Biology

The lecture defines biology as a collective term for the sciences of life, outlines methods of observation, comparison and experiment, and distinguishes structural (morphological) and functional (physiological) approaches while stressing their increasing integration. It adopts a genetic or historical perspective that situates organisms as products of evolution, considers the organism as a complex chemical machine yet questions the necessity of a separate vital principle, and examines the problem of the origin of life in light of chemical synthesis progress but without evidence of spontaneous generation. Overall it emphasizes resolving complex living phenomena into simpler factors while acknowledging the limits of final explanation.