CHAPTER I
THE PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY
Biology (Greek, bios, life; logos, discourse) means the
science of life. It treats of animals and plants. That
branch of biology which treats of animals is called zoology
(Gr. zoon, animal; logos, discourse). The biological
science of botany (Gr. botane, plant or herb) treats of
plants.
Living things are distinguished from the not living by a series of processes, or changes (feeding, growth, development, multiplication, etc.), which together constitute what is called life. These processes are called functions. Both plants and animals have certain parts called organs which have each a definite work, or function; hence animals and plants are said to be organized. For example, men and most animals have a certain organ (the mouth) for taking in nourishment; another (the food tube), for its digestion.
Because of its organization, each animal or plant is said to be an organism. Living things constitute the organic kingdom. Things without life and not formed by life constitute the inorganic, or mineral, kingdom. Mark I for inorganic and O for organic after the proper words in this list: granite, sugar, lumber, gold, shellac, sand, coal, paper, glass, starch, copper, gelatine, cloth, air, potatoes, alcohol, oil, clay. Which of these things are used for food by animals? Conclusion?
