Introduction to living world, Lecture notes of Biology

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FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND ALLIED INDIUSTRIES

INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY UGR-

LECTURE- 01

INTRODUCTION

 Biology is the science of life forms and living processes.  The living organisms interact with one another as well as with their physical and chemical environment.  The term biology was introduced by G. R. Treviranus and Lamarck (1802).  The living organisms occur almost in every habitat on earth.  All living beings share certain unified and basic characteristics. These include organisation, energy utilization, regulation or homeostasis, growth, development, reproduction and adaptation.

BIODIVERSITY AND ITS IMPORTANCE

The term biodiversity (from “biological diversity”) refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.Biodiversity includes not only species we consider rare, threatened, or endangered but also every living thing—from humans to organisms we know little about, such as microbes, fungi, and invertebrates The value of biodiversity can also be understood through the lens of the relationships we form and strive for with each other and the rest of nature. We may value biodiversity because of how it shapes who we are, our relationships to each other, and social norms. These relational values are part of peoples’ individual or collective sense of wellbeing, responsibility for, and connection with the environment. The different values placed on biodiversity are important because they can influence the conservation decisions people make every day.

LIFE

 Living organisms show a great biodiversity and are classified into different kingdoms-Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. All of these share the following properties -  They have definite organisation.  They always have cellular nature so are either unicellular (e.g., Amoeba, Paramecium etc.) or multicellular (e.g., Hydra, man etc.).  They show coordination between different parts of body to maintain homeostasis (constant internal environment) inside the body.  They have the ability of movements and locomotion.  They show metabolic functions in the presence of energy.  They have the ability of growth and development.  They have specific receptors (e.g., sense organs to receive external and internal stimuli) and specific effectors (e.g., muscles and glands to give specific response).

Introduction to living world

 Oncology - Study of cancer  Physiology - Study of various organ within organisms.  Paleobotany - Study of fossil plants  Pedology - Study of soil