Theories of Biology - Essay Example

Theories of Biology Theories of Biology The theory of biology that will be discussed in this article is about thetheory of inheritance. The theory of inheritance was developed by Gregor Mendel. Mendel’s theory is that “the traits or characteristics of organisms pass from one generation to the next by means of hereditary factors called genes” (Pruitt & Underwood, 2006). In the modern world today, the theory of inheritance by Mendel’s is the foundation of most studies on diseases which are inherited by children from their parents.

In a study by genome scientists in the University of Washington, by getting a blood sample from a pregnant woman and a saliva specimen from the father, the genome of a fetus can be identified (Pollack, 2012). This new development will be very useful in detecting genetic diseases even before the baby is born. It was further found that gene mutations can be inherited from the parents. Aside from the theory of inheritance, there are other major theories of biology. A famous theory is Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection (Pruitt & Underwood, 2006).

This theory explains why there are different species on earth and how these species have evolved. Another theory is the cell theory which “states that all organisms are composed of cells and that all cells come from preexisting cells” (Pruitt & Underwood, 2006). Biological classification is another theory in biology which classifies living organisms according to their similarities and differences (Pruitt & Underwood, 2006). The fifth major theory is bioenergetics which affirms that the energy that powers life is regulated by the same energy in the inanimate universe (Pruitt & Underwood, 2006).

The sixth theory explains that organisms can tolerate varying external conditions by maintaining stable conditions internally, known as homeostasis (Pruitt & Underwood, 2006). The latest theory of biology is ecosystems. This theory acknowledges that organisms are part of a population which is part of a larger environment composed of other living and non-living things (Pruitt & Underwood, 2006). ReferencesPollack, A. (2012, June 6). DNA blueprint for fetus built using tests of parents. Retrieved July 31, 2012, from The New York Times web site: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/health/tests-of-parents-are-used-to-map-genes-of-a-fetus.html?_r=1&pagewanted=allPruitt, N. L., & Underwood, L. S. (2006).

Chapter 1 - Biology: What is the study of life? In N. L. Pruitt, & L. S. Underwood, Bioinquiry: Making Connections in Biology (3rd ed) (pp. 1-18). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.