Biology - the science of life in a variety of its manifestations.Operation of single-celled organisms, the behavior of males and females in the mating season, the patterns of inheritance of traits - this and much more is included in the scope of the interests of science.The subject of the study of biology, and make all these manifestations of life.Methods for its aimed at finding patterns of structure and functioning of organisms and their interaction with the environment.In fact, they are studying the properties that distinguish the living from the nonliving matter.
Division
Biology is a collection of several sciences, which focus on different objects are:
- zoology;
- botany;
- microbiology;
- virology.
Each of them, in turn, can be divided into several smaller ones.For example, co-exist in zoology ichthyology (fish studies), ornithology (bird-watching), phycology (studying algae) and so on.
Option classification
Another principle of division of biology into components - are properties and levels of organization of living matter.According to this release:
- molecular biology;
- biochemistry;
- cytology;
- genetics;
- developmental biology;
- anatomy and physiology of various organisms;
- ecology (today often regarded as a separate science);
- embryology;
- theory of evolution.
Thus, the subject matter of biology, remains unchanged - it is life itself.Its various manifestations studied by individual disciplines.There is also a general biology.In the center of attention - the properties of living matter, distinguish it from non-living, and ordered its hierarchical structure and the relationship of individual systems with each other and the environment.
experience and theory
Methods of studying biology in general, similar to the methods of knowledge in other scientific disciplines.They are divided into empirical (practical, experienced) and theoretical.Practical methods for the study of biology reveal the various parameters, the properties and characteristics of living systems.Then these are developed theory.The process is cyclic because the empirical methods of studying the biology of the most commonly used on the basis of existing deductions.Theory, in turn, always require additional experimental tests.
primary information gathering
One of the basic rules of thumb - this observation.It is the study of the external features of the object and its changes in the natural environment over time.
Any study of living systems begins with the observation of it.History of the study of biology perfectly illustrates this assertion.In the early stages of development of science, researchers could only use this empirical method.Today, surveillance is not lost its relevance.It, like other methods of studying biology are numerous technologies.To apply observation binoculars, various camera (night vision, deep, and so on), a variety of laboratory equipment, such as a microscope, biochemical analyzer, and others.
In fact, whether in the equipment, the observation can be divided into two types:
- Direct .It aims to study the behavior and characteristics of various organisms.
- Instrumental .With different equipment, studies of tissues, organs, cells, analysis of the chemical composition and metabolism.
experiment
It is known that not all the phenomena and processes associated with living systems, can be observed directly in their natural environment.In addition, the understanding of some laws require certain conditions that are more convenient to create artificial than wait for their appearance in nature.Such an approach in biology is called the experimental method.It involves the study of the object in the extreme conditions.A study of the body during the impact that high or low temperatures, high pressure or excessive loads, when placed in an unfamiliar environment helps to reveal the limits of his endurance, discover hidden features and capabilities.With the improvement of technology increases the potential of the experimental methods.The data obtained in this way are becoming more accurate.Created during the experiment conditions can be almost infinitely varied.
One of the main applications of the experiment - verification of the hypotheses put forward earlier.Based on the experience obtained data allow us to adjust the considered theory confirm or lay the foundation for a new one.Experimental methods for studying biology, examples of which can be found in large numbers in the pages of textbooks, promote deeper penetration of the mysteries scientists living matter.It is thanks to them that modern science has achieved such progress.
Compare
historical method reveals the evolutionary transformation of communities and species.Also called comparative.We analyze the chemical and anatomical structure, especially the operation, the hereditary material of organisms of different levels.The objects of the comparative method is used not only living organisms today, but already extinct.
similar method has become the main source of data for the period of Charles Darwin formulate his theory of evolution.
What I see, I write
with observations closely linked descriptive method.He is fixing bugs or features, attributes and characteristics of objects and their subsequent analysis.Method description is the oldest in biology: Initially, at the dawn of science, with its help detect different patterns in nature.Captured data is carefully analyzed, divided into important and unimportant within a particular theory.The described features can compare, merge, classify.Only on the basis of this method in biology have opened new classes and types.
without mathematics anywhere
All information collected on the basis of the described techniques require further conversion.Biology is actively using for this mathematical tool.The data are transferred to the figures on the basis of which built some statistics.In biology, it is impossible to clearly predict this or that phenomenon.That is why, after analysis of data revealed statistical regularity.On the basis of these data mathematical model allowing to predict some changes in the study of living systems.
This treatment allows you to structure the information.On the basis of the created models can forecast the state of the system through virtually any period of time.Thanks to the rather impressive mathematical apparatus biology is increasingly turning into an exact science.
Synthesis
Along with insight into the biology of cybernetics (they are the basis of modeling), it begins to actively use a systematic approach.Both of these trends have an impact on methods for studying biology.Diagram of living structures is represented as a hierarchy of systems at different levels.Each higher level - are interrelated on the basis of certain regularities of the elements, which are also the systems, but the level below.
This is characteristic of a large number of disciplines.His insight into the biology indicates the transition in science in general, from analysis to synthesis.Period-depth study of the internal structures of the individual elements gives way to the integration time.Synthesis of all received in biology, and often in related sciences, the data will lead to a new understanding of the relationship of natural systems.An example of the concepts that are based on the integration may be the theory of neuro-humoral regulation, the synthetic theory of evolution and systematics of modern immunology.The appearance of each of them preceded by the accumulation of large amounts of information about the individual structural units, symptoms and characteristics.In the next stage the collected data reveals patterns and create generalizing concepts.
trend
Synthetic methods for studying biological evidence of a transition from the empirical to the theoretical knowledge.Primitive accumulation of facts and data allows some hypotheses put forward.Then, in most cases, they are tested by using experimental methods.Confirmed hypothesis transferred to the rank of laws and form the basis of theories.Formulated in this way the concept is not something absolute.There is always a chance that new information will require to revise established views.
All kinds of studying biology aimed at understanding the properties and characteristics of life.This is not to single out any one method as the principal.The present level of knowledge has been achieved only through simultaneous use of all these ways of knowing the world.In addition, methods for studying human biology does not differ from the methods of collecting and analyzing data on any other body.This demonstrates their versatility.For each level of the hierarchical organization of living systems apply the same methods of study, but in different combinations.The transition to the use of cybernetic and system integration techniques testifies not only in biology, but also in all of science as a whole.Synthesis of knowledge of different disciplines contribute to a better understanding of the basic laws of the world in which we live.
