ROLE OF BIOLOGY IN SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL

DEVELOPMENT
The two main branches of Biology are Botany and Zoology. In addition to these, there
are other branches and sub-branches of Biology. You have come across some of those in the
preceding parts of this chapter. Now let us discuss the importance of Biology on the basis of
knowledge you have already attained. Agricultural science has many branches of which
Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant breeding, plant pathology, Fishery, Animal husbandry, Poultry,
Honeybee culture (Apiculture), Sericulture etc. are important. With the application of knowledge
of these branches economic development is possible. Both plants and animals are the essential
components of natural environment. It is known to you that plants and animals are
interdependent in many ways. Ecology makes us alert about the importance of plants and
animals and also the necessity of their presence in nature, Educated and conscious citizens can
play important role in conservation and development of environment. Economic development
sometimes produces adverse effects on natural environment. Environmental degradation and
hazards can be encountered through proper
application of our knowledge in ecology, Economic solvency and good environment help social
development.
You know what nature is. We live in nature. We have soil, water, air different plants,
animals, insects and worms etc. all around us. All these together constitute nature. Millions of
years ago nature was not as we see it today nor will it remain the same after millions of years.
This indicates that nature is always changing. Nature undergoes changes due to various natural
forces such as river-currents, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions etc. Different human activities,
such as destruction of forests, construction of dams etc. also bring about changes in nature.
Scientists have been thinking about the origin of nature. There are different theories about the
origin of the Earth. Among these the commonly acceptable theory explains that a part of the Sun
or a similar star got detached as a result of the attraction of another star. The planets including
the Earth and then satellites have been created from the detached part of the sun. According to
this theory at the beginning the Earth was in a hot, gaseous state. Subsequently the Earth
gradually cooled and condensed to form the Earth as it is now. The core of the Earth is still in an
extremely hot liquid and gaseous state. Nature of the Earth at the primary stage was not at all
suitable for inhabitation of life. Gradually it became favourable for the existence of living forms.