HIN K LIK T E A S CIEN T IST WHERE DO WE LOOK FOR LIFE CHAPTER 1 LIFE SCIENCE EVOLVES Life Science iS tHe Study of ALL Living oRgAniSmS largest animals tallest plants and biggest super from earth’s smallest microorganisms to its organisms Life scientists might study cells insects humans blue whales giant sequoia trees or the great Barrier Reef By understanding how organisms live survive and reproduce life scientists can improve not only human lives but the lives of other living things as well the main science behind the life sciences is biology over the years many branches of life science have formed including botany the study of plants microbi ology the study of microorganisms genetics the study of heredity and zoology the study of animals Biology developed into its modern form through contributions from ancient civilizations early people observed animals and plants but didn’t always realize the connections of living things to their everyday lives Zoologists analyze growth and behavior in animals such as humpback whales the ancient egyptians often explained disease as an evil demon and described 7
LIFE SCIENCE EVOLVES Whether celebrated in India opposite or studied for medicine in Greece below plants have worldwide value a bountiful harvest as the work of gods who were pleased However they and other ancient peoples from China the Middle East and India developed knowledge of plants that helped with ailments Plants such as dried lichen were even found packed in the abdomens of Egyptian mummies and oils made from juniper berries played a role in embalming preserving bodies during mummification Perhaps no civilization influenced modern biology more than the ancient Greeks Hippocrates of Cos is believed to have been born around 460 b c He was the first to study disease and use reason or logic to explain the causes for failing health Hippocrates’s methods from thousands of years ago resemble a doctor’s clinical observa tions today He wrote many books on procedures that doctors should use when examining a patient In his book On Forecasting Diseases he writes First of all the doctor should look at the patient’s face If he looks his usual self this is a good sign If not however the following are bad signs sharp nose hollow eyes cold ears dry skin on the forehead strange face color If the face is like this at the beginning of the illness the doctor must ask the patient if he has lost sleep or had diarrhea or not eaten Often referred to as the Father of Medicine Hippocrates is remembered for his ethical beliefs about the practice Today new graduating doctors from medical schools recite the Hippocratic Oath a promise to take responsible and discreet care of patients forbidding any harm to them Aristotle who lived in Greece from 384 to 322 b c also contrib uted to biology He considered the study of animals to be central to the understanding of nature Because Aristotle was able to organize his scientific inquiries he wrote the equivalent of encyclopedias on the different phases of animal life processes such as birth In book two of his Posterior Analytics he explains The things about which 9
