Sampling in Life Sciences

[Name of the Institute]Introduction

Studies in every discipline need evidences collected from testing individuals for some properties. In this regard population and samples are important being the tools for studies. In this paper population and sample are described with their characteristics, relationship and techniques.

Population

In different disciplines the term population has different meanings. In life sciences population refer to a group of particular specie living in a specific geographical location where the group breeds. In this way all the individuals in population combine to make a biotic community.

Characteristics of Population

Two population of similar specie located in different geographical area are called sister population. A population is further divided into sub-groups called demes. Chances of mating between two individual in a biotic community are higher if they belong to the same demes. Population varies in size and homogeneity due to the activities that lead to changes in birth rate, death rate, etc. following are the characteristics of a population.

Population Density

It is a ratio of the total number of individuals resident in a geographical area to the size of that area.

Natality (Birth Rate)

Natality is defined as the number of births in a population per unit time.

Mortality (Death Rate)

Mortality is defined as the ratio of total individual dying at a certain time period to the size of total population at that time period.

Population Growth

Population growth may follow different trends showing the speed of increase or decrease in total size of a population.

Age Distribution

Different stages of an individual in a population that is growing, reproducing, diminishing etc. describe the age distribution within a population.

Sample

In real world, a population includes infinite number of individuals, testing each of them is impossible. Therefore, a small group from sample is tested for any study made for the whole population.

Characteristics of a Sample

Following are the characteristics of a sample.

Geographical ...