The biologist is that professional figure specialized in the study of structure, organization, functions as well as in the development of living organisms and their interaction with the environment.
The activities that are carried out by this professional depend on the type of specialization that we wanted to undertake but can still include the development for research projects as well as teaching. Its primary activities, however, take place mainly within structures such as laboratories, libraries and archives and, in some cases, the activity is carried out also in open air at botanical gardens, zoological gardens, rivers, lakes, etc. and other specializations, on the other hand, may involve exposure to pathogens. For the performance of its activities, on the other hand, it uses laboratory instruments, measurement equipment, chemical and / or biological substances, computers for word processing programs and scientific processing programs. The biologist, whose word is composed of β?ος, bìos = "life" and λ?γος, lògos = in the sense of "study, depending on the specialization undertaken, can occupy a large number of areas such as for example
Molecular biology, through molecular biology, biochemistry and molecular genetics;
Cellular and multicellular biology, through cytology, physiology, anatomy and histology;
The development of a single organism with developmental biology;
The individual and its population and the interactions between living organisms and their abiotic environment, through anthropology and ecology;
Exobiology, a largely speculative discipline that considers extraterrestrial life, etc.
Molecular biology;
Marine biology
Biology operating in the healthcare area, etc.
Because of its multidisciplinary nature, the biologist can perform many tasks such as the classification and analysis of animals and plants, the assessment of nutritive and energetic needs as well as the pathogens of man, animals and plants, the evaluation from the point of biological sight of drinking and mineral waters, the control of the activities as well as the consequences that can cause on the individual the insecticides, antibiotics, vitamins, hormones, enzymes, sera, vaccines etc., carries out biological analysis, deals with the recognition of marine organisms, studies and manipulates DNA, carries out biological analyzes, conducts bacteriological, virological and mycological investigations as well as appraisals and arbitrations.
The professional figure of the biologist is recognized by law through the establishment of the professional register of the Biological Order which establishes two different sections:
On the one hand, in fact, there is section A, the section of biologists, which is accessed with one of the master's degrees of the following classes:
Biology (Class LM-6);
Agricultural biotechnology (Class LM-7);
Industrial biotechnology (Class LM-8);
Medical, veterinary and pharmaceutical biotechnologies (Class LM-9);
Human nutrition sciences (Class LM-61);
Sciences and technologies for the environment and the territory (Class LM-75).
The second part, section B, on the other hand, is made up of the junior biologists section, which can be accessed with a first level degree, therefore lasting three years, in one of these classes:
Biotechnology (Class L-2);
Biological sciences (Class L-13);
Sciences and technologies for the environment and nature (Class L-32).
All professionals who belong to the sections, to be qualified and therefore be able to practice their work in a legitimate manner will have to take a state exam articulated in the following tests:
a first written test in the biophysical, biochemical, biomolecular, biomathematical and statistical fields;
a second written test in the biomorphological, environmental, microbiological, and product fields;
an oral exam in the subjects covered by the written tests and in professional law and deontology;
a practical test consisting in the solution of problems or cases coherent with the different disciplinary fields and in the direct execution or by means of computerized means of experiments related to the disciplinary fields of competence.
Once the qualification has been reached, it is possible to facilitate their professional integration through courses organized for further training as well as post-graduate specialization in Italy and abroad or by obtaining a research doctorate. Depending on the degree obtained, it is possible to undertake different paths: the three-year degree, in fact, allows you to fill the roles of a qualified technician, while the specialized degree allows you to achieve managerial roles while the biologist who undertakes the research doctorate can find employment in the pharmaceutical and food industry and in drinking water monitoring services. A job outlet that can be taken into consideration, even if secondary, may also be that of teaching at secondary secondary schools. As regards the requirements that must be possessed, the biologist must have a good level of knowledge both in the scientific field and in the methodology in animal biology, botany and human biology, as well as a good knowledge of foreign languages, in particular English written and spoken. Furthermore, the biologist must possess good skills in the use of computer and statistical programs, a predisposition to abstract reasoning, creativity, the ability to collaborate and develop research projects as well as studies with classificatory purposes, manipulation and interventions on living beings. with medical or productive purposes.
