The method of observation in biology. Research in Biology

Among all school disciplines, and just sciences, biology takes a separate place. After all, this is the oldest, first and natural science, the interest in which arose with the appearance of man himself and his evolution. In different time epochs, the study of this discipline was developing unequally. Studies in biology were carried out with the help of ever new methods. However, there are still those that were relevant from the very beginning and did not lose their significance. What are the ways of studying science and what does this discipline in general represent, we will consider in this article.

Biology as a science

If we go deeper into the etymology of the word "biology", then in Latin it will literally sound like "the science of life." And indeed it is. This definition reflects the whole essence of the science in question. It is biology that is engaged in the study of all the diversity of living things on our planet, and if necessary this, then beyond.

There are several biological kingdoms of living nature, in which all representatives of biomass are united according to general morphological, anatomical, genetic and physiological characteristics. These are the kingdoms:

• Animals.
• Plants.
• Mushrooms.
• Viruses.
• Bacteria, or Prokaryotes.

Each of them is represented by a huge number of species and other taxonomic units, which once again emphasizes the diversity of the nature of our planet. The task of biology as a science is to study them all, from birth to death. Also, to identify the mechanisms of evolution, the relationship with each other and man, nature itself.

Biology is only a general name, which includes a whole family of sub-sciences and disciplines engaged in detailed research in the field of living beings and all manifestations of life.

As already mentioned above, the study of biology was carried out by people from the most ancient times. The man was interested in how plants, animals are arranged, he himself. Observations of wildlife were conducted and conclusions were drawn, so the factual material, the theoretical basis of science, was accumulated.

The achievements of modern biology in general have moved far ahead and allow us to look into the smallest and most unimaginably complex structures, interfere with the course of natural processes and change their direction. What are the ways to achieve such results at all times?

Methods of research in biology

To obtain knowledge, it is necessary to use various methods for obtaining them. This applies to the biological sciences. Therefore, this discipline has its own set of measures that allow replenishing the methodological and factual piggy bank. These are methods of research in biology. The lesson on biology in the school necessarily touches upon this topic, because this question is the basis. Therefore, these methods are mentioned even in the lessons of natural history or biology in the fifth grade of instruction.

What are the methods of research?

1. Description.
2. The method of observation in biology.
3. Experiment.
4. Comparison.
5. The method of modeling.
6. Historical way.
7. Modernized options based on the use of the latest achievements of technology and modern equipment. For example: electronic spectroscopy and microscopy, staining method, chromatography, molecular biology methods and others.

All of them were important at all times, they remain the same today. However, there is among them one that appeared first and is still the most important.

The method of observation in biology

It is this variant of research that is the determining, the first and the significant. What is observation? This is the obtaining of interesting information about the object with the help of the senses. That is, you can understand what a living being is before you with the help of the organs of hearing, sight, touch, smell and taste.

This is how our ancestors learned to distinguish elements of biomass. So continue research in biology to this day. After all, it is impossible to know how the pupation of a caterpillar occurs and the appearance of a butterfly from the cocoon, if one does not observe it with his own eyes, fixing each moment of time.

And hundreds of such examples can be cited. All zoologists, mycologists, botanists, algologists and other scientists observe the selected object and get full information about their structure, lifestyle, interaction with the environment, the features of physiological processes and other intricacies of the organization.

Therefore, the method of observation in biology is considered to be the most important, historically first and significant. Close to him is another method of research - a description. In fact, it is not enough to observe, it is also necessary to describe what we managed to see, that is, to fix the result. This will later become the theoretical basis of knowledge about this or that object.

Let us give an example. If the ichthyologist should carry out research in the field of a specific type of fish, for example, pink perch, then he, first of all, studies the already available theoretical base, which was made by scientists before him. After that he starts to observe himself and carefully fixes all the results obtained. After this, a series of experiments are carried out, and the results are compared with those already available. So the question becomes: where can these species of fish, for example, spawn? What conditions do they need for this and how wide can they vary?

Obviously, the method of observation in biology, as well as the description, comparison and experiment are closely related in a single complex - the methods of studying living nature.

Experiment

This method is characteristic not only of biological science, but also of chemistry, physics, astronomy, and others. It allows us to see clearly one or another theoretically advanced assumption. With the help of experiment, hypotheses are confirmed or refuted, theories are created and axioms are put forward.

Exactly, circulatory circles in animals, respiration and photosynthesis in plants, as well as a number of other physiological vital processes were discovered experimentally.

Simulation and comparison

Comparison is a method that allows you to make an evolutionary line for each species. It is this method that underlies the obtaining of information on the basis of which a classification of species is made, the trees of life are built.

Simulation is the method is more mathematical, especially if we talk about the computer method of building a model. This method involves the creation of such situations over the study of an object that can not be observed under natural conditions. For example, how will this or that drug affect the human body.

Historical method

It lies at the basis of identifying the origin and formation of each organism, its development and transformation in the course of evolution. Based on the data obtained, theories are constructed and hypotheses are put forward about the appearance of life on Earth, the development of each kingdom of nature.

Biology in the 5th grade

It is very important to impart interest to students in the science in time. Today there are textbooks "Biology, grade 5", observation in them - the main method of research of this subject. This is how the children gradually master the depth of this science, comprehend its meaning and importance.

In order for the lessons to be interesting and for children to become interested in the subject, more time should be devoted to this method. After all, only when the pupil himself observes the behavior of the cells and their structure in a microscope, he will be able to realize the whole interest of this process and how all this is subtle and important. Therefore, according to modern requirements, the activity approach to the study of the subject is the key to successful mastering of knowledge by students.

And if each of the studied process children reflect in the diary of observations on biology, then the trace from the subject will remain with them for life. Thus, a love for nature and the world around us is formed.

In-depth study of the subject

If we talk about specialized classes aimed at a deeper, more detailed study of science, then it should be said about the most important thing. For such children, a special program for in-depth study of biology should be developed, which will be built on observations in the field (summer practice), as well as on ongoing experimental research. Children must themselves be convinced of the theoretical knowledge that is put into their heads. It is then that new discoveries, achievements and birth of people of science are possible.

The role of biological education of schoolchildren

In general, children need to study biology not only because nature needs to be loved, protected and protected. But also because it greatly expands their horizons, allows us to understand the mechanisms of the course of life processes, to know oneself from within and with care refers to one's health.

If you periodically tell the children about the achievements of modern biology and how this affects people's lives, they will understand the importance and significance of science. Infiltrate her with love, which means that they will also love her object - a living nature.

Achievements of modern biology

There are, of course, many of them. If we designate a time frame of at least fifty years, then we can list the following outstanding achievements in the field of the science in question.

1. Decoding of the genome of animals, plants and humans.
2. The discovery of the mechanisms of cell division and death.
3. Revealing the essence of the flow of genetic information in the emerging organism.
4. Cloning of living beings.
5. Creation (synthesis) of biologically active substances, drugs, antibiotics, antiviral drugs.

Such achievements of modern biology allow a person to control some diseases of man and animals, preventing them from developing. They make it possible to solve many of the problems that people overtake in the 21st century: epidemics of terrible viruses, hunger, lack of potable water, poor environmental conditions, and others.