LECTURE GUIDE IN GENERAL ZOOLOGY 1

ZOOLOGY defined

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
1. Determine the nature and definition of zoology;
2. Enumerate the branches of zoology;
3. Understand why they should study zoology;
4. Apply the basic of scientific method; and
5. Appreciate the importance of zoology as a science.

ZOOLOGY
Zoology is a branch of Biological Sciences that deals with the scientific study of the diversity of
animal life. Animal biology is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the
structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits and distribution of all animals, both living and
extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystem.
It comes from the latin word “Zo” which means animal and the word “ology” which means
study of, knowledge
One of the broadest fields in all sciences. There are 20,000 known species, bony fishes and
300,000 known species of beetles.
BRANCES OF ZOOLOGY
The following are the branches of Zoology:
• Ichthyology – fish
• Ornithology – birds
• Entomology – insects
• Herpetology – reptiles & amphibians
• Mammalogy – mammals
• Malacology – mollusks
• Arachnology – spiders
• Protozoology – protozoans
• Parasitology - parasites
• Ethology – animal behavior
• Genetics – heredity
• Ethnozoology – ways in w/c animals influence the people they interact with.
• Primatology – primates
• Physiology – body functions
• Paleontology – pre-historic organisms
• Cryptozoology – still unknown species
• Taxonomy – classification
• Evolution – changes of organisms over period of time.
• Embryology – embryo
• Ecology – interrelationship of animals and their environment.
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WHY STUDY ZOOLOGY?

The following are the reasons why we should study Zoology:
1. To understand the natural world;
2. Learn to protect the environment; and
3. Develop skills for learning.
MYTHS TO EXPLAIN BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES
• Disease caused by evil spirits
• Brain produces snot
• Blood determines heredity
• Heart is for emotions
 How Does Science Separate Myths from Reality? SCIENTIFIC METHOD
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
It is the logical way of finding solutions to the problems. It involved the following steps:
1. Observation
2. Hypothesis
– Prediction
3. Test Hypothesis
a. Experiment
b. Further Observations
4. Conclusion
EDWARD JENNER 1749-1823
• Smallpox
• Scientific method
His observations
Smallpox is deadly.
Survivors are immune.
Milkmaids do not get smallpox.
Milkmaids get cowpox from cow.
His hypothesis
Cowpox makes you immune to small pox.
His prediction
If you are exposed to cowpox, you will be immune to smallpox.
His experimentation.
The boy received vaccination
His results
The boy did not get smallpox.
His conclusion
Hypothesis supported.
ROBERT KOCH 1843-1910
• He identified the bacterium that causes anthrax.
• He identified the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.
LOUIS PASTEUR 1822-1895
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• He developed vaccines for rabies and anthrax.

• He demonstrated the existence of germs.
• He invented Pasteurization.
Germ Theory of Disease
• Germs cause disease
• Predictions of the Germ Theory
– Many diseases are caused by germs
• Diptheria
• Whooping cough
• Measles
• Plague
• Modern medicine uses the Germ Theory to guide research
• Ramifications of Germ Theory
– Previous concepts about the cause of many diseases incorrect
• Evil spirits
• Bad thoughts
• Excess blood
THEORY VS SCIENTIFIC THEORY
• Theory (as used outside of science)
– Guess
– Speculation
– Has not been tested
Scientific Theory
– Principle
– Tested many times
– Explains many different phenomena
– Makes predictions
– Falsifiable
Falsify Germ Theory
• Smallpox occurs without the smallpox virus
• Tuberculosis occurs without the TB bacterium
• Discovery of a different type of cause for infectious diseases
– Cell phones
– Computer screens
– Lack of exercise

Jeff’s Lost Dog

• Jeff’s beloved dog is missing (observation)
• Jeff thinks the dog has run away (hypothesis)
• What can falsify his hypothesis?
• Jeff finds his dog asleep in the house
• Testing Hypotheses
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• Observation
Jeff found his dog asleep in the house
Scientists find the same bacterium in the bodies of people who die of the plague
• Experiment
Jenner vaccinates boy with cowpox and later infects him with smallpox. The boy does
not get smallpox.

100 sick people

Experimental group Control group

50 people 50 people
Medicine x Placebo

AFTER 3 DAYS

Experimental group Control group

34 get better 33 get better
Medicine x Placebo

AFTER 3 DAYS

Experimental group Control group

34 get better 5 get better
Medicine x Placebo
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LAW VS THEORY

• Law

– Observation that has been repeated numerous times

– Law of gravity

– Does not explain the observation

• Theory

– Explains why or how something in nature happens

Theory of Evolution

• Populations of organisms change over time

• Changes result in new species that share a common ancestor.

• Fact

Evolution is documented in the fossil record and has been observed in our lifetime.

• Theory

How evolution happens

• Scientists no longer ask if evolution occurs. They study how evolution occurs.

• Evolution is the major theory that guides research in Zoology

SCIENCE

• A body of knowledge gained from studying the natural world

• It is tested against the natural world

– Does not use supernatural explanations

• Its conclusions are not absolute.

– New discoveries can revise previous conclusions

• It is falsifiable
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References:

Duran, A.P., Duran Emiliano T., Duran Aurea P., Lecture Notes on General Zoology, The Writer Staff,
2003
Miller, Stephen and Harley, John P. Zoology. 6th Edition McGraw-Hill Education.2005
http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/zoology

Suggested Activities:

DIRECTIONS: Answer the following comprehensively:

1. Define Zoology.
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Define Science.
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. Differentiate the following:
a. Law vs Theory
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
b. Theory vs Scientific Theory
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Identify the contribution of the following scientists:

a. Jenner _________________________________________________________
b. Koch _________________________________________________________
c. Pasteur _________________________________________________________
5. Identify the branch of zoology given the following situations:
_________________________ a. Dogs, Cats, Carabaos and Goats
_________________________ b. Chanos chanos is our national fish.
_________________________ c. Migratory birds in Candaba, Pampanga.
_________________________ d. The sbake plays important role in the food chain.
_________________________ e. Tarsiers of Bohol, Philippines.