MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

SCIENCES

NATURAL SCIENCES

• Anatomy
  
• Astronomy
  
• Biotechnology
  
• Botany
  
• Chemistry
  
• Genetics
  
• Geology
  
• Marine Biology
  
• Meteorology
  
• Paleontology
  
• Physics
  
• Virology
  
• Zoology
  

ANATOMY
Anatomy is the study of the form and function of living organisms, including humans.

Established in 1807, the University of Maryland School of Medicine is the first public medical school in the country. It was the first school that included anatomical dissection as part of its curriculum, as well as the first to open a children's clinic and a hospital to train residents.

The State Anatomy Board, organized in 1949, ensures that bodies left to science are distributed equally among hospitals, schools, and other medical institutions.

Davidge Hall, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 522 West Lombard St., Baltimore, Maryland, September 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The Maryland State Chemist Section, in operation since 1833, regulates sales of pesticides, pet foods, and fertilizers. The Section also provides chemical analysis and testing.

Within the Maryland Department of Health, the Environmental Sciences Division of the Laboratories Administration analyzes samples, including drinking water, foods, soils, and building materials, to detect any harmful materials, such as hazardous waste or asbestos.

Robert & Jane Meyerhoff Chemistry Building, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Catonsville, Maryland, May 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

GENETICS
Genetics is the study of genes and heredity.

The Division of Human Genetics at the University of Maryland Medical Center provides services to patients, including evaluation, DNA testing, laboratory analysis, and genetic evaluation.

University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 South Greene St., Baltimore, Maryland, December 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Private institutions, such as the J. Craig Venter Institute and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute also are concerned with genetics.

The J. Craig Venter Institute formed in October 2006. The Institute sequences and analyzes genomes, including disease-carrying insects and viruses.

Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute was founded on December 17, 1953. Genetics became a primary area of research, and the Institute provided funding for the sequencing of the human genome.

MARINE BIOLOGY

Marine Biology, or biological oceanography, is the study of organisms living in the salt or brackish waters.

The Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science conducts research and develops technology in order to restore and protect marine ecosystems.

Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Columbus Center, 701 East Pratt St., Baltimore, Maryland, October 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore conserves marine organisms and educates the public about them and their ecosystems. Its collection includes 17,000 animals and more than 750 species.

Mansueti Laboratory, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, 146 Williams St., Solomons, Maryland, April 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

PALEONTOLOGY
Paleontology is the study of fossils and prehistoric life.

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The paleontology gallery at the Calvert Marine Museum contains over 40,000 specimens, most of which are from the Miocene epoch, as well as modern skeletons used for comparative purposes.

Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons Island Road, Solomons, Maryland, April 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The Maryland Center for Fundamental Physics at the University of Maryland, College Park formed in June 2007. Its research focuses on elementary particle physics; gravitation; and quarks, hadrons, and nuclei. The Center hosts workshops and offers an educational series.

The American Institute of Physics promotes the physics profession, publishes journals, produces materials for other organizations, and supports member societies.

VIROLOGY
Virology is the study of viruses.

Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine was formed in 1996. The Institute studies chronic viral diseases, including HIV/AIDS and cancers. The Institute also researches methods to treat and prevent such diseases.

The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick is the primary research institution for protection against biological warfare. It is the only military laboratory allowed to study high-level viruses, such as Ebola, Lassa, and hemorrhagic fevers.

ZOOLOGY
Zoology is the study of animals, including their classification and behavior.

The Maryland Zoological Society has managed the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore since 1984. There, almost 200 species of animals live in settings similar to their natural habitats.

Southern White Rhinos (Ceratotherium simum simum), Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Drive, Baltimore, Maryland, June 2016. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

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