What is Biology? 

Biology is the branch of science that deals with the study of living 

things. In Greek, Bios means life while Logos means knowledge. 

Branches of biology 

There are two main branches: 

1. Botany: Study of plants 

2. Zoology: Study of animals 

The others include: 

1. Ecology: Study of living things in their surroundings. 

2. Genetics: The study of inheritance and variation. 

3. Entomology: Study of insects 

4. Parasitology: Study of parasites 

5. Taxonomy: Study of classification of organisms 

6. Microbiology: Study of microscopic organisms 

7. Anatomy: Study of structure of cells 

8. Cytology: Study of cells 

9. Biochemistry: Study of chemical changes inside living 

organisms 

Name at least six other smaller branches of biology (6 marks). 

Importance of Biology 

1. Solving environmental problems e.g. Food shortage, poor 

health services, pollution, misuse of environmental resources etc.

2. Choice of careers e.g. Medicine, Agriculture, public health, 

Veterinary, Animal husbandry, Horticulture, Dentistry etc.

3. Acquiring scientific skills e.g. observing, identifying, recording, 

classification, measuring, analyzing, evaluating etc.

4. International co-operation e.g. Development of HIV\AIDS 

vaccine, fight against severe Acute respiratory Syndrome 

(SARS), fight to save ozone layer from depletion, management of 

resources through international depletion.

Others 

• Help on study of other subjects

• Learn what living things are made up of and their bodies 

work

• Acquire knowledge about plant and animal diseases and 

their treatment.

• Know the effects of our bodies on drug and substance abuse 

and can kill.

• Learn about HIV\AIDS diseases and other viral diseases e.g. 

its treatment—balanced diets, proper hygiene, spreading, 

sexual behavior, cultural practices etc.

List five professional occupations that require the study of biology. 

(5 marks) 

Characteristics of living things; 

1. Nutrition: Process by which living things acquire and utilize 

nutrients: plants photosynthesize; animals feed on already 

manufactured foods.

2. Respiration: energy-producing process occurring in all the cells

of living things.

3. Gaseous Exchange: where living things take in air (oxygen) and 

give out air(carbon iv oxide) across respiratory surfaces.

4. Excretion: Process by which waste or harmful materials resulting 

from chemical reactions within cells of living things are 

eliminated. Excess of such materials poison living things.

5. Growth and Development: Growth –is the irreversible increase 

in size and Mass.—Essential for body function. Development –

Irreversible change in complexity of the structure of living things.

6. Reproduction: Process by which living things give rise to new 

individuals of the same kind. 

7. Irritability: Is the ability of living things to perceive changes in 

their surroundings and respond to them appropriately. E.g. 

reaction to changes in temperature, humidity, light, pressure and 

to the presence of certain chemicals. 

8. Movement: Change in position by either a part or the whole 

living thing. Locomotion – Progressive change in position by the 

whole living thing. In animals, movement include; swimming, 

walking, running, flying. In plants, closing of leaves, folding of 

leaves, closing of flowers, growing of shoots towards light etc. 

Question

1. List four uses of energy obtained from the process of 

respiration. (4 marks). 

2. List six characteristics of living things (6 marks). 

Collection of specimens 

Apparatus used 

1. Sweep net: for catching flying insects.

2. Fish net: For trapping small fish and other small water 

animals.

3. Pooter:For sucking small animals from rock surfaces and 

tree barks.

4. Bait trap: For attracting and trapping small animals e.g. 

rats.

5. Pit fall trap: For catching crawling animals.

6. Pair of forceps: picking up small crawling animals e.g. 

stinging insects.

7. Specimen bottles: keeping collected specimen. Larger 

specimens require large bottles.

8. The magnifying lens: Instrument used to enlarge objects. 

Lenses are found in microscope and the hand lens 

(magnifier). Its frame is marked e.g. x8 or x10—indicating 

how much larger will be the image compared to object.

Precautions during Collection and Observation of specimens 

• Collect only the number of specimen you need.

• Do not harm the specimens during the capture or collection 

exercise.

• Handle dangerous or injurious specimens with care e.g. 

stinging plants or insects i.e. use forceps or hand gloves.

• The teacher will immobilize highly mobile animals. (diethyl 

ether, formalin, chloroform)

• Do not destroy the natural habitat of the specimens