Career option in Life Science

Ranjan K Baruah *

As the name suggests life science is a filed which is related to life. It may be plants or animals or human being. The life sciences comprise the fields of science that involve the scientific study of living organisms – such as microorganisms, plants, animals, and human beings.

While biology remains the centerpiece of the life sciences, technological advances in molecular biology and biotechnology have led to a burgeoning of specializations and interdisciplinary fields. It has moved beyond zoology and botany with the advancement of technology.

Some life sciences focus on a specific type of life. For example, zoology is the study of animals, while botany is the study of plants. Other life sciences focus on aspects common to all or many life forms, such as anatomy and genetics. The life sciences are helpful in improving the quality and standard of life.

They have applications in health, agriculture, medicine, and the pharmaceutical and food science industries. We are publishing details related to botany and zoology. We have also introduced about conservation as it brings scopes for our young people in Assam and north eastern region of the country. Courses related to botany and zoology are available in different universities and many colleges in the state and other parts of the country.

Botany: There are many living being on earth. Apart from human beings and animals' one of the other living species are the plants. Tress and other plant special always fascinate us; there are varieties of plant species which are found different parts of the world. We know about 'biology' which has two main branches namely zoology and botany. Botany is a branch of biological science which deals with the study of plants.

Botany, also called plant science(s) or plant biology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. Traditionally, botany has included the study of fungi and algae, studied by mycologists, respectively, with the study of plants and these three groups of organisms remain within the sphere of interest of the International Botanical Congress.

Scientific disciplines such as agricultural sciences and forestry are based on the basic science of botany. Botany studies the structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, development, diseases and chemical properties and evolutionary relationships between different groups of plants. It encompasses the study of more than three hundred thousand species of plants ranging from ground-hugging mosses to giant redwood trees.

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) is the apex research organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India for carrying out taxonomic and floristic studies on wild plant resources of the country. It was established on 13th February, 1890 with the basic objective to explore the plant resources of the country and to identify the plants species with economic virtues. The Botanical Survey of India has the nine regional circles situated at different regions of the country.

It can be a career option for the aspirants who love nature and forest and trees. A person qualified in botany is called a Botanist. Botanists play an important part in modern science and industry. Their work affects agriculture, agronomy (soil and crop science), conservation, forestry, and horticulture.

In general, Botanists study the development and life processes of plants. One can study the subjects after passing out senior secondary examination or at graduate level. There is courses at masters level and beyond for higher studies.

There are specializations like Plant Taxonomy (classification of plants); Plant Pathology (study of plant diseases); Plant Morphology (study of plant structures and organs); Plant Physiology (study of the life processes of plants); Plant Genetics (study of heredity in plants); Plant Ecology (study of the relationship between plants and their environment), etc.

Successful students after pursuing the subject may join various jobs which include government jobs and jobs in private sectors. Many prefer to join teaching or in research category as there are fellowships and scholarships for the research scholars related to the subject.

There is more demand for the people who choose to take up research related activities. Some can work in the field of conservation of the plants and other similar species. We shall publish more related to life science and zoology in forthcoming editions.