Biology
Biology is the scientific study of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and interactions.
Cell theory: The principle that living organisms consist of cells and that cells arise from existing cells. It provides biology’s basic account of the structural unit of life.
Medicine: The practice and science of preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease. Biology supplies explanations of body function, pathogens, and disease mechanisms.
Scientific method: A systematic approach to investigating questions through observation, hypothesis testing, and evidence. Biological claims are tested through structured observation and experimentation.
Aristotle: An ancient Greek philosopher whose writings included systematic observations and classifications of animals. His natural-history work shaped early attempts to study living organisms systematically.
Vitalism: The doctrine that living organisms depend on a special life force beyond ordinary physical and chemical processes. Biology explains life through natural processes rather than a distinct vital force.
Evolution: The change in inherited traits of populations across generations. Evolution unifies explanations of biological diversity and adaptation.
Agriculture: The cultivation of plants and the raising of animals for food, materials, and other uses. Biological principles guide crop improvement, animal breeding, and pest management.
Experimental design: The planning of studies to test hypotheses while controlling sources of bias and uncertainty. Careful design helps separate biological effects from confounding factors.
Carl Linnaeus: A Swedish botanist who established a widely used system of naming and classifying organisms. His taxonomy gave biology a durable framework for organizing species.
Chemistry: The science of matter, its properties, composition, and transformations. Biological processes depend on chemical reactions, while biology studies them in living systems.