Content Curator
Biology and Zoology are the branches of science that deal with the study of living organisms. The main difference between biology and zoology is that biology deals with all living organisms around us, while zoology only deals with the organisms belonging to the animal kingdom.
- The term ‘Biology’ was coined in 1801, by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Gottfried Reinhold Teviranus.
- It has a Greek origin and comes from two words ‘bios’, meaning life and ‘logos’, meaning ‘study’/‘science’.
- Zoology, also known as animal Study is the branch of biology.
- The word zoology comes from two of the Greek words, ‘zoon’ meaning ‘animal’ and ‘logos’, meaning ‘study’/’science’.
- Aristotle, a renowned Greek philosopher, is regarded as the 'Father of Biology' and 'Father of Zoology'.
In this article, we will discuss more about the difference between biology and zoology.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Biology, Zoology, Father of Biology, Father of Zoology, Difference between biology and zoology, Animal kingdom, Branches of biology, Branches of Zoology
What is Biology?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Biology is the study of natural science, mainly the living components of nature. This includes plants, animals, microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, etc. It consists of the study of life and the structure, function, behaviour, evolution, distribution, growth, identification and taxonomy of all living organisms.
- As biology is a vast field of study, it has been divided into various branches.
- These branches cover biochemistry, botany, zoology, microbiology, cellular biology, physiology, evolutionary biology, ecology, and many more.
- Each of these branches teaches any single domain of Biology in detail.
- For example, botany teaches you everything about Plants, and zoology teaches you everything about Animals, etc.
Also check:
| Related Concepts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Difference Between Moth and Butterfly | Five Kingdom Classification | Difference Between Reptiles and Amphibians |
| Vestigial Organ | Heredity and Evolution | Charles Darwin Theory |
What is Zoology?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Zoology is a subcategory or a branch of Biology that focuses on the entire “Animal Kingdom”. It teaches you every detail about the kingdom ‘Animalia’ like the embryology, structure, function, evolution, distribution, habits, growth process and their scientific naming process.
- It tells you about both living and extinct animals.
- Zoology also highlights the interaction of these animals with their surrounding nature.
- It also covers kingdoms like Porifera, Annelida, Arthropoda, Cnidaria, Ctenophore, Echinodermata, etc. and further divisions like Pieces, reptiles, Aves, mammals, etc.
Difference between Biology and Zoology
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Biology is a branch of science that deals with the study of living organisms and their interaction with the non-living elements in nature. Zoology, apart from botany and microbiology, is one of the significant branches of biology that deals with the study of living organisms, only belonging to the kingdom Animalia.
The key differences between Biology and Zoology are as follows:
| Biology | Zoology |
|---|---|
| Biology is a branch of science. | Zoology is a branch of Biology. |
| It deals with the study of life and living organisms and their interaction with non-living organisms. | It deals with the study of the Animal Kingdom and its structure, form, and distribution. |
| The scientists who study Biology are known as ‘Biologists’. | The scientists who study Zoology are known as ‘Zoologists’. |
| It is a core subject. | It is a specialized subject. |
| The sub-disciplines of Biology are: Zoology, Comparative anatomy, Animal physiology, Behavioural ecology, Ethology, Mammalogy, Herpetology, Ornithology, and Entomology | The sub-disciplines of Zoology are: Biochemistry, Physiology, Evolutionary biology, Ecology, Molecular biology, Botany, Cellular Biology, and Palaeontology |
| The study in Biology is more varied and diverse including the whole natural living world. | The study in Zoology is more specialised and centric to the animal kingdom. |
| Biology also deals with the interaction between various life forms and nature. | Zoology deals with the structure, behaviour, distribution, form, etc of animals. |
| Biology covers all living organisms like plants, animals, viruses, bacteria, etc. | Zoology covers all about only the animals whether living or extinct. |
Also check:
| Related Concepts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Classification of Animal Kingdom | Animal Tissues | Multicellular Organisms |
| Difference between Frog and Toad | Living Fossils | Differences between Chordates and Non-Chordates |
Things to Remember
- Biology deals with the study of life and living organisms and their interaction with non-living organisms.
- Zoology deals with the study of the Animal Kingdom.
- Biology is a branch of science, whereas Zoology is a branch of Biology itself.
- Biology covers a vast area of science whereas Zoology is a more specialized study focusing mainly on animals.
- Botany, Zoology, Ecology, and Physiology are the sub-branches of Biology.
- Animal physiology, Entomology, Ornithology, and Mammalogy are sub-branches of Zoology.
Sample Questions
Ques. Give a brief definition of Zoology. (2 Marks)
Ans. Zoology refers to the study of Animals. It mainly covers the analysis of the structure, form, distribution, behaviour, etc., of all animals. It covers every single detail about not only living but also about extinct animals. Evolutionary Biology is a sub-discipline of Zoology that reveals all facts about extinct animals and the gradual evolution of living animals.
Ques. Who is known as the “Father of Zoology”? (1 Mark)
Ans. Aristotle is known as the “Father of Zoology”.
Ques. What are the sub-disciplines in Biology? (2 Marks)
Ans. Some of the sub-disciplines of Biology are:
- Zoology (study of animals)
- Comparative anatomy (teaches the structure of animals)
- Animal physiology
- Behavioural ecology
- Ethology studies animal behaviour
- Invertebrate Zoology
- Vertebrate Zoology
- Soil zoology
- Comparative zoology
- Mammalogy
- Herpetology
- Ornithology
- Entomology
Ques. Who coined the term “Biology” for the first time? (1 Mark)
Ans. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Gottfried Reinhold Teviranus coined the term “Biology” for the first time in 1801.
Ques. What are the subdivisions of zoology? (2 Marks)
Ans. Some of the sub-disciplines of Zoology are:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular biology
- Botany
- Cellular Biology
- Physiology
- Evolutionary biology
- Ecology
- Palaeontology
- Zoology
Ques. Who developed the key first for the identification of animals? (1 Mark)
Ans. John Ray, a Christian English naturalist was the first scientist to develop the key identification of animals.
Ques. What are the 12 phyla of Animals Kingdom? (2 Marks)
Ans. The 12 Phylum of Animal Kingdom are:
- Phylum – Porifera
- Phylum – Coelenterate (Cnidaria)
- Phylum – Ctenophora
- Phylum – Platyhelminthes
- Phylum – Aschelminths (Nematoda)
- Phylum – Annelida
- Phylum – Arthropoda
- Phylum – Mollusca
- Phylum – Echinodermata
- Phylum – Hemichordate
- Phylum – Chordata
- Phylum - Vertebrata
Ques. Who is regarded as the “Father of Biology”? (1 Mark)
Ans. Aristotle is regarded as the “Father of Biology”.
Ques. Explain the branches of zoology. (3 Marks)
Ans. Zoology can be subdivided into various branches which are as follows.
- Zoography or Descriptive Zoology: the applied science that describes animals and their habitats.
- Comparative Anatomy: it is the scientific study of the structure of animals.
- Ethology: describes the animal behaviour in their natural habitats.
- Animal Physiology: it is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in animals.
- Histology: is the study of the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues. Therefore it is also known as microscopic anatomy.
- Vertebrate Zoology: is the study of vertebrate animals, i.e., animals with a backbone such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
- Invertebrate Zoology: is the study of invertebrates, i.e., animals without a backbone such as sponges, echinoderms, and tunicates.
Ques. How is zoology related to biology? (1 Mark)
Ans. Zoology is a branch of biology that deals with the study of the animal kingdom.
For Latest Updates on Upcoming Board Exams, Click Here: https://t.me/class_10_12_board_updates
Also Read:
Comments