BIOLOGY
Biology is the scientific study of living things. There are more than 10 million species of living things on the earth. They range in size from microscopic bacteria to huge blue whales and towering redwood trees. Living things also differ greatly in where and how they live. However, all forms of life share certain characteristics that set them apart from nonliving things. These characteristics include the ability to reproduce, to grow, and to respond to changes in the environment.
Biology is such a broad subject that most biologists specialize in some area of study. But in whatever area they work, all biologists are interested in both the parts of living things and how the parts work together. Certain biologists study organisms that live in a specific environment. Marine biologists, for example, investigate life in the ocean. Some biologists concentrate on a particular type of organism. Ornithologists, for instance, study birds. Many biologists examine the parts of living things. Cytologists, for example, deal with the structure, composition, and functions of cells. Other biologists analyze life processes. Embryologists, for example, investigate the formation and development of animals and plants before they become independent organisms.
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