Following are the main branches of biology:
- Anatomy – the study of organisms structures
>Comparative anatomy – the study of evolution of species through similarities and differences in their anatomy
>Histology – the study of tissues, a microscopic branch of anatomy
●Astrobiology (also known as exobiology, exopaleontology, and bioastronomy) – the study of evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe
●Biochemistry – the study of the chemical reactions required for life to exist and function, usually a focus on the cellular level
●Biological engineering – the attempt to create products inspired by biological systems or to modify and interact with the biological systems
●Biogeography – the study of the distribution of species spatially and temporally
●Bioinformatics – the use of information technology for the study, collection, and storage of genomic and other biological data
●Biolinguistics – the study of the biology and evolution of language
●Biomechanics – the study of the mechanics of living beings
●Biomedical research – the study of health and disease
●Biophysics – the study of biological processes by applying the theories and methods traditionally employed in the physical sciences
●Biotechnology – the study of the manipulation of living matter, including genetic modification and synthetic biology
●Synthetic biology – research integrating biology and engineering; construction of biological functions not found in nature
●Botany – the study of plants
>Phycology – scientific study of algae
>Plant physiology – concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants
●Cell biology – the study of the cell as a complete unit, and the molecular and chemical interactions that occur within a living cell
●Chronobiology – the study of periodic events in living systems
●Cognitive biology – the study of cognition
●Conservation biology – the study of the preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife
●Cryobiology – the study of the effects of lower than normally preferred temperatures on living beings
●Developmental biology – the study of the processes through which an organism forms, from zygote to full structure
>Embryology – the study of the development of embryo (from fecundation to birth)
>Gerontology – study of ageing processes
●Ecology – the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with the non-living elements of their environment
●Evolutionary biology – the study of the origin and descent of species over time
●Genetics – the study of genes and heredity
>Genomics – the study of genomes
>Epigenetics – the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence
●Immunology – the study of the immune system
●Marine biology (or biological oceanography) – the study of ocean ecosystems, plants, animals, and other living beings
●Microbiology – the study of microscopic organisms (microorganisms) and their interactions with other living things
>Bacteriology – the study of bacteria
>Mycology – the study of fungi
>Parasitology – the study of parasites and parasitism
>Virology – the study of viruses and some other virus-like agents
●Molecular biology – the study of biology and biological functions at the molecular level, some cross over with biochemistry
●Nanobiology – the application of nanotechnology in biological research, and the study of living organisms and parts on the nanoscale level of organization
●Neuroscience – the study of the nervous system
●Paleontology – the study of fossils and sometimes geographic evidence of prehistoric life
●Pathobiology or pathology – the study of diseases, and the causes, processes, nature, and development of disease
●Pharmacology – the study of the interactions between drugs and organisms
●Physiology – the study of the functions and mechanisms occurring in living organisms
●Phytopathology – the study of plant diseases (also called Plant Pathology)
●Psychobiology – the application of methods traditionally used in biology to study human and non-human animals behaviour
●Quantum biology – the study of the role of quantum phenomena in biological processes
●Systems biology – the study complex interactions within biological systems through a holistic approach
●Structural biology – a branch of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysicsconcerned with the molecular structure of biological macromolecules
●Theoretical biology – the branch of biology that employs abstractions and mathematical models to explain biological phenomena
●Zoology – the study of animals, including classification, physiology, development, evolution and behaviour, including:
>Ethology – the study of animal behaviour
>Entomology – the study of insects
>Herpetology – the study of reptiles and amphibians
>Ichthyology – the study of fish
>Mammalogy – the study of mammals
>Ornithology – the study of birds
