Branches Of Life Science: The Complete List

From university labs and hospitals to farms and field stations, life science is woven into everyday places where people study living systems and solve practical problems. Mapping its disciplines helps you see connections between research, policy, and on-the-ground work in health, agriculture, and conservation.

There are 59 Branches of Life Science, ranging from Agronomy to Zoology; for each branch, the entries show Main study focus, Typical scale/subjects, and Common applications/careers — you’ll find below.

How can I use this list to explore careers or study paths in life sciences?

Use the columns to compare what each branch studies, the typical organisms or systems involved, and where practitioners work; that makes it easier to match your interests (lab vs. field, micro vs. ecosystem) to likely jobs, required degrees, and internships.

Will the list include niche or interdisciplinary branches and how are they defined?

Yes — the list aims to be comprehensive and includes specialized and hybrid fields; entries are defined by their primary focus and scale (what they study and at what level), so related or overlapping disciplines are shown separately to clarify career and research distinctions.

Branches of Life Science

Images and Descriptions

Biology

Broad science of life covering structure, function, growth, origin and distribution of organisms; grounds all specialized life sciences. Example: studying how cellular processes enable organismal development across species.

Botany

Study of plant biology from molecules to ecosystems, including photosynthesis, plant genetics, and ecology. Example: breeding drought-tolerant crops or restoring native plant communities.

Zoology

Study of animals’ anatomy, physiology, behavior, and evolution across species. Example: researching migratory patterns to inform conservation policy.

Microbiology

Study of bacteria, archaea, fungi and single-celled eukaryotes, focusing on physiology, ecology, and applications like fermentation. Example: developing probiotics or microbial bioremediation strategies.

Virology

Study of viral structure, replication, pathogenesis, and host interactions. Example: designing vaccines or tracking viral outbreaks with genomic surveillance.

Mycology

Study of fungal diversity, life cycles, ecology, and biotechnology applications. Example: discovering fungal enzymes for industrial processes or treating fungal infections.

Phycology (Algology)

Study of algal diversity, physiology, and ecological roles in aquatic systems. Example: developing algae-based biofuels or monitoring harmful algal blooms.

Protistology

Study of single-celled eukaryotes’ biology, ecology, and roles in ecosystems or disease. Example: studying malaria parasites to inform control strategies.

Genetics

Study of genes, heredity, and variation, from molecular mechanisms to population genetics. Example: mapping genes for disease resistance in crops.

Genomics

Large-scale study of genomes, sequencing, and comparative genomics to understand traits and evolution. Example: using genome data to guide species conservation.

Molecular Biology

Investigates DNA, RNA, proteins and molecular pathways that govern cell behavior. Example: characterizing molecular signaling in cancer cells.

Cell Biology

Study of cellular architecture, division, signaling and transport, foundational to health and disease research. Example: studying how cells migrate during wound healing.

Biochemistry

Explores biomolecules and metabolic pathways that sustain life, connecting chemistry and biology. Example: developing enzyme inhibitors as drugs.

Structural Biology

Determines structures of proteins and nucleic acids to understand function and inform drug design. Example: solving a protein structure to design an antiviral.

Biophysics

Applies physics and quantitative methods to biological questions like membrane dynamics and biomechanics. Example: using single-molecule techniques to study protein folding.

Systems Biology

Combines experimental and computational methods to model networks and predict system behavior. Example: modeling metabolic networks to find drug targets.

Synthetic Biology

Engineering organisms or genetic circuits for new functions, like biosensors or engineered microbes. Example: programming bacteria to produce useful chemicals.

Biotechnology

Applied life science using organisms, cells, and molecules for products and technologies. Example: producing insulin via recombinant bacteria.

Bioinformatics

Uses algorithms and statistics to analyze biological datasets such as genomes and proteomes. Example: identifying disease-associated genetic variants from sequencing data.

Proteomics

Analyzes protein expression, modifications, and interactions to understand cellular function. Example: finding protein biomarkers for early disease detection.

Metabolomics

Profiles small-molecule metabolites to understand physiological states and responses. Example: metabolic fingerprinting to detect disease.

Developmental Biology

Studies how organisms develop, cell differentiation and tissue formation. Example: researching limb regeneration mechanisms in animals.

Evolutionary Biology

Explores natural selection, speciation and phylogeny to explain biodiversity patterns. Example: reconstructing evolutionary trees to study adaptation.

Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo‑Devo)

Integrates development and evolution to explain how developmental processes drive morphological innovation. Example: studying Hox genes across species.

Ecology

Studies relationships, energy flow, and nutrient cycles across scales to understand ecosystem function. Example: assessing habitat fragmentation impacts on biodiversity.

Conservation Biology

Applied science to prevent extinction, manage habitats, and restore ecosystems. Example: designing protected area networks for endangered species.

Marine Biology

Studies marine life from plankton to whales, ocean ecology, and human impacts. Example: monitoring coral reef health under climate change.

Limnology (Freshwater Biology)

Examines lakes, rivers, wetlands, and freshwater biota, including water quality and ecosystem services. Example: evaluating nutrient pollution impacts on algal blooms.

Fisheries Science

Combines ecology, population dynamics and management to sustain fisheries and aquaculture. Example: setting harvest quotas from stock assessments.

Wildlife Biology

Focuses on behavior, population dynamics and habitat needs for conservation and management. Example: tracking population recovery of reintroduced species.

Entomology

Studies insect diversity, behavior, ecology and applied control methods. Example: developing integrated pest management for crops.

Ornithology

Examines bird biology, migration, communication and conservation challenges. Example: tracking migratory routes to reduce collision risks.

Herpetology

Focuses on ecology, physiology and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. Example: studying chytrid fungus impacts on amphibian populations.

Ichthyology

Covers fish anatomy, evolution, and ecology to inform management and conservation. Example: studying coral reef fish community dynamics.

Plant Physiology

Investigates photosynthesis, water relations, hormone signaling and stress responses. Example: improving drought tolerance via physiological studies.

Plant Pathology

Studies pathogens and plant disease mechanisms to control outbreaks and improve yields. Example: developing resistant crop varieties.

Agronomy

Applied plant science optimizing crop production, soil health, and sustainable practices. Example: designing crop rotations to improve yields and soil fertility.

Forestry

Focuses on forest ecology, tree growth, and sustainable management for timber and ecosystem services. Example: planning reforestation to restore degraded landscapes.

Parasitology

Studies parasitic life cycles, host interactions, and disease control. Example: controlling parasite transmission in livestock.

Immunology

Explores immune responses, infection control, and immunotherapies. Example: developing monoclonal antibodies for infectious diseases.

Neurobiology (Neuroscience)

Studies neural circuits, development, and cognition to understand behavior and disorders. Example: mapping brain circuits underlying learning.

Behavioral Ecology / Ethology

Examines how behavior evolves in ecological contexts, like mating or foraging strategies. Example: studying cooperative behavior in social animals.

Toxicology

Studies toxic effects, dose–response relationships, and safety assessment for chemicals and pollutants. Example: assessing pesticide toxicity to pollinators.

Pharmacology

Investigates mechanisms, efficacy and safety of drugs on cells and organisms to guide therapeutics. Example: screening compounds for neurological disease treatment.

Forensic Biology

Uses biological evidence like DNA, blood and trace biology to support criminal investigations. Example: DNA profiling to identify crime-scene contributors.

Paleobiology

Reconstructs past organisms, ecosystems and evolutionary events using fossils and geologic context. Example: studying dinosaur biology and ancient ecosystems.

Biostatistics

Develops and applies statistical techniques to design studies and analyze biological data. Example: analyzing clinical trial results for safety signals.

Microbial Ecology

Studies microbial communities, biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions. Example: researching soil microbiomes to enhance crop productivity.

Comparative Physiology

Compares physiological adaptations across species to explain ecological success. Example: studying thermoregulation strategies in desert animals.

Evolutionary Genetics

Integrates genetics and evolution to study how genetic variation leads to adaptation and speciation. Example: tracing adaptive alleles in wild populations.

Conservation Genetics

Applies genetics to assess diversity, inbreeding, and guide recovery of threatened species. Example: genetic rescue planning for fragmented populations.

Aquatic Biology

Covers life in aquatic environments, ecosystem dynamics and human impacts. Example: assessing pollutant effects on river biodiversity.

Plant Ecology

Studies plant distribution, competition and community dynamics in ecosystems. Example: designing prairie restorations to support pollinators.

Wildlife Ecology

Investigates habitat use, population dynamics and human-wildlife interactions for conservation. Example: studying corridor effectiveness for mammal movement.

Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Laboratory Science)

Performs and interprets lab tests on blood, tissue and fluids to support healthcare. Example: running diagnostic assays to detect infections.

Population Biology

Studies population growth, interactions, and models to explain population changes and persistence. Example: modeling disease spread in wildlife populations.

Evolutionary Ecology

Examines how evolution and ecological interactions reciprocally shape traits and species distributions. Example: coevolution between pollinators and plants.

Microbial Genetics

Studies microbial gene function, horizontal transfer and genetic regulation to inform applications. Example: engineering bacteria for biotechnology.

Cellular Immunology

Focuses on immune cell behavior and signaling in health and disease. Example: studying T cell activation in cancer immunotherapy.

Branches of Other Fields