Who is a biologist? What does science study in biology?

A biologist calls himself a teacher of this discipline in an educational institution, a specialist in the field of genetic research, an employee of a botanical garden or a zoo. So, after all, who is a biologist? What is this profession? Who has the right to be considered a biologist? The answers to these questions are in our small study.

Biology is a science

Science, which is associated with the study of all life on the planet, beginning with microscopic bacteria, ending with the physiological processes of human life.

The human life processes, similarity and difference of living forms, differences in the habitat of plants and animals have long been of interest. True, in the period of the gloomy Middle Ages, for too much visible interest in research it was possible to get to the fire. Another thing - the Renaissance. Art and science then became at a premium, whole scientific schools were founded, and the first museums of natural science appeared.

Who is a biologist in antiquity? It could be a healer, an alchemist, and the founder of the first menagerie. The very term "science of biology" appeared only in the 19 th century, when in one stream all that relates to the study of living forms of existence on the Earth ("bio" - life, "logos" - science) was combined.

Biology

Biology is the science of life. Such a generalized concept. Depending on the particular subject of study, separate biological sciences are distinguished:

• Zoology is the science of the animal world.
• Botany - studying the world of plants.
• Physiology and Anatomy - the science of the processes of life and the structure of the human body.
• Microbiology and Virology. The subject of their study is only visible under a microscope.
• Morphology - studies the structure and form of living species.

In turn, the main areas were gradually divided into narrower specialties and specializations, which as the development of science becomes more and more. Today, there are more than seventy areas of biology. Ocean biology, anthropology, cytology, neurobiology, ecology are just some of them. Profession biologist brings together all representatives of certain specializations and directions associated with one science.

Relationship with other sciences

In the course of the development of world science and technology, thanks to the penetration of scientists into the deep spheres of knowledge, a deep connection of biology with other disciplines was discovered. Who is a biologist in the modern world? In addition to the traditional zoologist and botanist, he is a biophysicist, biochemist, biometric specialist, space biologist, labor biologist , bionic. A modern biologist can be parallel to a good engineer, doctor or mathematician.

What does a biologist do?

The theory is more or less clear. But who is a biologist in practice? Where is his workplace? The answer is ambiguous and extensive, like the list of specializations of biology. It all depends on the chosen direction. A graduate who graduated from the corresponding faculty of a university can become a teacher in a secondary school, or can continue his connection with science and devote his life to studying other living organisms. Zoologists successfully work with animals in zoos, botanists in greenhouses and botanical gardens. Biologists-breeders are working on the invention of new varieties of crops. Virologists are studying new and old microorganisms, their impact on the environment, environmentalists are monitoring the cleanliness of the environment. Wide demand is in the modern world for biologists of a new formation - genetics, neurobiologists, space biologists, bioenergetics. A biologist can be a veterinarian, an agronomist, a landscape designer, a laboratory technician.

The main qualities of biologist

A successful biology profession will be for those who feel part of the mysterious world of living organisms, who are interested in communicating with nature, studying the environment.

Love for nature becomes the main thing, when the biologist spends long months on travels and expeditions to study new species of flora and fauna.

Consistency and analytical intelligence are needed for workers in laboratories, research centers.

Depending on the specialization, the biologist may need a good relationship with physics, astronomy, mechanics, chemistry and other sciences.

Pros and cons of the profession

For those who love all life in all its manifestations, devote one's life to biology is already a plus. Nothing makes a person happy, like doing your favorite work. Profession biologist, unfortunately, is not always evaluated adequately in monetary terms - this is a minus. It is low salaries that led to the fact that an interesting for many profession entered the category of unpopular. Those who decided to devote her life to her and persevere towards the goal, sometimes become the authors of new discoveries and scientific sensations.

The biology of new directions, research in the field of genetics, microbiology, new biotechnology is the second largest in the world in the list of promising occupations. Particularly pleased with such specialists are Canada, the United States, Western countries, which are engaged in the development of new technologies.

Outstanding biologists

Speaking of biology as a science, it is worth mentioning about people whose names are known all over the world. Their discoveries have made a huge contribution to the development of mankind as a whole.

• Vavilov Nikolay (Russia) is a geneticist in the field of agronomy, the founder of the doctrine of plant immunity.
• Vladimir Vernadsky (Russia) - the founder of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, was engaged in the study of the biosphere, stood at the origins of the development of biochemistry and biophysics.
• William Garvey (Great Britain) is the court physician of the King, who first conducted research and described the circulatory system and the work of the heart and blood vessels in the human body.
• Charles Darwin (England) - a great naturalist, who created a system for the classification of plant species.
• Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek (Holland) is a naturalist who created a microscope, which enabled him to study organisms that were invisible before the human eye.

In addition to them, Russians Ilya Mechnikov, Kliment Timiryazev, Louis Pasteur, Karl Linnaeus, Ruslan Medzhitov and many other natural scientists have made science famous.