Biology as a subject
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KEY IDEAS In this topic, you will learn that: ✚ ✚ ✚
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Biology is a diverse and evolving science based on the study of all living things. It explores life by investigating the structure, function, origin, development and geographic distribution of organisms. Biologists investigate the processes of living things from the molecular level through to the entire organism, and then consider how those organisms function and interact. There are many branches of biology, including botany, genetics, immunology, microbiology, pharmacology and zoology, and they can be applied to a wide range of human endeavours.
The five basic principles
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the science of living things, which is divided into different fields that cover the morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origin and distribution of organisms
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biology
biology is the study of all living things there are many career pathways that stem from studying biology the VCE Biology course is made up of four units Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples – the traditional owners of Australia – have different methods for taking care of the land and producing medicine.
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All branches of biology are unified by a framework of five basic principles. These principles state the following: • All living things are composed of cells, the basic units of life. • All living things require energy, and energy flows between organisms and the environment. • All living things contain genetic material, the ‘barcode’ for the structure and function of all organisms. • All living things must maintain homeostasis, a relatively stable internal environment. • The concept of evolution unifies all living things.
Biology as a career
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Studying biology provides a pathway that can lead to a range of careers. With ongoing advances in technology and biological concepts, career options in biology continue to grow. These include, but are not limited to: • allied health professional • medical practitioner • bioengineer • pharmacologist • biotechnologist • research scientist. • ecologist There are also many career opportunities in cross-disciplinary areas such as bushfire research, environmental management and conservation, forensic science, medical research and many other fields. All science disciplines, including biology, teach a wide variety of core skills, such as: • problem solving • communication • teamwork • attention to detail • research • innovation. • critical thinking
core skills basic ‘soft skills’ required in most careers
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BIOLOGY FOR VCE UNITS 1 & 2
01_BIOVCE_1_2_25527_TXT_SI.indd 4
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
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29/9/21 2:08 pm
