4: What is Life?

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What is biology? In simple terms, biology is the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments. This is a very broad definition because the scope of biology is vast. Biologists may study anything from the microscopic or submicroscopic view of a cell to ecosystems and the whole living planet. Listening to the daily news, you will quickly realize how many aspects of biology are discussed every day. For example, recent news topics include Zika virus and using a new technology called CRISPR to specifically target and edit human genes. Other subjects include efforts toward finding a cure for AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. On a global scale, many researchers are committed to finding ways to protect the planet, solve environmental issues, and reduce the effects of climate change. All of these diverse endeavors are related to different facets of the discipline of biology.

Thumbnail: Phylogenetic Tree of Life. (CC BY 3.0; Crion via Wikimedia Commons).