©1999 timothy g. standish romans 12:9 9let love be without dissimulation. abhor that which is evil;...

©1999 Timothy G. Standish

Romans 12:9

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.


What is Biology?What is Biology?And And

What Can You Do With It?What Can You Do With It?Timothy G. Standish, Ph. D.

Andrews University


What is Biology?What is Biology? Biology = The study of life (Bio = Life logy = The study of) What is life? While philosophers spend a lifetime pondering

this question, biologists give life a fairly pragmatic definition: Life is defined by the following characteristics:

– Organization - Living things are called organisms– Reproduction– Reaction to the environment– Growth and development– Uses energy (Thermodynamics)


BiologyBiology

Bio-Chem.Bio-Chem.

ChemistryChemistryPhysicsPhysics Phys.-Chem.Phys.-Chem.

Bio-Phys.Bio-Phys. Bio-

Phys-Chem.

Bio-Phys-Chem.

Biology is aBiology is aMultidisciplinary ScienceMultidisciplinary Science


Perspectives on BiologyPerspectives on Biology

Biol.Biol.

Chem.Chem.

PhysicsPhysics

MathematicsMathematics

A mathematician’sperspective


Perspectives on BiologyPerspectives on Biology

BiologyBiology

Chem.Chem.

PhysicsPhysics

MathMath

A biologist’sperspective


Biology is the MostBiology is the MostInterdisciplinary ScienceInterdisciplinary Science

Because organisms are made of chemicals And chemicals are governed by the laws of physics And physics uses mathematics to describe natural

phenomena And mathematics is the most useful tool in the world Biologists must master chemistry, physics, and

mathematics to master biology Biology is the most interdisciplinary science


Biology Offers the Greatest Biology Offers the Greatest Range of Job Opportunities of Range of Job Opportunities of

all the Sciencesall the Sciences Aside from teaching, opportunities in

biology can be shoe-horned into two general categories:

Pure biology - The study of organisms for the shear joy of what might be discovered

Applied biology - Taking what has been discovered and using it to create wealth, relieve suffering, or for some other benefit


Each Biology Sub-Discipline Has Each Biology Sub-Discipline Has Applied and Pure ComponentsApplied and Pure Components

Sub-Discipline

PureApproach

AppliedApproach

Botany Taxonomy MedicalBotany

Herpetology(Study ofreptiles)

Study ofbreedingbehavior

Wildlifeconservation

Ornithology Study ofmorphology

Prevention ofplane crashes


Places Where Biologists WorkPlaces Where Biologists Work Research laboratories - NIH, NRL, Argon, Lucent

Technologies . . . Hospitals - Doctors, Pharmacists and other health

professionals are all applied biologists Zoos - Administrators, conservationists, animal keepers Government agencies - EPA, BLM, Library of

Congress . . . Universities - Researchers, Teachers, Arborists . . . National Parks and Forests


More Places Where Biologists More Places Where Biologists WorkWork

Consulting firms - Industrial hygiene etc. Law firms - There is a big demand for lawyers

trained as biologists The Armed Forces - Army Core of Engineers,

Fort Detrick . . . Because Biology is so interdisciplinary, and what

biologists know is of such importance, there are few places where there are not openings for biologists.

©1999 timothy g. standish romans 12:9 9let love be without dissimulation. abhor that which is evil;...

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