Biology in Daily Life: Uses, Importance and Facts

Biology is the study of life and its processes, affecting us in ways we may not even realise. Since the beginning of time, complex biological notions have been bothering us. Biology is the reason we exist on this planet. Every action we take, including eating, sleeping, and even walking, incorporates biology in some manner. Biology is at work from the moment we are born, grow into a child, a teenager, an adult and then start ageing or whenever we get sick and recover from sickness. Each cell in our body works for us, even while resting or doing nothing.

Here are some examples of how biology is used in our daily lives:

1. Agriculture:

Agriculture is the source of food we eat. All types of foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, oils, honey, sugar, spices, tea, and coffee, are derived from plants. Humans and animals all depend on agriculture for food and survival. Biology is used in agriculture to improve crop yields, reduce pests and weeds, and develop new farming techniques. Farmers use biological principles to select and breed the best crops and to manage the soil and other natural resources. Flowers, sprouts, and seeds are obtained through pollination by insects and birds.

2. Medicine:

We all are familiar with the scenario of getting sick, consulting a doctor, taking medication and feeling better. But do we know how that works? Biology plays a vital role in the development of new medicines and treatments. Medical professionals use biological knowledge to diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases, ultimately improving our  overall health and well-being. The intricate nature of disease-causing microorganisms, including their existence, reproduction, and life cycle, has been studied by researchers. With the help of this study, they develop efficient disease-preventive medicines.

3. Food and Beverages:

Food is the key to our survival. Life would not be possible without it. Both plants and animals provide us with food, all thanks to biology. Cheese, yoghurt, and other dairy products like curd are created with the assistance of microbes. The same procedure is used to make wine from grapes. Biology is used to improve the safety and quality of food products. Food scientists use biological knowledge to understand how food is processed, stored, and distributed to develop new food products that are safe, healthy, as well as appealing. Even for plants, the soil’s microorganisms act as a decomposing agent to produce compost that serves as a helpful nutrient for plant growth.

4. Environment:

Biology helps us understand the nature of interactions between organisms and the environment. Human interaction with the environment is diverse, and biology is used to study and understand the natural environment, plants, animals, and ecosystems. Environmental scientists use this knowledge to develop ways to protect and preserve the environment while trying to manage the impact of human activities on the planet.

5. Clothes:

Whether you want protection from the scorching summer heat or bone-chilling winter winds, clothes are your saviour. In the summer, you wear breathable cotton clothes made from plants, and sheep wool makes thick sweaters that keep you warm in the winter. Nylon, linen, and fabric dyes are also obtained from plants, and polyester is from fossils. All these manufacturing processes involve biology.

6. Biotechnology:

Biology is the foundation of biotechnology, which uses living organisms or biological systems to produce new products and technologies. Biotechnology is used in fields such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and environmental science, to develop new drugs, crops, and environmental solutions.

7. Fuels:

Even though we are trying to switch to renewable energy sources, the world is still running on fossil fuels, especially coal and oil. Fossil fuels have biological origins since they are derived from living creatures only. Natural gas and petroleum are obtained from dead and decomposing biological matter.

8. Stem Cells:

The super quick replication rate of stem cells makes them extremely important to us as they may differentiate into many types of cells, such as muscle cells, brain cells, heart cells, etc. After an unlimited number of cell divisions, we humans evolved into multicellular beings. The stem cells function similarly. They can repair harmed tissues and organs, improve organ function in specific areas, introduce genetic flaws for study, and help researchers create new medications to treat disease. Once more, biology comes to your rescue.

9. Jet Lag:

Jet Lag is another prominent example of biology in our daily lives. When we fly to different time zones, we can’t fall asleep. This is because our internal biological clock, also known as the circadian rhythm, determines when you should be up and go to sleep. However, the distance you have travelled is not taken into account by your biological clock. Therefore, the more time zones you travel through, your jet lag will be worse.

10. Investigation and Justice:

Biology helps us to investigate crime scenes for evidence like hair follicles, fingerprints, skin cells or blood. Police or investigation bureaus investigate them using genetic information to confirm whether a person was present at the crime site and to catch the culprit.

Biology plays a vital role in our daily lives, and its impact will only continue to grow in the future. Whether it’s improving our health, feeding the world, or protecting the environment, biology provides us with the tools and knowledge we need to make the world a better place.