Biology is defined as the science of life forms and living processes. The living world is characterized by an amazing diversity of organisms found in extraordinary habitats, from cold mountains and oceans to deserts and hot springs.
Early humans distinguished between inanimate matter (like wind, sea, fire) and living organisms (animals, plants), often deifying them out of a sense of awe or fear.
The systematic description of life forms began later in human history. An anthropocentric (human-centered) view of biology limited progress.
Detailed systems of identification, nomenclature, and classification became necessary to manage the study of vast numbers of life forms.
A major revelation from these studies was the recognition that all present-day living organisms are related to each other and to all organisms that have ever lived on Earth. This understanding has fostered cultural movements for the conservation of biodiversity.