Why Biology Matters: Exploring Life, Science, and Careers
Biology is a life science that is concerned with the study of principles and the governing life processes. This subject contributes widely to the existence of life on the Earth. Hence, Biology is taught in all the educational institutions as a main and compulsory subject. The subject also helps you to gain knowledge with the aim of exploring relationships between the living and the nonliving, the living world, the diversity of the living organisms and much more. Microbiology is a scientific study of microorganisms which includes their life cycle, habitat, cell structure, and their relation with other organisms like humans, plants, and animals, along with several other beneficial and harmful microorganisms present in biodiversity. In this article, we will learn about what is Biology, what is Microbiology, and Microbiology vs Biology.
The word Biology is derived from the Greek words “bios” meaning life and “logos” meaning study. Biology has three main branches: zoology, botany and Microbiology. Although there are several other branches of Biology. The term “Biology” was used in a broader sense by Michael Christoph Hanow in 1766 through his works and later on by Thomas Beddoes, Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. All organisms are made up of cells that contain hereditary information which is encoded in the DNA.
Biology allows us to understand the functions of all living things. With the advancement of research and fundings, Biology helps us understand why things happen the way they do. It helps us to understand the human body and the causes of illness and solutions to those problems.
Microbiology is a scientific study of microorganisms which includes their life cycle, habitat, cell structure, and their relation with other organisms like humans, plants, and animals, along with several other beneficial and harmful microorganisms present in biodiversity.
Microorganisms are essential to virtually all processes on Earth. They affect every aspect of our lives and some microorganisms live inside our bodies and are part of the vital processes inside the body. These microorganisms play a key role in the cycling of nutrients, biodegradation, change in the chemical composition of food, and are causes and spread of diseases. Louis Pasteur is regarded as the father of Microbiology and Robert Koch is regarded as the father of medical Microbiology.
In this article, we will learn about what is Biology, what is Microbiology, and Microbiology vs Biology.
Branches of Biology
Let us now look at the branches of Biology.
Taxonomy: The science of identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms.
Morphology: The studies of external forms like size, shape, color, and structure and the relative position of several living organs of living beings..
Anatomy: The study of the internal structure that can be observed with an unaided eye after the dissection.Histology: The study of the tissue organization and the structure as observed through a light microscope.
Cytology: The study of the form and structure of cells which includes the behavior of the nucleus and other organelles
Cell Biology: The study of morphological, organizational, physiological, biochemical, genetic, developmental, pathological and the evolutionary aspects of a cell and its components.
Molecular Biology: The study of nature, the physicochemical organization, the synthesis working and interaction of bio-molecules which bring about and control several activities of the protoplasm.
Physiology: The study of the different kinds of body functions and processes.Embryology: The study of the fertilization, growth and development, and division and differentiation of the zygote into an embryo or the early development of the living beings before the attainment of the structure and size of the offspring.
Ecology: The study of living organisms in relation to other organisms and their environment.
Genetics: The study of the inheritance of characters or heredity and variations. Heredity is known as the study of expression and transmission of various traits from the parents to offspring.
Eugenics: The science that deals with the factors that are related to the improvement or impairment of race, especially the one of human beings.
Evolution: It studies the origin of life along with the new kinds of organisms from the previous ones by modifications that involve the genetic changes and adaptations.Palaeontology: It deals with the study of the fossils or remains and the impressions of the past organisms that are present in the rocks of different ages.
ExoBiology: It refers to the branch of scientific inquiry which deals with the study of the possibility of life in outer space.Virology: The study of viruses in all their aspects.
Branches of Microbiology
Let us now discuss the main branches of Microbiology.Branches of Microbiology
By Taxonomy
Bacteriology: It is the study of bacteria.Immunology: It is the study of the immune system. It looks at the several relationships between the pathogens like the bacteria and viruses and their hosts.
Mycology: It is the study of fungi like yeasts and molds.
Nematology: It is the study of nematodes or roundworms.
Parasitology: It refers to the study of parasites. Not all parasites are known as microorganisms, but many are protozoa and bacteria are called to be parasitic and the study of bacterial parasites is generally categorized as a part of the bacteriology.Phycology: It is the study of algae.Protozoology: It refers to the study of protozoa, which are the single-celled organisms such as amoebae.
Virology: It is the study of viruses.
By Type of Research
Research on Microbiology has been meeting many of the current global problems and aspirations such as maintenance of food, water and security of energy for maintaining a healthy population on the earth. Microorganisms can be put to use for making life-saving drugs, manufacturing biofuels, cleaning up pollution, and production of foods and drinks.
Research on microbes continue to flourish and make several important discoveries such as the accidental discovery of penicillin, a vaccine against many fatal diseases spread by microbes, for example, the vaccine against smallpox, and many links could be identified and established between some specific microorganisms and diseases such as the link between papillomavirus and cervical cancer was identified by Zur Hausen and the connection between Helicobacter pylori infection and stomach ulcers. Most of the research on microbes is done by microbiologists on culture mediums using stains and microscopy.
Microbiology research, like any other fields of scientific research, is subdivided into the categories of pure and applied. Pure or basic research is exploratory and is conducted in order to understand a specific scientific phenomenon better, whereas applied research is based on the information that is gleaned from the pure research and is used to answer specific questions or solve problems.
Pure Microbiology Research includes the Following:
AstroMicrobiology: It refers to the study of the origin of life on the Earth, and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Evolutionary Microbiology: It is the evolution of microorganisms.
Cellular Microbiology: It refers to the study of the structure and the function of microbial cells. This includes microbial ecology, microbial genetics and microbial physiology
Systems Microbiology: It is the mathematical or the computational modeling of the activities of different microbiological systems.
Applied Microbiology Research includes the Following:
Agricultural Microbiology: It is the study of the microorganisms which interact with plants and soils.
Food Microbiology: It is the study of the microorganisms which spoil the food or cause several foodborne illnesses. It can also include the study of how the microorganisms are used in the food production, such as the fermentation of beer.
Medical Microbiology: It refers to the study of the microorganisms that are responsible for several human diseases.
Microbial Biotechnology: It refers to the use of microbes in industrial or consumer products.
Pharmaceutical Microbiology: It is the study of the microorganisms that are used in several pharmaceutical products, like the vaccines and antibiotics.Now that you know about Biology and Microbiology let us now talk about Biology Microbiology differences.
Now that you know about Biology and Microbiology let us now talk about Biology Microbiology differences.
Difference between Biology and Microbiology
FAQs on What Is Biology? Meaning, Branches, and Importance
1. What is the fundamental definition of Biology?
Biology is the comprehensive scientific study of life and living organisms. It explores their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution. The field encompasses everything from the molecular workings inside cells to the complex interactions within entire ecosystems. Essentially, if it's alive, its study falls under the broad umbrella of Biology.
2. What is Microbiology and how does it fit within the broader field of Biology?
Microbiology is a specialised branch of biology that focuses on the study of microorganisms, which are living organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and protozoa. While Biology studies all life forms, Microbiology zooms in on this microscopic world, examining their genetics, physiology, and impact on the environment and other living beings. It is a critical sub-discipline of biology with immense applications.
3. What are the main branches of Biology?
Biology is divided into several major branches, with three being the most fundamental:
Zoology: The study of animals, including their behaviour, physiology, structure, and classification.
Botany: The study of plants, covering their anatomy, physiology, ecology, and genetics.
Microbiology: The study of microorganisms. This field itself has many sub-branches like virology (study of viruses) and bacteriology (study of bacteria).
Other significant branches include genetics, ecology, cell biology, and molecular biology.
4. What is the key difference between the scope of Biology and Microbiology?
The primary difference between Biology and Microbiology lies in the scale of the organisms being studied. Biology is a vast field that covers all living things, both macroscopic (large-scale, like plants and animals) and microscopic. In contrast, Microbiology is exclusively focused on microscopic organisms. Therefore, while a biologist might study the anatomy of a whale, a microbiologist would study the bacteria living in its gut. Microbiology is a part of biology, but its focus is highly specialised.
5. What are some important applications of Microbiology in various industries?
Microbiology has numerous practical applications that are vital to human society. Key fields include:
Medical Microbiology: Studying pathogens to diagnose, treat, and prevent infectious diseases.
Food Microbiology: Using microbes for fermentation to produce foods like cheese, yoghurt, and bread, and also for preventing food spoilage. You can learn more about this in Food Microbiology.
Industrial Microbiology: Utilising microorganisms to produce antibiotics, vaccines, enzymes, and biofuels on a large scale.
Agricultural Microbiology: Enhancing soil fertility and crop protection using beneficial microbes.
Environmental Microbiology: Using microbes for bioremediation (cleaning up pollutants) and sewage treatment.
6. Are all microorganisms harmful to humans?
No, this is a common misconception. While some microorganisms, known as pathogens, can cause diseases, the vast majority are either harmless or incredibly beneficial. For instance, the human gut is home to trillions of bacteria that are essential for digestion and immune system function. In the environment, microbes play a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient cycling. Many are also used to produce valuable products, as detailed in the study of microbes in human welfare. The concept of "good" vs. "bad" microbes is central to understanding microbiology.
7. How do the investigative tools and techniques differ between general Biology and Microbiology?
While both fields share foundational techniques, their primary tools differ due to the scale of their subjects. General biology may use dissection kits, binoculars, and tagging for studying large organisms. In contrast, microbiology is heavily reliant on specialised tools and techniques such as:
Microscopy: Using powerful light and electron microscopes to visualise cells.
Culturing: Growing microorganisms on nutrient media in a lab to isolate them in a pure culture.
Staining: Applying dyes to microbial cells to make their structures more visible under a microscope.
Sterilisation: Techniques to eliminate all microbial life from equipment and media to prevent contamination.
8. Is a degree in Microbiology the same as an MBBS?
No, they are very different career paths. An MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) is a professional medical degree that trains individuals to become doctors who diagnose and treat diseases in patients. Microbiology is a part of the MBBS curriculum, but it's just one of many subjects. A degree in Microbiology (like a B.Sc. or M.Sc.) is a science degree that focuses on research, lab work, and the study of microorganisms themselves. While a microbiologist might work in a hospital lab, they do not treat patients directly. Their work is crucial for identifying the pathogens that doctors then treat.
9. How does Microbiology intersect with other advanced fields like Genetics and Biotechnology?
Microbiology is deeply intertwined with genetics and biotechnology. Microorganisms, especially bacteria and viruses, are fundamental tools in these fields because of their simple genetic structures and rapid reproduction rates.
In Genetics, bacteria were used in foundational experiments to understand DNA, replication, and gene transfer processes like transduction and conjugation.
In Biotechnology, microbes are used as 'factories' to produce medicines like insulin and antibiotics through genetic engineering. The entire field of biotechnology principles and processes heavily relies on manipulating microbial genes to create useful products.
