Applications of the biology for the welfare of mankind

*INTRODUCTION* 

The practical contributions of biology to civilization have  made most people aware of it's importance , knowledge of biology ensures a higher standard of living . It helps  people to participate intelligently in programs designed to promote better health , protection and conservation of environment , application of modern techniques in the field of agriculture and medical sciences etc. 

*VACCINATION* 

Thanks to immunization by vaccination . It was first introduced by Edward jennar in 1975 . through this process , vaccines are introduced to animals and man to prevent them from many infectious diseases such as polio , small pox , hepatitis , etc . In some cases such as small pox , vaccination provides long life protection . However in many cases , the protection may not be life long . 

*ANTIBIOTICS* 

A through research and experimentation has enabled biologists develop antibiotics . 

                                Antibiotics are substances which in low concentration inhabit the growth of micro-organisms . The first antibiotic Tobe discovered was pencillin . It was derived from fungus , " pencillium Notatum" . The credit  for the discovery , isolation and large scale production goes to Fleming . Florey and chain who jointly received Noble prize (1945) for this great achievement in medical sciences . Due to these antibiotic many critical diseases of past like T.B , Leprosy and anthrax etc. Have been controlled successfully . 

                                         

*Radioactive Ray's* another achievement of biological research has been used in medical sciences for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases , although electromagnetic radiation is very destructive to human tissue when exposed to, in high doses , however , recent medical technology of treating cancers and tumours by *Radiotherapy* has been successfully introduced . 

*HYDROPONICS* ( Hydro = water ; ponos= work ) : 

It is science of growing terrestrial  plants in an aerated solution. It is also known as soil less or water culture . 

                                     Hydroponics farming of vegetables and other essential plants is one of the techniques through which plantation in certain parts of the world has fullfiled the food requirements of inhabitants . HYDROPONICS was developed to conduct experiments on the nutrient requirement of plants especially the micro - nutrients . The advantages of hydroponics farming are as follows : 

1= it controlls weeds and soil diseases problems .

2: Area required for cultivation is reduced .

3: crops are successfully grown in arid parts of the world to meet the food requirements of those areas. For example , tomato crops has been successfully grown in green houses in some parts of world through technique 

4: it is used to determined which of the mineral elements are essential . 

*CLONING* 

It is production of duplicate copies of genetic  material ; either cells or entire multicellular living organisms . It occurs naturally in plants and animals . 

                           The copies are refferd to as clones . Some common examples are identical twins or triplets in humans , asexual reproduction in plants and animals , regeneration and development of tumours and cancers . 

                       Artificial cloning has been a focus of attention in biological sciences . The possibility that people might cloned from the cells of a single adult human being had long been under study . Biologists have successfully cloned lower mammals . Recently Dolly the sheep was a highly successful clone from a somatic cell. Reported back in 1997 . This has led scientists to take a step forward to clone human . Cloning of humans cells such as liver cells, skin cells , and blood cells , have been promising and scientist are quite hopeful to develop human organs in the laboratory by artificial cloning . There are enormous advantages of artificial cloning in areas such as agriculture and medicine . Vegetative reproduction of various fruits and nuts by grafting is one of the best examples . A major goal of this technique is to use it for treating disease . Through this technology , production of medically significant substances such as insulin , growth harmones , interferon and antithrombin have been achieved . 

* PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF ENVIRONMENT * 

Pollution has been biggest problem of man for many years . Acid rain , stone cancer and green house effect are some of the aspects that have been increased with the increase in human population and industrialization .

           

                           Many of the waste products of modern technology are toxic . These toxic wastes have polluted our air , land and water , threatening not only human life but also other living forms . In this regard , improved and effective biological measures have been taken to identify different sources of pollution and techniques have been devised to help prevent and reduce pollution 

                Man's activities mainly deforestation and industrialization have Disturbed the balance of nature with catastrophic results . To maintain a stable and balanced ecosystem . It is very much needed to protect and conserve animal and and plant species . Conservation of forests and parks helps to reduce soil ersoion and flooding etc. It is also of scientific value as it provides useful information about plants that have medicinal or other importance.