The subject and tasks of biology

Goals and tasks of biology - the first thing that must be understood, starting to study this science. This is the basis on which all further knowledge is built. The goals and tasks of biology, as well as its subject, methods and significance will be considered in this article.

Let's start with history. For the first time the term "biology" was proposed by JB Lamarck, a French scientist. He used it in 1802 to designate a science that interests life as a special phenomenon of nature. The tasks of modern biology are very extensive. It is a whole complex of sciences dealing with the study of living nature, the laws of its development and existence.

Characteristic features of biology

For this science are characteristic:

• Close interaction with the various disciplines that make up its composition;
• High specialization;
• integration.

Today the science of interest to us is constantly enriched with new generalizations, theories, factual material.

The main task of biology

The tasks of modern biology are very diverse, but the main one is knowledge of the laws by which evolution takes place. The fact is that the organic world has changed since the appearance of life on earth. It is constantly developing as a result of the action of natural causes. The biosphere plays an important role in the formation of the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, in creating the face of the earth.

Other tasks

The following main tasks of biology can be distinguished:

• Study of biocinosis;
• Wildlife management;
• A study of the mechanism by which self-regulation takes place;
• The study of the function and structure of the cell;
• The study of the most important life phenomena occurring at the level of molecules (irritability, hereditary variability, metabolism);
• Studying the issues of variability and heredity.

Quite an impressive list, agree. So, the main tasks of biology are to learn the various general laws by which the development of living nature takes place, in the study of life forms and the disclosure of its essence.

Subject of Biology

The science that interests us studies life, its forms and various patterns of development. The variety of all living creatures that are extinct, as well as inhabiting our planet at the present time, is the subject of its study. We have just described the tasks of biology, now let us dwell on its subject. Biology is interested in the structure (from anatomical to morphological to molecular), origin, function, evolution, individual development, distribution, and the relationship of organisms with each other and with the environment.

This science studies both private and general patterns that are characteristic of life in all its manifestations. The tasks of biology include the study of the exchange of energy and substances, variability and heredity, reproduction, development and growth, discreteness, irritability, movement, autoregulation, etc. All of the above is its subject.

Directions

In biology, depending on the objects of research , a number of areas can be identified, such as anthropology, zoology, botany, microbiology, virology, etc. These sciences are engaged in studying the features of development, structure, origin, vital activity, as well as the distribution, diversity, properties of each species of bacteria , Viruses, plants, animals and humans. In the field of interest, we distinguish anatomy and morphology, physiology, genetics, development biology, evolutionary theory, ecology, etc. by the properties, structure and manifestations of life. Genetic tasks in biology, incidentally, are an important part of the practice included in the school curriculum for this Science.

Biophysics and biochemistry study the physicochemical processes and chemical reactions occurring in living organisms, the physical structure and chemical composition of biological systems at various levels of organization. Biometrics allows us to establish patterns that can not be seen in the study of individual phenomena and processes. That is, it is the totality of all planning techniques, as well as the processing of the results obtained using mathematical statistics. The tasks of molecular biology include the study of life phenomena occurring at the molecular level. These include, in particular, the functions and structure of cells, organs and tissues. General biology develops universal laws of structure (structure) and functioning. That is, she is interested in what is common to all organisms.

Molecular level

The subject and tasks of biology can be viewed at various levels. Now we will describe each of them in detail.

Today, several levels of study and organization of life phenomena (structural and functional) are distinguished: biosphere-biogeocenotic, population-species, organism, organ, tissue, cellular, molecular. The latter studies the role of molecules that are biologically important in the development and growth of organisms, in the transfer and storage of hereditary information, in the transformation of energy and metabolism in living cells, etc. These are the following molecules: lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides and Other

Cell level

The cellular level involves considering the structural organization of an individual cell. The doctrine of it is called cytology, which includes cytochemistry, cytogenetics, cytophysiology, cytomorphology. This teaching allows us to establish the structural-functional and physiological-biochemical relationships observed in various organs and tissues between cells.

Organism level

At the organism level, biology examines the phenomena and processes that occur in a single individual, as well as the mechanisms ensuring the coordinated functioning of its systems and organs. It also includes the relationship of various organs within the body, its behavior and adaptive changes observed in certain environmental conditions.

Population-Species Level

We proceed to consider the next level, population-specific. It is fundamentally different from the previous one. The life expectancy of individuals is genetically predetermined. After a while they die, having exhausted the possibilities of their development. However, in the presence of suitable environmental conditions, their population as a whole is able to develop indefinitely. The subject of ecology, phenology, morphology, genetics is the study of the dynamics and composition of the population. A population is a collection of individuals of a certain species that have a common gene pool and live in a certain space with approximately the same conditions of existence at the organismic, cellular and molecular levels.

Ecosystem level

If we talk about the level of the ecosystem (biosphere-biogeocenotic), then it explores the relationship between different organisms and the environment, as well as the migration of living matter, patterns and paths of energy cycles. It also examines other processes that occur in ecosystems (biogeocenoses).

Methods of Biology

Let us now describe the methods of research that this science uses. The first of them is observation. With the help of it, it is possible to describe and analyze various biological phenomena. It is based on another method - descriptive. In order to understand the essence of this or that phenomenon, it is first necessary to collect the actual material. After you need to describe it.

Another important method is historical. With the help of it, it is possible to reveal the patterns of the emergence and development of a particular organism, to study the formation of its functions and structure.

The experimental method is based on the creation of a system in a targeted way. With its help, you can explore the phenomena and properties of living nature.

The last method, which we will describe, is modeling. It is a study of a certain phenomenon by creating its model.

So, we described the subject, tasks and methods of biology. In conclusion, let's talk about the importance of this science.

The importance of biology

Of course, it plays an important role in shaping our worldview, as well as understanding the underlying philosophical and methodological problems. In addition, it has great practical importance (it gives a solution to the food problem, recommendations on pest control, etc.). In particular, in order to ensure human needs for food, the volume of agricultural products to be increased sharply. The solution of this problem is engaged in such sciences as livestock and crop production. They are based on the achievements of breeding and genetics.

Knowledge of the laws of variability and heredity allows the creation of ever more productive breeds of domestic animals and varieties of cultivated plants. This allows humanity to conduct agriculture intensively, rather than extensively. Thanks to all this, the needs of people in food resources are met. The achievements of biology are used in medicine, as well as in the protection of the environment.

As you can see, the purpose and objectives of the science of biology are very important from a practical point of view. Thanks to her achievements, humanity has made significant progress.