Here is an essay on ‘Zoology’ for class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Zoology’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Zoology
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Meaning of Zoology
- Essay on the Relation of Zoology to Other Sciences
- Essay on the Subdivisions of Zoology
- Essay on the Divisions of Zoology
- Essay on the Practical Application of Zoology
- Essay on the Importance of the Study of Zoology
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Essay # 1. Meaning of Zoology:
Zoology (Gr., zoion = animal + logos – study) is the; branch of life sciences that deals with the animal organisms as contrasted to botany, the science that is concerned with the plant organisms. Zoology and botany make up the science of biology (Gr., bios = life + logos = study) or the study of living things.
Biology is the branch of science which investigates the origin, structure, functions and distribution of life in all its forms. Both zoology and botany seek to establish; exact and quantitative principles for the basic organisation of living system.
Essay # 2. Relation of Zoology to Other Sciences:
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All the sciences are inter-related. Although biology uses physics, chemistry and other physical sciences in explaining its phenomena, biological principles are not merely an application of physicochemical laws. The laws of many life processes have no counterparts in physics or chemistry.
Many biological concepts can be expressed mathematically but others cannot. Biological sciences at present are often restricted to mere descriptive statements of general phenomena without quantitative connotation.
Biological systems are represented by many levels of organisation, not all of which have been resolved into concise concepts and testable theories. Many branches of study serve to connect biology to other sciences, such as paleontology, biophysics and biochemistry. There has been a marked trend for some time towards a synthesis of the biological sciences with other sciences.
Essay # 3. Subdivisions of Zoology:
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Zoology is such a vast subject that advanced workers in the field tend to specialise in one or more of the subdivisions in which they can hope to become very proficient. The subdivisions are grouped according to two types of approach.
I. Subdivisions According to Subject Matter:
a. Morphology (Gr., morphe = form; logos – study):
The study of the physical structure of organisms.
(i) External morphology:
The study of external features of animals.
(ii) Anatomy (Gr., ana = up; tome = cutting):
The study of gross structure of the internal organs by dissection, that which can be seen with the naked eyes.
(iii) Comparative anatomy:
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The study of gross structure emphasizing similarities and differences between animals.
(iv) Histology (Gr., histos = tissue; logos = study):
The study of fine (microscopic) structure of tissues, which include the cells and their intercellular materials.
(v) Cytology (Gr., kytos = hollow vessel; logos = study):
The study of the detailed structure of individual cells and their components.
b. Physiology (Gr., physis = nature; logos = study):
The study of functional mechanism of animals. The method of digestion of food in the human body and the way in which cells construct new protoplasm are typical physiological aspects of zoology.
(i) Cellular physiology:
The study of internal functions of cells and their components.
(ii) Comparative physiology:
The study of the similarities and differences between functional mechanisms of different animals.
(iii) Physiological chemistry:
The study of animal functions involving chemical reactions.
(iv) Systematic physiology:
The study of the functions of organs and organ systems.
(v) Pathological physiology:
The study of disturbances that occur in various functions of the organism during certain diseases.
c. Taxonomy (Gr., taxis = organisation; nomos = law):
The study of the classification of animals into logical groups; the study of the evolutionary relationship of animals with one another.
d. Endocrinology (Gx.,endon = within; krinein = to separate; logos = study):
The study of endocrine glands and the hormone actions in animals.
e. Embryology (Gr., embryon = embryo; logos = study):
The study of development of organism from its beginning until it reaches a form of recognisable as the adult type. Since most animals have their beginning as single cells, embryology starts when the single cell begins divisions and continues with the formation of the various body parts until all the basic adult characteristics are present.
This termination is at birth if the animal is a mammal, or at the hatching of the egg for most other forms of animal life.
f. Ecology (Gr., oikos = house; logos = study):
The study of organisms in relation to their environment. An example would be how a certain animal gets its food, what animals threaten it, how it protects itself from those animals and how it survives un-favourable climatic conditions.
g. Genetics (Gr., genesis – origin):
The study of heredity and variations. It seeks to find the explanation for similarities and differences between parents and their offspring. Since the basic unit of the heredity is gene, genetics involves a study of nature of the genes and chromosomes and how they control the growth and development of living organisms.
h. Evolution (L.,e = out; volvere = develop):
The study of evolution is a study of how living organisms develop inherited characteristics which better adapt them to their surroundings, the progress of these adaptive changes in the present and the course of such changes in the past. This study extends back into the possible origin of living things.
The study of distribution of animals on the surface of the earth.
II. Subdivisions According to Animal Studied:
i. Protozoology (Gr., protos = first; zoios = animal; logos = study):
The study of one-celled animals, the Protozoa.
ii. Helminthology (Gr., helmins = worm; logos = study):
The study of parasitic worms or helminths.
iii. Parasitology (Gr., para – beside; sitos = foods; logos = study):
The study of parasitic animals.
iv. Entomology (Gr., enton = insect; logos = study):
The study of insects.
v. Malacology (Gr., malakos = soft; logos = study):
The study of molluscs.
vi. Ichthyology (Gr., ichtys = fish; logos = study):
The study of fishes.
vii. Herpetology (Gr., herpein – to creep; logos = to study):
The study of amphibians and reptiles.
viii. Ornithology (Gr., ornis = bird; logos – study):
The study of birds.
ix. Mammalogy (Gr., mamma = breast; logos = study):
The study of mammals.
Essay # 4. Divisions of Zoology:
1. Morphology or Anatomy:
The study of gross structures of organisms both external and internal and the relation of one organ with the other.
2. Microanatomy:
The study of histological structures or tissues under magnification.
3. Physiology:
It deals with the functions of organs in relation to structure.
4. Cytology:
The study of structural details of the cells, their modifications and divisions.
5. Embryology:
The science of development of animals from zygote stage to fully formed young individual. Now-a-days it has been replaced by the term morphogenesis.
6. Parasitology:
The structure, modification and the influence of parasitic life both on parasite and host.
7. Entomology:
Various aspects of insects including their influences on other animals.
8. Taxonomy:
Nomenclature of animals and classification or assigning them proper position in the animal kingdom.
9. Ecology:
Relation of animals with the environment and the influence of the latter on the former.
10. Zoogeography:
Distribution of animals on the surface of the earth.
11. Evolution:
Descent with modifications or the appearance of new species from pre-existing species.
Essay # 5. Practical Application of Zoology:
Our ever-increasing knowledge in zoology has enabled us to apply this science in human benefit, ranging from prevention of diseases to production of various items for our use, introduction and stabilisation of new hybrids and in many other fields.
1. Medicine:
A knowledge of animals producing various diseases, viz. malaria, filaria, dengue, liver rot, etc., is essential for proper treatment. Further knowledge on anatomy and physiology of experiment animals like rabbit, monkey and others enables us not only to test the drugs but in the manufacture of hormones, enzymes, vaccines, etc.
2. Fibre:
The beautiful silk is really the secretion from the silk glands of the silkworm Bombyx mori. The larva builds a hard protective cocoon around it, within which it pupates. The silk thread is obtained from this cocoon.
3. Lac:
The lac is a resinous substance secreted by the female lac insect Tcichardia lacca to build their nests on the branches of food tree. The dye obtained in the processing of lac is used for colouring and the shellac in various industries, viz. pottery, polish, toy, phonograph records, etc.
4. Pearl:
The pearl is an important item of commerce. It is extensively used in the manufacture of ornaments and decorative articles. Large scale pearl cultivation is carried out in a number of countries including India, of which Japan tops the list.
5. Food:
The animals themselves or their products are very important items in the list of our food. With increased demand for animal food, fishery, poultry and dairy have been started on commercial basis.
(a) Fishery:
The knowledge on anatomy, physiology, breeding, growth, migration and behaviour of marine, estuarine and fresh water fishes is being utilised in fisheries and it has been possible to produce a number of high yielding fishes. Sea is a vast reservoir of fish and sea fishing is encouraged by a number of countries.
(b) Dairy:
Healthy cattle and buffaloes are a good source of protein and milk. In dairy in addition to maintaining proper health of the live-stock, efforts have been made with success to improve stock by hybridization.
(c) Poultry:
Birds are a good source of most tasty meat and egg. Fowl and duck are the common animals of a poultry. The maintenance of the health of the birds and improvement of stock by hybridization and other means go side by side in an ideal poultry.
Essay # 6. Importance of the Study of Zoology:
Zoology is a complex science having immense number of problems yet to solve. This alone is a challenge to an enquiring mind, but there are also other motives for zoological study.
i. Man is the product of the biological heritage. He is a part of the animal kingdom and a product of the evolutionary process. He is limited by the potentialities of living matter, for his roots are found in his biological background.
No group of animals stands alone and isolated from other groups; all are linked in a sequence of life patterns, many of which have been displaced by other patterns in the long evolutionary process. Much information about man is obtained by studying other animals, for there is an underlying unity of structure and function throughout the animal kingdom.
ii. The study of zoology is necessary for pre-professional work in medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary science, dietetics, agriculture, fishery, poultry, sericulture, apiculture, conservation of wildlife, sanitary engineering and many other fields. Medical sciences have profited from zoological discoveries, for concepts formed by studying one group of animals can be applied also to other groups, including man.
iii. Zoology is of practical importance because of our dependence upon animals for many products and uses, such as food, clothing, sources of drugs, subjects of experimentation, etc. Genetics, one of the branches of zoology, has been a factor in producing better domestic animals and even promises some progress in the improvement of human stock.
iv. Zoological study furnishes the basis for psychological and sociological studies. At present there is a lively study of animal behaviour and its implications of human application, which is indicative of this interest. Animal sociology is rapidly becoming a branch of zoology in its own right.
v. An interest in living forms is basic. Primitive man followed the chase from necessity; modern man does it as a relief from the tension of organised society and for the sheer love of hunting and fishing.
vi. Animals influence man’s welfare in harmful ways. Parasites injure man and his domestic animals. Many animals carry disease (vectors) and others themselves disease agents, such as those causing malaria. Destruction of crops and fruits by insect pests is a problem for agriculture everywhere.
vii. All animals, including man, fit into a balance of nature. This is the web of life in which all plant and animal life fits into a pattern of environmental relationship.
viii. The study of zoology is an excellent discipline for your mind. This is true for all sciences, but it is particularly true of life sciences that have a unique role in man’s cultural pattern. Biological concepts influence your thinking in every realm of human interest.
For instance, the concept of evolution or the transformation of organisms from one type to another during geological eras, has affected concepts in philosophy, psychology, sociology, religion and many other disciplines.
One of the fascinating facets of biological study is the ever changing nature of its concepts. Much biological investigation may be done with practical objectives in mind, but a greater amount is motivated by curiosity and an urge to explain what lies beyond our present knowledge of life process.
ix. There are aesthetic values in a study of biology as well. A student can expect to learn all or even many of the names and characteristics of the vast variety of plants and animals but a knowledge of the structure and functions of the major types will greatly increase the pleasure of a stroll in the woods or an excursion to the sea shore.
The average city dweller gets only a small glimpse of vast panorama of living things, for so many of them live in places from where they cannot easily see the sea, or parts of the earth that are not easily visited. Trips to botanical gardens, zoos, aquariums and museums will help give one an appreciation of tremendous variety of living things.