Branches

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 biophysics concerned 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: