In this article we will discuss about the role of biology in the life of man.
The progress of human civilisation has, to a great extent, been moulded along the lines of development of the biological science. Man is a social creature. People live in towns and cities. This has created several health problems such as supply of pure water, disposal of sewage and prevention of contagious diseases, so that they may not break out in epidemic form. These problems are best solved by biology.
Bacterial enemies of man have been discovered, and remedies against their spread and destruction are now possible by vaccination and other measures. No longer do plagues bring terror to a district. Penicillin, streptomycin, terramycin, Chloromycetin, aureomycin, etc., are the magic bullets to shoot down the microbes, and all of them are the gifts of the biological science to mankind.
Life-histories of animal parasites invading man, and of animals which quickly transmit them to a town-dwelling community by acting as carriers have been worked out and effective measures for their control have been planned. Moreover, an expert biological knowledge is essential for selecting the right kind of raw materials for the manufacture of drugs, because most of them are either vegetable or animal products.
The few facts that are mentioned here serve to illustrate how biology may be applied to mitigate human sufferings and increase the life span of man. Modern man, unlike his primitive ancestors, does not depend upon fishing and hunting.
He cultivates plants and rears fishes as well as cattle to get his food and other necessities of life. This has resulted in the development of agriculture, fishery and animal husbandry which are applied aspects of the basic biological science. Better and productive varieties of crop plants such as rice, wheat, jute, sugar-cane, cotton and pulses Eire now bred experimentally and distributed throughout the country.
Disease-resistant grains are raised and seeds are vernalized by special treatments so as to yield the crop before the usual time of harvesting. Soil is saved from exhaustion by crop-rotation.
Injurious insect pests are exterminated and plant diseases cured or prevented by adequate scientific measures. Domesticated animals, such as the poultry and the cattle, are improved with a view to increasing the egg or milk production by experimental breeding, and their diseases cured or controlled by preventive measures.
Fishes are now reared in fisheries and the small fry distributed to fishermen with proper scientific instructions for growing them. Life-histories of the more important food-fishes are explored and suitable kinds are bred. Fishing industry has been improved by employment of adequate catching devices, such as traps and nets.
Trawlers are used for fishing in the open sea, so as to increase the number of catches, and fish-oils are manufactured as side products. We are really proud of the fact that during last few years spectacular advances have been made in agriculture in our country.
Employing scientific methods by way of selection of better seeds, adequate application of manures and improved irrigation facilities agricultural practices have been practically revolutionised. Similar improvements have also been made in fisheries, silk-producing insects and diaries.
Silk industry has been greatly improved by sericulture. In this, better kinds of silk moths are experimentally bred with a view to increasing the rigidity, fineness or other qualities of the silk produced by them. Biology, therefore, has contributed largely towards obtaining better varieties and larger yields of food and other human necessaries.
Forests and wild game-animals are national resources from which man derives useful materials such as timber, fur and even food. Climate and crop position of the country depend, to a certain extent, upon the biological communities residing in perfect harmony amongst the forests.
Proper and judicious conservation of the natural resources demands a fundamental knowledge of the principles of biology, so that they may be utilised at the right moment.
Successful plant breeding, animal husbandry and conservation of forests are effective means for checking famine which is a scourge of the human society. Man has three powerful adversaries to fight with. These are famine, disease and death. Biology is an effective weapon against each of these three human terrors.