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4 Unit Biology

Biological concepts

All of the processes associated with living organisms are the subject matter of the science of biology. Biologists strive to understand the natural phenomena associated with plants and animals by asking why and how the natural world functions as it does. Why do living organisms interact with each other and their environments in particular ways? What are their evolutionary and genetic relationships? How are biological processes carried out within organs, tissues, and cells? In order to answer these broad questions biologists must answer many specific ones: How does the liver of an animal break down fat? How does a green plant convert water and carbon dioxide into sugar? Where do mosquitoes go in the winter? Some questions require years of scientific research before they can be answered satisfactorily. Today many mysteries remain unsolved, but study leads toward a better understanding of plants and animals.

As early as between 3000 and 2000 BC the major civilizations of China, Egypt, and India had knowledge of certain biological processes, primarily those associated with the practical aspects of agriculture and medicine. It was with the Greeks that a formal consideration of basic biology began. In the 4th century BC Aristotle presented a system for classifying the animals of the world based on similarity of structure and function. His student Theophrastus drew up a scheme for classifying many of the plants. In later centuries the effects of Greek learning diminished in Europe, though during these Dark Ages biology continued to be studied by the Arabs.

The Renaissance (from about AD 1300 to 1650) in Europe was the beginning of major biological advancement. The serious study of anatomy emerged in the 1500s through the efforts of Leonardo da Vinci and Andreas Vesalius, who documented the relationships between the anatomies of humans and of other animals. In the 1600s an explosion in biological interest and ideas occurred as a result of the invention and development of the microscope. The value of this important new research tool in scientific experiment and discovery was phenomenal.. In 1665 Robert Hooke reported on the presence in organisms of tiny compartments that he named "cells." In the 1750s a major

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advance in biology was the publication of Carolus Linnaeus' classification scheme for organisms. He was one of the first taxonomists (one who classifies and names organisms) to organize living things in a simple and logical manner that appealed to most scientists.

New biological concepts and theories developed rapidly during the 18th and 19th centuries and challenged many old ideas. In 1859 Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution in a book entitled 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'. The concept of natural selection and evolution revolutionized 19th-century thinking about the relationships between groups of plants and animals. His thoughtful presentation provided a sound biological explanation for the existence of multitudes of different organisms in the world and suggested that they might be related to one another. Although genetics and the mechanisms of inheritance were unknown during Darwin's time, he noted that certain life forms are more likely to survive than others. Science in the 20th century has provided an overwhelming number of new findings and intriguing theories about biological processes. The annual output of biological material today is so massive that no single individual can possibly acquire all of the information. Biology has, therefore, become a discipline of specialists who restrict their research to small areas.

Biology can be divided into fields of study in a variety of ways, depending upon the questions being asked. Although most modern biologists are specialists in particular fields, many rely on other scientific disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and geology in attempting to understand certain biological phenomena. Some scientific investigators restrict their research to one or a few groups of organisms. For this reason the specialty of many biologists becomes the group of organisms that they study. Such designations can be general in nature, such as zoology (the study of animals), botany (the study of plants), or bacteriology (the study of bacteria). Or they can be more specific.

Algology: algae

Arachnology: spiders, mites, scorpions

Bryology: mosses

Entomology: insects

Herpetology: reptiles and amphibians

Ichthyology: fishes

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Malacology: mollusks

Mammalogy: mammals

Mycology: fungi

Nematology: nematode worms

Ornithology: birds

Parasitology: parasites

Protozoology: protozoans (single-celled animals)

A controversy revolves around basic, or pure, biology and how it relates to applied, or practical, biology. The former is represented by studies for which no immediate practical value is apparent. The latter is represented by studies that are conducted for the clearly defined purpose of solving a particular problem. Examples of applied biology include research with immediate applicability to medicine, agriculture, or environmental issues.

On the other hand, there is no way of knowing which basic studies will turn up discoveries that will someday relate directly to a practical issue, even though the potential value of the discoveries is unsuspected at the time that they are made. Among the classic examples of such a situation are the studies of Alexander Fleming, who did basic research on molds and fungi and happened to discover that one particular strain of bread mold inhibited the growth of certain bacteria. Fleming had discovered a strain of Penicillium mold, and later this knowledge led to the development of the important antibiotic drug penicillin. Basic biological studies are essential to the welfare of science and should never be prejudged as impractical.

Vocabulary

to strive - стараться, прилагать усилия to interact - взаимодействовать

tissue - ткань cell - клетка liver - печень

to convertпревращать similarity - сходство

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to emerge - появляться, возникать compartment - отделение

intriguing - интригующий, занимательный to restrict-ограничивать

alga (pl-ae) - морская водоросль mite – клещ

bryology - бриология, наука о мхах ichthyology - ихтиология

fungus (pl-gi )- грибок

to revolve - вращаться, вертеться mold - плесень

to inhibit - задерживать, тормозить

Learning activities

1 Answer the following questions:

1 What is the subject matter of the science of biology?

2 Why can’t some questions of natural phenomena be answered at once?

3 What did Aristotle present in the 4th century?

4 When was the beginning of major biological advancement?

5 Who documented the relationships between the anatomies of humans and of other animals?

6 Who was one of the first taxonomists to organize living things in a simple manner? 7 When did Charles Darwin publish his theory of evolution?

8 How can biology be divided into fields of study? What are the principles of division? 9 What is the difference between basic and practical biological studies?

10 Alexander Fleming did basic research on molds and fungi, didn’t he?

2 Transcribe the words from the text and use one of them in the sentence of

your own: environments, carbon dioxide, mysteries, civilizations, scheme, advancement, occurred, discovery, challenged, to survive, overwhelming, although, designations, malacology, mammalogy, issues, value, penicillin, prejudged.

3 Match the words in the box to their definitions:

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1 any event, circumstance, or experience that is apparent to the senses and that can be scientifically described or appraised;

2 the development of a species, organism, or organ from its original or primitive state to its present or specialized state;

3 an instrument consisting essentially of a lens or combination of lenses, for making very small objects, as microorganisms, look larger so that they can be seen and studied;

4 the science that deals with the origin, history, physical characteristics, life processes, habits, etc. of plants and animals;

5 the quality or state of being related; connection;

6 tiny creatures making up a division of microorganisms which are typically one-celled;

7 a branch of knowledge or study, esp. one concerned with establishing and systematizing facts, principles, and methods, as by experiments and hypotheses;

8 any living organism, excluding plants and bacteria;

9 any action or process undertaken to discover something not yet known or to demonstrate something known;

10 any of certain chemical substances produced by various microorganisms and having the capacity to inhibit the growth of or to destroy bacteria and other microorganisms;

11 a person who arranges animals and plants into natural, related groups based on some factor common to each;

12 careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles;

13 that quality of a thing according to which it is thought of as being more or less desirable, useful, estimable;

14 the branch of botany dealing with fungi;

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15 a person who gathers confidential information.

4 Give the plural form of the following nouns: phenomenon, species, bacterium, alga, fungus.

5 Replace the underlined words by appropriate personal pronouns:

1 Biologists strive to understand the natural phenomena associated with plants and animals.

2 Study leads toward a better understanding of plants and animals.

3 Aristotle presented a system for classifying the animals of the world based on similarity of structure and function.

4 The Renaissance in Europe was the beginning of major biological advancement.

5 Genetics and the mechanisms of inheritance were unknown during Darwin's time.

6 Some scientific investigators restrict their research to one or a few groups of organisms.

7 Fleming had discovered a strain of Penicillium mold.

8 This knowledge led to the development of the important antibiotic drug penicillin.

6 Translate the following words and phrases into English:

живые организмы, расщеплять жир, основанный на сходстве, изобретение,

микроскоп, ценность, научный эксперимент, теория эволюции, естественный отбор,

изменить представление о чем-либо, биологические явления, специализация,

прикладная ( практическая ) биология, антибиотик.

7 Translate and try to use as many set expressions as you can in one sentence of

8 Ask all types of questions to the following sentences:

1 Theophrastus drew up a scheme for classifying many of the plants.

2 The value of this important new research tool in scientific experiment and discovery was phenomenal.

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3In 1665 Robert Hooke reported on the presence in organisms of tiny compartments that he named "cells".

4A controversy revolves around basic, or pure, biology.

5Basic biological studies are essential to the welfare of science.

9 Write down in the singular form:

1 Such questions require years of scientific research before they can be answered satisfactorily.

2 New biological concepts developed rapidly during the 18th and 19th centuries and challenged many old ideas.

3 Some scientific investigators restrict their research to one or a few groups of organisms. 4 Examples of applied biology include research with immediate applicability to medicine, agriculture, or environmental issues.

5 The classic examples of such a situation are the studies of Alexander Fleming.

10 Retell the text in details.

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