At the smallest scale, it consists of chemicals: tiny molecular machines like DNA, RNA, and proteins whose behavior sets the conditions for all living processes. Any child in a zoo or hiker in a national park is experiencing some of the grandeur that captivates biologists. Our religions reflect a deep reverence for the mysterious process by which a tiny seed grows into a crop of wheat or olives. Some of the oldest human art depicts animals and some of our most beloved traditions revolve around the biological process of growing and consuming food. And biological phenomena like viral pandemics, climate change, pollution, and deforestation pose real and immediate threats to our health and to the world economy.īut beyond its practical value, biology has a kind of intrinsic beauty that has drawn in curious humans for thousands of years. Agriculture, the foundation of all commerce, is a kind of applied biology: using science to improve the yield, efficiency, and sustainability of the crops that feed us. Many health professions require a good grounding in biology.īiology helps us manage not only human health but also the health of the global ecosystem. For non-biologists, a basic grasp of biology can help with managing nutrition, stress, exercise, and other day-to-day health decisions. That’s why every medical career begins with a strong foundation in biological science. Every aspect of human health, from cancer to cavities to mental illness, is at least in part a biological phenomenon. Biology is the scientific study of living things.īiology is immensely practical.

Biology is the fourth most popular college major in the US (and the second-most popular, nursing, is a kind of applied biology).

What kinds of microorganisms live in our organs and how do they affect our health?īiologists also develop new technologies and medical treatments, slow the spread of viruses, and come up with solutions for environmental degradation.How do nerve cells create feelings and actions?.What role does a particular organism play in its ecosystem?.Like all science, biology is driven by curiosity. Biology also includes the study of the non-living components of living things, such as DNA, proteins and carbohydrates. This includes humans, animals, plants, bacteria and viruses, together with their constituent parts (cells, organs, etc.). Biology is the study of biota – living things.

What is biology