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Sunday, 1 December 2013

Interdisciplinary approaches in the school curriculum –various branches related to life science

Science is one of the important subjects in school. It can be taught in relation to many other subjects. Physics, Chemistry and biology are the three branches of science. Now-a-days there are separate teachers to teach each branch of science in schools. It can be discussed under three heads

1. Relationship of Biology with other branches of science:
            It is said that no subject is independent and every subject is dependent on the other. This dependency is more among the three branches of science. All the branches of science are interdependent upon each other and there are a number of facts and principles, which are common to various science subjects. As a result of this new subjects like Physical Chemistry, Biophysics, Biochemistry, Soil Chemistry, Geophysics etc., have been introduced. In order to create interest and effectiveness in learning, the teachers should teach his subject in relation to other subjects.
(i) Relationship of Biology with physics:
            The principles of physics are applied in biology. When the biology teacher teaches about eye, he can compare it with that of camera. In order to understand the images formed in the eye knowledge about the image formation by the convex lens is essential. A new branch of science called Biophysics resulted as a result of this relationship.

Biophysics:
            It is the branch of science, which explains about the application of the methods and principles of physics to biological phenomena. The electron Microscope and X-ray diffraction apparatus are the instruments, which are based on physical principles. These instruments are used to study the physical arrangement and functioning of biological materials at the molecular level.
            A number of physical principles are essential for the life of the living organisms. Plants require water to live. Plants absorb water from the soil by osmosis. The basis of osmosis is density which is a physics principle.
            All living organisms stand, walk and run. For all these activities, gravity is responsible. If there is no gravity all organisms cannot stand, walk or run.
            Pressure is responsible for blood circulation in man and other animals and for root pressure in plants. In this way physics can be relate with biology in number of relationships.

(ii) Relationship of Biology with chemistry:
            Biology is more closely related to Chemistry than Physics. The chemical substances we used daily in our food.

Biochemistry:
Chemistry deals with the structure and functions of various elements in the world. Biochemistry deals with the chemical substances and chemical changes that are found in the living organisms. This branch combines the knowledge of chemistry and its methods on living organisms.
            The food molecules are the combinations of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. These are chemical substances. We take these chemical substances in the form of food.
            The composition of enzymes, the changes that take place in food substances, digestion, absorption and assimilation are all biochemical activities.

2. Relationship of Biology with other school subjects:
(i) Relationship of Biology with Mathematics:
            The knowledge of mathematics is important for the understanding of science especially biology. Mere numbers, decimals, proportion, inverse ratio, equations, graphs, etc, are some of the topics. The number of plants and animals in a particular place, the ratio of one organism to the other, the proportion of substances present in cell and simple calculations in genetics and physiology require mathematical knowledge.

(ii)Relationship of Biology with History:
            History is a subject that tells about the past events. When history is associated with biology we can narrate the life history of the scientists associated with a particular topic and the contributions that they have made in the topic along with years. Story of man, story of earth, development of different branches is some examples.

(iii) Relationship of Biology with Geography:
            Geography deals with the land forms, climatic conditions, rainfall, sunlight, etc., in a particular place. A particular type of plant is seen in a particular place because of their adaptations to that place. So, geographical conditions are closely related to living organisms.
(iv) Relationship of Biology with language:
            Language is a medium through which express our ideas and communicate among ourselves. Pupils can be asked to write essays on plants or animals.

3. Relationship of Biology with environment:

            The environment consists of two types of facts. They are physical factors and biotic factors. Physical factors are light, pressure, temperature, availability of water, rainfall, nature of soil, etc. The biotic factors are the living plants and animals. The nature of living organisms is controlled by physical as well as biotic factors. The nature of living organisms according to environment is called adaptations.

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