What is Biology?
Biology is the study of living things and how they interact with each other and their environment. This includes how organisms obtain food (nutrition), how they get energy from food (respiration), how they get rid of waste (excretion) and how they grow and reproduce. It also includes the study of genetics, inheritance, evolution, and how organisms relate to their environment (ecology).
At GCSE the focus is on basic physiology, genetics and ecology. Students have to develop experimental capabilities and understand the importance of data analysis, correlations and causal relationships. The students experience the subject as a mix of theory and practical work.
Applied aspects of biology are also studied, including applications in farming, the food and drinks industry, conservation and in medicine.
Many of the recent advances/issues in science have involved various aspects of biology from climate change to genetically modified foods, cloning, personalised medicine and immunotherapy for cancer. Biology is therefore both interesting and relevant to many current issues. Success in biology can open the door to careers in a variety of areas such as pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, farming, the food and drinks industry, environmental management/conservation and veterinary science.