Definition
Genetics: heredity and variation. Anatomy: internal structure. Physiology: how organisms function. Morphology: external form and structure.
Paleontology: fossils and ancient life. Pathology: diseases. Marine Biology: life in the sea. Computational Biology: using computers/data analysis to study biological problems.
Remember
Morphology asks "what does it look like?" (structure); physiology asks "how does it work?" (function) — the two are studied together because structure usually explains function.
Biology connects with other sciences: Chemistry (biochemistry — the molecules of life), Physics (biophysics — forces and energy in living systems), Statistics (biostatistics — analysing biological data), and Computer Science (bioinformatics).
Rule
Steps, in order: Observation Question Hypothesis Experiment Analysis of results Conclusion. A hypothesis repeatedly confirmed by evidence may become an accepted theory, and eventually a law if it holds without exception.
Remember
Experiments matter because they let a researcher test a hypothesis under controlled conditions — changing one variable at a time — rather than just guessing from observation alone.
Example 1 — the scientific method in history
Ronald Ross investigated why people near swampy, rice-growing areas caught malaria more often. Outline how the scientific method applied to his work.
- Observation: malaria cases clustered near swampy areas.
- Hypothesis: something in or near the swamps was transmitting the disease.
- Experiment: Ross studied mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water and their role in carrying the malaria parasite.
- Conclusion: the Anopheles mosquito was confirmed as the vector — a finding that became accepted, well-tested knowledge.
Answer: Ross's mosquito research followed observation, hypothesis, experiment and conclusion
Quick Recap
- ●Genetics, anatomy, physiology, morphology, paleontology, pathology, marine biology, computational biology — each studies a different aspect of life
- ●Biology links to chemistry, physics, statistics and computer science
- ●Scientific method: Observation Question Hypothesis Experiment Analysis Conclusion
- ●A well-tested hypothesis becomes a theory; a theory without exception becomes a law
