What is morphology in biology? This is a science that studies the size, shape and structure of animals, plants and microorganisms, as well as the ratio and arrangement of the parts of which they consist.
What is morphology in biology: definition
As a rule, morphology contrasts with physiology, which deals with the study of the functions of organisms and their parts. Functions and structures are so closely interconnected that their separation is somewhat arbitrary. What is morphology in biology? Her field of study was originally associated with bones, muscles, blood vessels of living organisms, as well as with roots, stems, leaves and flowers of higher plants. However, the advent of a light microscope made it possible to study some structural details of individual tissues and cells.
Thanks to the methods for producing ultrathin sections, a completely new aspect of morphology was created - the composition of the cell structure. Electron microscopy reveals the amazing complexity of the composition of plants and animals. Thus, morphology is a science that includes the study of biological structures in a huge range of sizes, from macroscopic to molecular. A thorough knowledge of this section of biology is fundamental for a doctor, veterinarian, pathologist, all those who are related to the types and causes of structural changes that arise as a result of specific diseases.
Modern morphology
One of the main directions of modern morphology is to elucidate the molecular foundations of the cell structure. Such a method as electron microscopy played a significant role in this. Complex details of the cell structure were revealed, which served as the basis for correlating biological organelles with specific cell functions.
As for plants, interesting facts were discovered here about such important structures as chloroplasts containing chlorophyll, without which the process of photosynthesis would be impossible. The structural details of bacteria and blue-green algae, which are similar in many respects but noticeably different from higher plants and animals, have also been studied at a higher level in order to determine their origin.
Morphology and taxonomy
What does morphology mean in biology and how is it related to other biological disciplines? It is of great importance in taxonomy. Morphological features characteristic of a particular species are used to identify it. An example would be signs that distinguish closely related species of plants and animals, such as color, size, and body proportions. Thus, morphological features can be very useful in classifying living organisms. The relationship with anatomy, cytology, histology, embryology and physiology is also clearly visible.
Aspects of morphology
The most famous aspect of morphology is the study of the general structure, organs and the organism as a whole. A thorough study of the adaptation process allowed us to conclude that consistent adaptation to changing conditions is directly related to the evolutionary history of various animals. The next aspect is changes in genes (mutations) that occur constantly and can lead to a decrease in size and a change in organ function. On the other hand, changes in the environment or lifestyle of a species may generally render some organ unnecessary.
An important section of biology
What is morphology in biology? This section is devoted to the study of the form and external structures of organisms.
Among the main methods, observation, description and analysis of data on various species are distinguished, while the importance and importance of form variations within the species for taxonomic studies, as well as the study of speciation and adaptation, are evaluated.