3 Biology Degree Programs in Japan

The Division of Biological Science develops cutting-edge research and education on a wide range of life science studies, technically based on molecular biology and cell biology, and is comprised of Plant Science (10 laboratories), Biomedical Science (9 laboratories), and Systems Biology (6 laboratories), as of April 1, 2021. The Plant Science laboratories aim to realize the sustainable development of our society, and they cover areas from basic science to elucidate various biological functions of plant cells and whole plants, to application-oriented science to cope with problems concerning the environment, resources, energy, and food, by enhancing plant productivity and overcoming biotic and abiotic stresses. The Biomedical Science laboratories aim to realize a society of health and longevity, and they cover areas from basic science on genomics, molecular pharmacology, and immunology at the cell and whole animal levels, to elucidating molecular mechanisms of neuronal and metabolic diseases and cancer. The Systems Biology laboratories introduce novel approaches and methodologies for bioinformatics, nano-technology, and protein science, and develop innovative science technologies. Biological phenomena are perceived as “systems”, and are studied by both experimental approaches and systems science, along with structural biology-based approaches.

Explaining the phenomena of life at the molecular level in the organisms that form ecosystems The Earth is home to a vast variety of living organisms, which comprise rich ecosystems that exist in harmony with the environment. The Environmental Biology Course conducts research with the goal of understanding how organisms recognize the environment in ecosystems and harmonize their activities using the language of molecules. For example, the course covers research into the mechanisms by which animals recognize and respond to external stimuli such as light, and research into the effects of endocrine disruptors flowing into rivers, lakes, and marshes on fish and other wildlife and the mechanisms by which those effects are carried out. Other projects in which department are enthusiastically involved include research into the mechanisms of plant environmental recognition and plant immunity to pathogenic bacteria, research into the physiological mechanisms of microorganisms and the control of their lifespans, and research into the various physiologically active substances that are created by organisms in the environment. We consider research in areas such as these to provide a basis for maintaining ecosystems that are rich in life into the indefinite future.

‘What is life?’ is a fundamental question that still lacks a satisfactory answer. The development of basic biological science that started in the 20th century has enabled the study of living organisms from various perspectives and has changed our conceptions regarding “life”. Nowadays, life is observed and studied at diverse levels from molecules to ecosystems.