Comparative biology
Encyclopedia
Comparative biology is a multidisciplinary approach to understanding organismic diversity (biodiversity
) that uses natural variation and disparity to elucidate phylogenetic history. Comparative biologists attempt to understand the diversity and complexity of life at all levels—from genes, to anatomy, to behavior—and the critical role of organisms in ecosystems. Integrating these specific research areas is the objective of comparative biology, a field that not only promises to give us a broader, more meaningful understanding of life on Earth, but also provides a foundation for our effort to secure a sustainable environmental future. An improved knowledge of life in all its complexity is key to dealing with the especially urgent challenges of today that come with the loss of species
due to the destruction or disruption of natural habitats via human-mediated processes such as global warming
. Comparative biology encompasses Evolutionary Biology, Systematics
, Neontology
, Paleontology
, Ethology
, Anthropology
, and Biogeography
as well as historical approaches to Developmental biology
, Genomics
, Physiology
, Ecology
and many other areas of the biological sciences.
Whereas much of biology tends to focus on a single exemplar organism or a small subset of model organisms, comparative biology is a cross-lineage approach to understanding the phylogenetic history and interactions among individuals or higher taxa. The comparative approach also has numerous applications in human health, genetics
, biomedicine
, and conservation biology
.
Comparative biological relationships are usually presented on a phylogenetic tree
or cladogram
to differentiate those features with single origins (Homology
) from those with multiple origins (Homoplasy).
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
) that uses natural variation and disparity to elucidate phylogenetic history. Comparative biologists attempt to understand the diversity and complexity of life at all levels—from genes, to anatomy, to behavior—and the critical role of organisms in ecosystems. Integrating these specific research areas is the objective of comparative biology, a field that not only promises to give us a broader, more meaningful understanding of life on Earth, but also provides a foundation for our effort to secure a sustainable environmental future. An improved knowledge of life in all its complexity is key to dealing with the especially urgent challenges of today that come with the loss of species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
due to the destruction or disruption of natural habitats via human-mediated processes such as global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. Comparative biology encompasses Evolutionary Biology, Systematics
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
, Neontology
Neontology
Neontology is the part of biology which – in contrast to paleontology – deals with now living organisms. The term neontologist is usually used only by paleontologists to refer to non-paleontologists...
, Paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
, Ethology
Ethology
Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior, and a sub-topic of zoology....
, Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, and Biogeography
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
as well as historical approaches to Developmental biology
Developmental biology
Developmental biology is the study of the process by which organisms grow and develop. Modern developmental biology studies the genetic control of cell growth, differentiation and "morphogenesis", which is the process that gives rise to tissues, organs and anatomy.- Related fields of study...
, Genomics
Genomics
Genomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...
, Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
, Ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
and many other areas of the biological sciences.
Whereas much of biology tends to focus on a single exemplar organism or a small subset of model organisms, comparative biology is a cross-lineage approach to understanding the phylogenetic history and interactions among individuals or higher taxa. The comparative approach also has numerous applications in human health, genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, biomedicine
Biomedicine
Biomedicine is a branch of medical science that applies biological and other natural-science principles to clinical practice,. Biomedicine, i.e. medical research, involves the study of physiological processes with methods from biology, chemistry and physics. Approaches range from understanding...
, and conservation biology
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
.
Comparative biological relationships are usually presented on a phylogenetic tree
Phylogenetic tree
A phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree is a branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species or other entities based upon similarities and differences in their physical and/or genetic characteristics...
or cladogram
Cladogram
A cladogram is a diagram used in cladistics which shows ancestral relations between organisms, to represent the evolutionary tree of life. Although traditionally such cladograms were generated largely on the basis of morphological characters, DNA and RNA sequencing data and computational...
to differentiate those features with single origins (Homology
Homology (biology)
Homology forms the basis of organization for comparative biology. In 1843, Richard Owen defined homology as "the same organ in different animals under every variety of form and function". Organs as different as a bat's wing, a seal's flipper, a cat's paw and a human hand have a common underlying...
) from those with multiple origins (Homoplasy).
See also
- CladisticsCladisticsCladistics is a method of classifying species of organisms into groups called clades, which consist of an ancestor organism and all its descendants . For example, birds, dinosaurs, crocodiles, and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor form a clade...
- Comparative AnatomyComparative anatomyComparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
- EvolutionEvolutionEvolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
- Evolutionary Biology
- SystematicsSystematicsBiological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
- BioinformaticsBioinformaticsBioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
- NeontologyNeontologyNeontology is the part of biology which – in contrast to paleontology – deals with now living organisms. The term neontologist is usually used only by paleontologists to refer to non-paleontologists...
- PaleontologyPaleontologyPaleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
- PhylogeneticsPhylogeneticsIn biology, phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms , which is discovered through molecular sequencing data and morphological data matrices...
- GenomicsGenomicsGenomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...