CHAPTER # 1

INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY

BIOLOGY

Biology is the branch of science which deals with the study of living organisms. The terms Biology is derived from two Greek words “Bios” means life and “Logos” means knowledge. Thus biology is science of life. It is an organized study of living things and of the theories that men have devised to describe and explain the world of life.

SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOLOGY

Biology helps us to understand our lives and the world we live in, it has made an enormous impact on human welfare. Following are the points on importance of biology.

1.      An ever increasing human population require more and more food. Food production can be increased by careful study of plants and soil and improved techniques in animal husbandry.

2.      Biology has enabled man to realize the importance of balanced diet.

3.      Biological studies have also helped to control pest.

4.      It is through advancement in biology that man has able to control diseases with the consequence that mortality rate has decreased and individuals live longer and lead healthy lives.

5.      In the field of health the discovery of antibiotics and vaccines is note worthy. These remedies have been revolutionary in controlling epidemic diseases.

MALARIA (A CASE STUDY)

Malaria has been a big problem for man for centuries.

SYMPTOMS OF MALARIA

1.      Shivering due to chill followed by very high fever.

2.      The patient sweats his breath and respiratory rate increases.

THE HISTORY OF MALARIA

Malaria was one among many other diseases for which cure was needed. Although no cure was found for malaria by Greeks, when Romans took over from them, they made a simple observation. Malaria was common among people living near marshes. In fact the word malaria is of Roman origin, “Mala” means bad and “aria” means air. The Romans thought that the bad air of the marshes was poisonous and caused malaria.

In 1878, a French physician Luhveran discovered Plasmodium in the sample of blood of patient suffering from malaria. It was soon found that plasmodium is

present in the saliva of female Anopheles mosquito. When it bites a human it transfers plasmodium into his blood and cause malaria.

            Female anopheles                     ¾¾®            Human being    ¾¾®            Malaria

The human efforts in the field of medicinal plants led to the discovery of Quinine from cinchona plant. Now a days it is easily careable disease.

BIOLOGICAL METHODS

Although biology is a distinct branch of science, its method is similar to that of its other branches. Following are the steps involved in investigation of biological phenomenon.

IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM

At first problem should be identified.

COLLECTION OF THE DATA ON THE BASIS OF OBSERVATION

Facts are collected related to specific problem.

HYPOTHESIS

It is scientific guess on the basis of observation. It needs experimental verification.

EXPERIMENTATION

The proposed hypothesis is examined by experiments designed especially for this purpose.

THEORY

If hypothesis is verified by experiments it is given a status of theory.

BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY

1. BOTANY

The branch of biology which deals with the study of plants.

2. ZOOLOGY

The branch of biology which deals with the study of animals.

Some of the important branches of biology common to botany and zoology are:

1. MORPHOLOGY

It deals with the study of external structures of animals and plants.

2. HISTOLOGY

It deals with the study of tissues of plants and animals under microscope.

3. CYTOLOGY

It is the study of the cell and its organ.

4. PHYSIOLOGY

It is the study of working of various systems of living organisms.

5. ECOLOGY

It is the study of relationship of living organisms with their environment.

6. TAXONOMY

The branch which deals with classification and naming of living organisms.

7. GENETICS

It deals with the study of inheritance of character from one generation to another.

8. MICROBIOLOGY

It deals with the study of microscopic organisms such as virus, bacteria and protozoans.

9. BIOTECHNOLOGY

It deals with the application of biological processes for the benefit of mankind.

QURANIC TEACHINGS ABOUT ANIMAL AND PLANT LIFE

It says about the origin of life that

“We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?”

(Sura Anbiyah 21, Ayah 30)

“And Allah has created every animal from water. Of them these are some that creep on their bellies. Some that walk on two legs and some that walk on four. Allah creates what he pleases. He has power over all things.”

(Sura Nur 24, Ayah 45)

“He sends down water from the sky and with it brings forth the buds of every plant. From these we bring forth green foliage and close-growing grain, Palm-trees laden with clusters of dates with in reach, vineyards and olive groves and pomegranates (which are) alike and different. Behold their fruits when they bear fruits and ripen surely. In these there are sign for true believers.”

(Sura Anam 6, Ayah 99)

“He has made for you the earth like a carpet spread out, has enabled you to go about there by roads and channels, and has send down water from the sky. With it we have produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the other.”

(Sura Ta-Ha 20, Ayah 53)

“And in the earth are tracts and diverse though neighboring, garden of vines and fields sown some with corn and palm trees – growing out of simple roots or otherwise. Watered within the same water. Yet some of them we make more excellent than others to eat.”

(Sura Al Ra’d 13, Ayah 4)

“It is Allah who splits the seeds and the fruit stone. He brings forth the living from the dead, and the dead from the living. How then can you turn away from him.”

(Sura Anam, Ayah 95)

“And virly in cattle too ye find an instructive sign. From what is with in their bodies, between excretion and blood, we produce for you drink milk pure and *** to those who drink it.”

(Sura Nahal 16, Ayah 66)

“We have spread out the earth and set up on it immovable mountains. We have caused to grow in it from every ordained things.”

(Sura Hajar 15, Ayah 19)

“Glory be to him who created pairs of all things which the earth grown and of their own kind and that of which they have no knowledge.”

(Sura Yasin 36, Ayah 36)

“And your Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees and in men’s habitations.

“Then to eat of all the produce (of earth) and find with skills the spacious path of its Lord, their issue from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men. Varily in this is a sign for those who give thought.”

(Sura Nahal 16, Ayah 68-89)

MUSLIM BIOLOGISTS

ABDUL MALIK ASMAI

            He was born in Busra in 741 AD he was regarded as specialist of this time in animal science.

PUBLICATIONS

            He wrote many books on animals and plants. Following are the names of his famous books:

1.      Al – Kheil               :           About horses

2.      Al – Ibit                  :           About camels

3.      As – Shat               :           About sheep

4.      Al – Wahoosh        :           About wild animals

5.      Khalaqul Insan        :           About different parts of human body

ALI BIN RABBAN TUBRI

He was born in 775 A.D in Tubristan and died in 870 AD.

PUBLICATION

FIRDUS – UL – HIKMA

The book has many illustrations and detailed articles on objects like philosophy, zoology, psychology and astronomy.

AL – FARABI (870 – 950 AD)

He was renowned Hakim of Islamic world.

PUBLICATION

He wrote two well known books.

1.      Kitab – i – Nabatiat

2.      Kitab – ul – Haywanat

ABUL QASIM AL – ZAHRAVI (936 – 1004 AD)

He was renowned surgeon of the Islamic world. He was famous for the removal of stone from the urinary bladder.

IBN – AL – HAITHAM (965 – 1039 AD)

He is one of the most outstanding figures of Muslim history, being an optician of great merit and stature. Some 200 scientific works said to have been written by him on diverse subject. He was the first on to correct the Greek conception of vision, locating retina as the seat of vision.

PUBLICATION

1.      Kitabul Manazir

2.      Mizanul Hikma

BU – ALI – SINA

He was born in Kharmsheen near Bukhara in 10^th century AD. He was considered to be one of the founders of medicine. Aside from medicine he was expert in mathematics, astronomy, physics, paleontology and music.

ZIA – UD – DIN IBN BAITAR

Zia-ud-din Ibn Baitar of 13^th century specialized in the study of plants. He was highly respected among the scientists of the middle age.

IBN – AL – NAFEES

He described the blood circulation during 13^th century.

KAMAL – UD – DIN AL DAMIRI

He was the greatest zoologist of his time. He compiled a book “Hayat-al-Haywan” during the 14^th century which was about thousand kinds of animals.

ALI BIN ISA

He was a well known eye specialist of his times and worked on structure, function and diseases of eye. He wrote three volumes on this subjects in which he has described 130 diseases of the eye.

ABUL QASIM MAJREETI

He is especially known in Europe for his book on animal species.

AL – JAHIZ

He wrote a famous book “Al-Haywan”. In this book he described his own observations on animals.

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