transcend
the traditional boundaries of the physical sciences and of technology
(the so-called “applied sciences”).
The descriptions of
various bioscience disciplines presented here are intended to be
brief introductions only — snapshots, not
formal portraits. Each contains a concise explanation of the field,
a representative list of subfields within the discipline, some career
options and several links to Web sites for additional information.
We encourage you to use the information and links to start your own
investigation into the “sciences of life.”
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Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the study of the substances found in living organisms
and the chemical reactions underlying life processes. Considered
one of the molecular sciences, biochemistry is a branch of
both chemistry and biology. The main goal of biochemistry
is to understand the structure and behavior of biomolecules.
These are the organic (carbon-containing) compounds that
make up the various parts of the living cell and carry out
the chemical reactions that enable it to grow, maintain and
reproduce itself and to use and store energy.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is application of traditional engineering
principles and design procedures to analyze and solve problems
in biology and medicine. Biomedical engineers may be called
upon in a wide range of capacities, including designing instruments,
devices and software; bringing together knowledge from many
technical sources to develop new procedures; and conducting
research needed to solve clinical problems.
Biophysics
Biophysics, also known as biological physics, is an interdisciplinary science that applies the principles of physics and chemistry and the methods of mathematical analysis and computer modeling to understand how the mechanisms of biological systems work. It seeks to explain biological function in terms of the molecular structures and properties of specific molecules.
Botany
Botany is the scientific study of plants, or multicellular
organisms, that carry on photosynthesis. As a branch of biology,
botany sometimes is referred to as plant science or plant
biology. Botany includes a wide range of scientific subdisciplines
that study the structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism,
development, diseases, ecology and evolution of plants.
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Cell Biology
Cell biology is the academic discipline that studies the basic unit of living things, cells. Cells are the smallest independently functioning unit in the structure of an organism and usually consist of a nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm and enclosed by a membrane. Cell biology examines, on microscopic and molecular levels, the physiological properties, structure, organelles (such as nuclei and mitochondria), interactions, life cycle, division and death of these basic units of organisms. Cell biology research extends to both the great diversity of single-celled organisms, such as bacteria and the many specialized cells in multicellular organisms, such as animals and plants.
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Ecology
Ecology, or ecological science, is the branch of biology that studies the relationship
of plants and animals to their physical and biological environment. The physical
environment includes light and heat or solar radiation, moisture, wind, oxygen,
carbon dioxide, nutrients in soil, water and atmosphere. The biological environment
includes organisms of the same kind as well as other types of plants and
animals.
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Food Science
Food science is a discipline concerned with all technical aspects
of food, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering and ending
with cooking and consumption. It integrates and applies knowledge
within the disciplines of chemistry, engineering, biology
and nutrition to preserve, process, package and distribute
foods that are nutritious, wholesome, affordable, desirable
and safe to eat.
Forensic Science
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of
sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system.
Forensic science uses highly developed technologies to uncover
scientific evidence in a variety of fields. Forensic science
is science used in public, in a court or in the justice system;
so any science, used for the purposes of the law, is a forensic
science.
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Genetics
Genetics is the study of the function and behavior of genes. Genes are the basic
units of heredity, biochemical instructions comprised of DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid) found inside the cells of every organism, from bacteria to humans.
An organism’s genes, which reside in one or more chromosomes, determine
its characteristics, or traits.
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Immunology
Immunology is the study of the immune system, which is composed of a complex
network of cells, tissues and organs that employs an elaborate and sensitive
communications network. A variety of white blood cells and antibodies continuously
are on the look-out for pathogens, ready to spring into action by sending
out chemical messages through the bloodstream. Sometimes immune cells communicate
by direct physical contact, other times they do it by releasing chemical
messengers.
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Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms (also known as microbes), which are unicellular or cell-cluster organisms and infectious agents too small to be seen with the naked eye. This includes eukaryotes (organisms with a nucleus), such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes (organisms without a nucleus), such as bacteria. Microorganisms are extremely important in our everyday lives. Some are responsible for a significant proportion of the diseases affecting not only humans, but also plants and animals, while others are vitally important in the maintenance and modification of our environment. Still others play an essential role in industry, where their unique properties have been harnessed in the production of food, beverages and antibiotics.
Molecular Biology
Molecular biology is the study of the structure function, and makeup of the molecular building blocks of life. It focuses on the interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the interrelationship of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis and how these interactions are regulated. The youngest of the biosciences, molecular biology is closely interrelated with the fields of biochemistry, genetics and cell biology.
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Zoology
Zoology (or animal science) is the branch of biology devoted to the study of
animal life. It covers areas ranging from the structure of organisms to the
subcellular unit of life. Some zoologists are interested in the biology of
particular groups of animals. Others are concerned with the structure and
function of animal bodies. Still others study how new animals are formed
and how their characteristics are passed on from one generation to another.
Zoologists study the interactions of animals with one another and their environments,
as well as the significance of the behavior of animals.
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