Biology is a field of science that investigates the structure of living organisms and how they interact and coexist with each other. Biological studies date back to some of the earliest civilizations where it became a dominant factor for the Greeks in literature, philosophy, and contemplation. The Greeks are responsible for naming this field of science along with many others that spanned the ancient and modern world.

The investigation and contemplation of biology were not limited to Western civilizations. Medieval Islamic scholars intensively researched the fields of biology and other natural science disciplines which were recorded in detail and found in libraries throughout their empire. Perhaps some of the most famous early biologists include Aristotle, Diocles, Galen, Al-Jahiz, Al-Dinawari, Rhazes, Abd-el-latif, Andreas Vesalius, and Carl Linnaeus. Today, biology is taught to children from elementary school to university courses.

Biology studies generally begin by examining the simplest forms of life consisting of single-celled organisms and microorganisms. Being the earliest forms of life, microorganisms are an essential area of ​​study for understanding the basics behind all complex life forms. These include concepts like reproduction, cell division, mitosis, meiosis, and binary fission. Complex life forms, such as animals and plants, often depend on microorganisms to reproduce and ensure the survival of a species.

Plant biology, also known as botany, is also often examined in earlier courses of biological studies. Energy is an integral aspect of all living organisms, and most of the energy distributed to animals comes from plants. Plants convert energy from sunlight and other nutrients to synthesize energy sources that animals can easily consume. Photosynthesis is the process that makes it possible. In addition to producing food sources, plants convert gases in the atmosphere into the oxygen compound that other living organisms need to survive.

Studies in genetics originated from research done in botany. These originally began by examining gene expression in plants in an attempt to breed more beneficial plant strains for food and medicinal purposes. Ironically to some, cloning has been used on plants for centuries despite its rather unpopular viewpoint by many on its application to animals. Today’s genetic studies have resulted in a number of supported and opposed viewpoints, ranging from disease research, genetic disabilities, genetic modification, food production, medical research, and environmental studies.

Biology is often closely associated with chemistry, as many complex organisms require chemical reactions to support life. Respiration, digestion of food, sexual reproduction, and cell repair are just a few examples of chemical events in living organisms. As with most disciplines of science, biology intertwines with the properties of chemistry and physics to create the unique existence that we experience as living organisms.

Biology is perhaps the first discipline of science explored by humans and documented by ancient civilizations opening a door to modern scientific studies. It is natural that the existence and origin of life was a curious facet of early human thought and development. Modern science continues to pursue the limits of life, even looking for other instances of the creation of plant life outside our solar system.