Aristotle: The Father of Biology
by: Simi Kalayilparampil
Biology
Mrs. Sharif
Pd. 1-2B
5/30/15
Interest in Aristotle
- Who is the father of biology?
- Better understanding of the history of biology
- How taxonomy/classification and zoology came to be
- How much Aristotle impacted biology
- Why his contributions are so significant
Background Information
- Born in Greek village of Stagira on northern Aeagean coast in 384 B.C.
- Father was a physician to King Amyntas of Macedon
- Studied at Plato's academy for 20 years in Athens since the age of 17
- 342 B.C., he taught Philip II's son, who is later known in history as "Alexander the Great"
- Established a school in Lyceum, Greece
- Died in 322 B.C. after leaving Athens and fleeing to Chalcis
Classification
- Classified organisms according to their scala naturae ("scale of nature")
- makes connections between animals
- blooded vs. non-blooded animals (similar to invertebrates vs. vertebrates)
- basis for modern classification system of taxonomy
Classification (cont'd)
- Introduced binomial definition, which is classifying organisms according to their genus and species
- Proposed Ladder of Life (hierarchy where organims were grouped according to function and complexity)
- Example: animals who give birth would be higher up the ladder, while plants would be towards the bottom
Importance to Biology
- Classification/Taxonomy helps to identify species, understand biodiversity, and for conservation and sustainable use
- Phylogenetic trees and cladograms show evolutionary relationships between organisms
- Zoology shows the physiology, structure, classification, and distribution of animals, gives us a broader view of how life works 'and how to maintain it
Works Cited
- http://www.biography.com/people/aristotle-9188415#teaching
- http://www.iep.utm.edu/aris-bio/#H2
- http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-biology/#LifWor
- http://atbi.eu/summerschool/files/summerschool/Manktelow_Syllabus.pdf
- https://explorable.com/aristotles-zoology
- http://www.cpbr.gov.au/cpbr/program/ha/ha-national-taxon-hub.html
- http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/102703/New_research_explores_scent_communication_in_polar_bears.html
Zoology (cont'd)
Current Developments/Research
- In History of Animals, compared and contrasted organs and specific functions of animals
- Found function of organs differ depending on whether the animal lives on land, water, or primarily flies in the air
- Further distinction between behaviors of animals, some ate meat, some fruit, others ate both
- Taxonomy Research & Information Network (TRIN) in Australia
- Vertebrate Zoology Research (ongoing research, part of American Museum of Natural History)
- Robert S. Voss Research Group (evolution of marsupials and systematics/biogeography of other Neotropical mammals)
- Nancy B. Simmons Research Group (systematics/evolutionary biology of bats)
Zoology
- Utilization of the empirical method (using observation) and proto-scientific method
- Dissection of many animals, conclusions written in books such as The Parts of Animals
- Theory of Epigenesis (organs develop in a specific order) based on dissecting bird eggs