Key Biology Concepts Explained with Examples
When we hear the word science, many things come to our minds, such as a large textbook with thousands of pages, a lab coat, scientists, microscopes, an astronomer in space, aircraft, telescopes, and equations of Einstein, bubbling solutions in beakers, and many more. Science is a system of knowledge related to the physical, biological, and chemical world and its various phenomena.
Science is a vast subject, a body of knowledge and a process in which we can learn new things every day with new discoveries along the way. Not every fact is proven, but there is some data to support the theories and processes behind them. We can say that, in a way, knowledge and process depend on each other since, behind every knowledge, we need to prove the questions and answers related to them.
How Was Science Invented?
Aristotle: He was the first scientist who pioneered the techniques of logic, observation, inquiry, and demonstration in Greece in the fourth century BC.
In the late 3000 BCE, the ancient Egyptians discovered a decimal numbering system. They contributed their knowledge of geometry to solving practical problems such as the 3-4-5 right-angle triangle, and other rules were used to build rectilinear structures and lintel architecture of Egypt.
An official calendar was developed that contained twelve months, thirty days each, and five days at the end of the year.
Science Interesting Topics
Science is divided into three branches based on the interest and subject of study.
Physical Science
This branch studies the inorganic world and comprises the fields of Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, and the Earth sciences.It is the branch of science that deals with inorganic materials. Physical science includes Physics, Astronomy, and Chemistry.
The occupations included in physical science are as follows:
Physicist, Quantum Physicist, Chemist, Astronomer, Cosmologist, and Computer Scientist.
Biological Science
This branch of Science includes subjects such as biology and medicine. Studying the organic world of life and its processes. It can help people understand the world, including plants, animals, and human biology.
The occupations included in biological science are as follows:
Marine Biologist, Pharmacologist, Forensic Scientist, Agricultural Scientist, and Virologist.
Earth Science
It is a field of natural science that deals with the earth's materials and its atmosphere.
The occupations included in this field are as follows:
Meteorologists, Land Planners, Oceanographers, Geologists, Palaeontologists, and Environmental scientists
Various Facts About Science
Here are some of the amazing science facts which we happen to see in our daily life:
The stomach can dissolve heavy metals: Did you know that the human body is more capable than you think? Acids are ranked on a scale from 0 to 14; the lower the pH level, the stronger the acid. Human stomach acid typically ranges from 1.0 to 2.0, which means it has an incredibly strong pH. A study found that the thickened back of a single-edged blade dissolved after two hours of immersion in stomach acid.
A cloud can weigh around a million pounds: No one has ever thought about how much a cloud can weigh when we look at it from the ground. According to the USGS, an average weight of a cloud can weigh up to a million pounds. The weight is as heavy as the world’s largest jet when it’s full of cargo and passengers.
Bananas are radioactive: While eating bananas in our day-to-day life, we have never thought about how much bananas can be harmful to our bodies. Bananas contain potassium, and we all know that potassium decays, which makes the banana slightly radioactive. But you don't have to worry. To die of banana-induced radiation poisoning, you will have to eat ten million bananas in one sitting.
It can rain diamonds on other planets: On planets like Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn, extreme pressure crystallised carbon atoms and turned them into diamonds, according to various reports. To prove this fact, the researchers were able to create the same conditions in a lab. It is speculated that it may rain as much as 2.2 million pounds of diamonds on parts of Saturn every year.
Helium can work against gravity: Helium has a unique quality of working against gravity. Helium can be cooled to extreme temperatures, a few degrees away from absolute zero, and it turns into a superfluid, which means it can flow without friction. It can also climb up and over the sides of the glass, and it can leak through molecule-thin cracks in a container. Even if helium is the second most abundant element in the world, it can be harmful to the human body.
A cockroach can live for up to one week without its head: It is known that humans are alive because of the oxygen that we inhale which helps our body in our survival. But there are some creatures that can remain alive even without their head, such as cockroaches. Cockroaches do not breathe from their lungs due to their open circulatory system, but they breathe through the holes in their body segments. They can only die because, without a month of the head, they cannot drink water and die of thirst.
Important Questions
1. What are the various branches of Science?
Ans. Science deals with the concept of application of theoretical knowledge of laws and discoveries in day-to-day life. There are many branches of science including physical science, earth science, and biological science.
2. What are the various applications of Science in everyday life?
Ans. The applications of science in everyday life include travelling from one place to another by vehicles and automobiles, household appliances ranging from kitchen utensils to entertainment devices like TV, medications, and many more.
Key Features
In 2500-1200 BCE, the ancient Egyptians believed that the disease was mainly caused due to the invasion of the bodies caused by the evil forces of the spirit. Thus, they included prayers and incarnation along with the use of medicines.
The Ebers Papyrus written around 1600 BCE, contains medical recipes for treating diseases related to the eyes, mouths, skins, internal organs, and extremities, as well as abscesses, wounds, burns, ulcers, swollen glands, tumours, headaches, and even bad breath.
Link of Related Articles
History of Science
- Importance of Science in day-to-day life
FAQs on Essential Science Facts for Biology Students
1. What are some fundamental biological facts every student should know?
Every biology student should know these core facts:
The Cell is the basic unit of life, and all living things are composed of one or more cells.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known organisms.
Evolution by natural selection is the primary process that drives the diversity of life on Earth.
All living organisms require energy to survive, which is primarily captured from the sun through photosynthesis.
2. How is biology essential in our daily lives?
Biology is fundamental to our daily existence. The food we eat is a product of agriculture, which relies on understanding plant and animal biology. The process of digestion inside our bodies is a complex biological function. Modern medicine, from vaccines to antibiotics, is based on a deep understanding of microbiology and human physiology. Even the simple act of breathing involves the biological process of respiration, where our body exchanges gases to produce energy.
3. What are some surprising science facts about the human body?
The human body is full of amazing facts. For example, the acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades. Your body produces about 25 million new cells each second. If you stretched out all the blood vessels in your body, they would circle the Earth more than twice. Furthermore, the human brain generates enough electricity to power a small light bulb.
4. Why is DNA often called the 'blueprint of life'?
DNA is called the 'blueprint of life' because it contains the complete set of instructions, known as genes, required to build and maintain an organism. Just as a builder uses a blueprint to construct a house, a cell uses the information stored in its DNA to create proteins and other molecules. These molecules then carry out all the functions necessary for life, determining everything from an organism's eye colour to its susceptibility to certain diseases.
5. How do some organisms survive in extreme environments?
Organisms that thrive in extreme conditions are called extremophiles, and they do so through remarkable adaptations. For instance, tardigrades (or 'water bears') can survive in the vacuum of space, extreme temperatures, and high radiation by entering a state of suspended animation called cryptobiosis. Similarly, some bacteria thrive in deep-sea hydrothermal vents by using chemical energy (chemosynthesis) instead of light energy, showcasing life's incredible versatility.
6. What is the biological importance of photosynthesis beyond just creating food for plants?
While photosynthesis is crucial for producing glucose to feed the plant, its most significant global impact is the production of oxygen as a byproduct. The oxygen released by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria over billions of years has shaped our atmosphere, making it possible for aerobic organisms, including humans, to exist. It is the foundation of nearly every food web on Earth and plays a critical role in regulating the planet's climate by consuming carbon dioxide.
7. Can you explain a mind-blowing fact about the brain's complexity?
A truly mind-blowing fact is the sheer number of connections in the human brain. It contains roughly 86 billion neurons. Each neuron can form thousands of connections, called synapses, with other neurons. This results in an estimated 100 trillion to 1,000 trillion synapses. This incredibly dense and complex network is what allows for consciousness, thought, memory, and emotion, making it the most sophisticated information-processing system known.
8. Who is Galileo Galilei and why is he called the 'Father of Modern Science'?
Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer who made pioneering observations that supported the heliocentric model of the solar system. He is called the 'Father of Modern Science' not just for his discoveries, but for his revolutionary approach. He championed the scientific method, which insists on empirical evidence, systematic experimentation, and mathematical analysis to understand the natural world, laying the foundation for all modern scientific inquiry.
