NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology Intranet Norsk
Studies Research About NTNU Search/Contact

  Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology > Department of Biology > What is biology?
Contact information
Studies
Research
   
Groups
Environmental toxicology
Physiology
Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
 
Ecology, Ethology & Evolution
 
   
About BIO
Population Biology Centre
What is biology?
Strategy  
Vacancies
Staff
What is biology?

The word biology is derived from the greek words /bios/ meaning /life/ and /logos/ meaning /study/ and is defined as the science of life and living organisms. An organism is a living entity consisting of one cell e.g. bacteria, or several cells e.g. animals, plants and fungi. Aspects of biological science range from the study of molecular mechanisms in cells, to the classification and behaviour of organisms, how species evolve and interaction between ecosystems.

The study of biology can be divided into different disciplines –

• Ethology

• Evolutionary Biology

• Physiology

• Genetics

• Molecular Biology

• Morphology

• Systematics

• Ecology

Biology often overlaps with other sciences; for example, biochemistry and toxicology with biology, chemistry, and medicine; biophysics with biology and physics; stratigraphy with biology and geography; astrobiology with biology and astronomy. Social sciences such as geography, philosophy, psychology and sociology can also interact with biology, for example, in administration of biological resources, developmental biology, biogeography, evolutionary psychology and ethics.

 
 

Untitled Document

Photos: Per H. Olsen

Photos: Per H. Olsen, NTNU

Editor: Head of Department Eivin Røskaft   Contact: Per Harald Olsen   Updated: 20/09/2006