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Key Concept:

Biology is studied both as a pure science to understand life and as an applied science to solve real-life problems in fields like medicine, agriculture, and industry.

Short Notes:

Biology can be broadly divided into pure biology and applied biology. Pure biology focuses on increasing our knowledge of living things for the sake of understanding. It includes sub-fields like anatomy, physiology, genetics, and molecular biology. These fields aim to answer fundamental questions such as: How do cells function? How is genetic information passed from parent to offspring? What structures make up an organism?

On the other hand, applied biology uses the knowledge gained from pure biology to solve practical problems in areas such as medicine, agriculture, forestry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and environmental conservation. For example, genetics can be applied to improve crop yield, while microbiology is applied in vaccine development.

These two aspects of biology are closely linked. Without pure biology, there would be no foundation for applied research. And without applied biology, the knowledge from pure research would not be used to improve people’s lives. In Ethiopia, applied biology helps in solving local challenges such as managing crop pests, treating diseases like malaria, and conserving biodiversity.

Key Terms:

• Pure biology – Study of biology to gain knowledge,
• Applied biology – Use of biology to solve real-world problems,
• Anatomy – Study of body structure,
• Physiology – Study of functions of living organisms,
• Genetics – Study of inheritance and variation,
• Biotechnology – Use of living systems in technology and industry,
• Pharmaceutical biology – Use of biology in drug development,
• Agricultural biology – Application of biology in farming and food production,
• Conservation biology – Application of biology to protect ecosystems,
• Forestry biology – Use of biology in managing forests sustainably.

Example:

A researcher in Ethiopia might study the genetic traits of teff (pure biology) and then use that knowledge to breed drought-resistant varieties (applied biology), helping farmers adapt to climate change.

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Next Topic Preview:

Next, you’ll examine major discoveries in biology—like the structure of DNA and the invention of the microscope—that completely changed how scientists understand life.