biologia

Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. It covers the study of cells as the basic units of life, energy metabolism, heredity, development, and the interactions of organisms with their environments.

The field employs observation, experimentation, and modelling, often across disciplines such as chemistry, physics, and mathematics. It analyzes organisms at multiple levels, from molecules and cells to populations and ecosystems. Modern biology relies on techniques such as genomics, proteomics, advanced microscopy, and computational biology to collect and interpret data.

Major branches include molecular biology, cellular biology, genetics, physiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, botany, and zoology. Applied areas encompass medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, conservation, and environmental science. Interdisciplinary domains like systems biology and bioinformatics integrate information across scales to understand complex biological networks and processes.

Historically, biology emerged from natural philosophy and developed through discoveries of cells, the principles of inheritance, and the structure of DNA. The postwar era brought molecular genetics and increasingly sophisticated technologies, enabling rapid advances in sequencing, imaging, and data analysis that expanded research horizons and practical applications.

Biology informs health, food security, and sustainability by explaining how living systems function and adapt. It also raises ethical and societal questions concerning experimentation, genetic modification, conservation, and the impact of human activity, underscoring the need for thoughtful regulation and public engagement.