Biology: Branches of Biology

Biology has a wide array of branches or divisions. Sometimes referred to as biological sciences or life sciences, each division or branches deals specifically with living things and its vital processes. Below are some of the branches or divisions of biology:

• Aerobiology – the study of organic particles in the air
• Anatomy – the study of organisms’ structures
  • Comparative anatomy – the study of evolution of species through similarities and differences in their anatomy
  • Histology – the study of tissues, a microscopic branch of anatomy
• Astrobiology (also known as exobiology, exopaleontology, and bioastronomy) – the study of evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe
• Biochemistry – the study of the chemical reactions required for life to exist and function, usually a focus on the cellular level
• Biological engineering – the attempt to create products inspired by biological systems or to modify and interact with the biological systems
• Biogeography – the study of the distribution of species spatially and temporally
• Bioinformatics – the use of information technology for the study, collection, and storage of genomic and other biological data
  • Computational biology – the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modelling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biology
• Biolinguistics – the study of the biology and evolution of language
• Biomechanics – the study of the mechanics of living beings
• Biomedical research – the study of health and disease
• Biophysics – the study of biological processes by applying the theories and methods traditionally employed in the physical sciences
• Biotechnology – the study of the manipulation of living matter, including genetic modification and synthetic biology
  • Synthetic biology – research integrating biology and engineering; construction of biological functions not found in nature
• Botany – the study of plants
  • Palynology – the study of pollen
  • Phycology – the scientific study of algae
  • Phytopathology – the study of plant diseases (also called Plant Pathology)
  • Plant physiology – concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants
  • Astrobotany – the study of plants in space
• Cell biology – the study of the cell as a complete unit, and the molecular and chemical interactions that occur within a living cell
• Chronobiology – the study of periodic events in living systems
• Cognitive biology – the study of cognition
• Conservation biology – the study of the preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife
• Cryobiology – the study of the effects of lower than normally preferred temperatures on living beings
• Developmental biology – the study of the processes through which an organism forms, from zygote to full structure
  • Embryology – the study of the development of the embryo (from fecundation to birth)
  • Evolutionary developmental biology – the study of the ancestral relationships between developmental processes and how they evolved
  • Gerontology – the study of ageing processes
  • Teratology – the study of abnormalities of physiological development.
• Ecology – the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with the non-living elements of their environment
• Evolutionary biology – the study of the origin and descent of species over time
• Genetics – the study of genes and heredity
  • Genomics – the study of genomes
  • Epigenetics – the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence
  • Molecular genetics – the study of how differences in the structures or expression of DNA manifest as variations among organisms
• Immunology – the study of the immune system
• Marine biology (or biological oceanography) – the study of ocean ecosystems, plants, animals, and other living beings
• Microbiology – the study of microscopic organisms (microorganisms) and their interactions with other living things
  • Bacteriology – the study of bacteria
  • Parasitology – the study of parasites and parasitism
  • Virology – the study of viruses and some other virus-like agents
• Molecular biology – the study of biology and biological functions at the molecular level, some cross over with biochemistry
• Mycology – the study of fungi
• Nanobiology – the application of nanotechnology in biological research, and the study of living organisms and parts on the nanoscale level of organization
• Neuroscience – the study of the nervous system
• Paleontology – the study of fossils and sometimes geographic evidence of prehistoric life
• Pathobiology or pathology – the study of diseases, and the causes, processes, nature, and development of disease
• Pharmacology – the study of the interactions between drugs and organisms
• Phycology – the study of seaweeds and other algae
• Physiology – the study of the functions and mechanisms occurring in living organisms
• Psychobiology – the application of methods traditionally used in biology to study human and non-human animals behaviour
• Quantum biology – the study of the role of quantum phenomena in biological processes
• Sociobiology – the study of social behavior in terms of evolution
• Systems biology – the study of complex interactions within biological systems through a holistic approach
• Structural biology – a branch of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics concerned with the molecular structure of biological macromolecules
• Theoretical biology – the branch of biology that employs abstractions and mathematical models to explain biological phenomena
• Zoology – the study of animals, including classification, physiology, development, evolution and behaviour, including:
  • Carcinology – the study of crustaceans
  • Ethology – the study of animal behaviour
  • Entomology – the study of insects and other arthropods
  • Herpetology – the study of reptiles and amphibians
  • Ichthyology – the study of fish
  • Malacology – the study of molluscs
  • Mammalogy – the study of mammals
  • Ornithology – the study of birds