Correlation of Physical
science with Biology
Biology is the study
of living organisms. Physics is the study of matter and the laws of nature to
understand the behavior of matter and the universe. The Biophysical Society
explains that, when scientists combine physics and biology, they learn more
about biological systems on a molecular or atomic level. By taking a quantitative
approach to biological questions, a scientist gains a better understanding of
patterns that occur in living organisms.
Physics provides the
basis for biology. Without space, matter, energy and time -- components that
make up the universe -- living organisms would not exist. Physicist Richard
Feynman said that everything on earth is made of atoms, basic units of matter,
that constantly move. Since biology has its foundation in physics, it applies
physical natural laws to the study of living organisms, according to Muskegon
Community College. For instance, physics helps explain how bats use sound waves
to navigate in the dark and how wings give insects the ability to move through
the air. The American Physical Society shares that many flowers arrange their
seeds or petals in a Fibonacci-like sequence to maximize exposure to light and
nutrients. In some cases, biology helps prove physical laws and theories.
Feynman states that biology helped scientists come up with the law of
conservation of energy.
There are instances
when physics disproves or can’t explain biological occurrences and vice versa.
For example, physics can’t account for the encryption of traits in DNA or
historical contingencies as they relate to evolution. Physics and biology can’t
explain the origin of life or how inorganic objects transitioned to organic
life. Cornell University states that the biological theory of evolution
contradicts the second law of thermodynamics because nature can’t create order
out of disorder -- and evolution is a process that creates increasing levels of
order. Scientists wishing to bridge the gaps between physics and biology use biophysics,
a science that relies on theories and methods related to physics to study and
explain biological systems. In a nut shell,
·
Biological
instruments such as microscopes, X-rays, ECG etc. are based on the principles
of physics.
·
Light
induces various effects on living organisms.
·
Study
on the structure and functioning of human eye require knowledge of optics.
·
Physical
techniques such as: electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, fractionation, Chromatography
etc. have made possible the study of finer details of cellular and sub-cellular
components
No comments:
Post a Comment