What is Biology?

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What is Biology?

• Science
• Biology
• Concepts
• Unity among living things.
• Diversity among living things.
• Interrelationship among living things.
• Web of Life

Living Things Organisms

• Fig. 1-1 p.2

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Bio 103

• Learn the fundamentals
• Understand the concepts
• Apply to your daily activities
• Escherichia coli
• Skin cancer
• Diabetes
• Viral Diseases Stem cells cloning
• Genetic engineered food
• Bio-terrorism
• Steroid use
• Child obesity
• MRSA, VIRSA VRE
• Others?

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In Biology 103 We Focus on the Cell

• Cell
• Characteristics originate at the atomic level.
• atoms ? molecules

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Chemical and Biological Evolution of the Cell vs
Creation and Intelligent Design
Common Bonds of Life
DNA RNA Proteins Intelligent Design
(2nd)
Cell
3.7 Billion Years
Energy and Metabolism
Protocell
Carbs, Lipids, Proteins
Carbs, Lipids, Proteins
Organic Compounds
Comets, Earth or Hydrothermal Reaction Intelligent
Design (1st) (P.E. Johnson 1991)
Inorganic Compounds
1 Billion Years
CO2, H2O, N2, H2, CO Bubble Theory
Gaseous Earth
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Five Shared Characteristics Define Life
1) Living things are organized
Atom Molecules Cell Tissue Organ Organi
sm Population Community Ecosystem Biospher
e
Chemistry
Basic unit of life
A P
Emergent Properties Interactions between the
parts (brain function).
Ecology
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Five Shared Characteristics Define Life
3. Living Things Respond Total response
behavior Search for Movement Your
behavior is focused on survival.
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Five Shared Characteristics Defne Life

• Living things acquire materials and energy.
• Sun
• Matter
• Energy
• Metabolism
• Homeostasis

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Suns energy FLOWS through organisms. Matter
CYCLES through organisms.
1st Law of Conservation of Matter 1st Law of
Thermodynamics 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Sun Plants Animals Animals Inorganic Nutrients
Nutrient or Chemical Cycle
Heat
Energy Flow
Fig 1.5 p. 6
Potential Energy ? Kinetic Energy
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Five Shared Characteristics Define Life
3. Living Things Respond Behavior Search
for Movement Your behavior is focused
on survival.
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Five Shared Characteristics Define Life

• Living things reproduce and develop.
• Unicellular organisms.
• Multicellular organisms.
• DNA carries the genetic instructions and links
  all living things.

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Five Shared Characteristics Define Life

• Living things adapt
• Adaptation
• Adaptation accounts for diversity of life.
• Natural Selection
• Evolution
• Evolution explains unity of life.

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Natural Selection and Adaptation Result in
Evolution Producing Biodiversity
Biodiversity Extinction Humans are
the greatest cause of species extinction.
Fig. 1.6 p. 7
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Living Organisms are Grouped by Descent from a
Common Ancestor.

• Taxonomy
• Domain Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
• Kingdom Animalia, Plantae. Fungi, Protista
• Phylum Chordata
• Class Mammalia
• Order Primates
• Family Hominidae
• Genus or Genus Homo (human), Zea (corn)
• Specific epithet of species or species sapiens
  (human),
• 
  mays (corn)

Broad
Specific
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Are Viruses Living?
Viruses have their own classification system.
Fig 21.1 p.362 - 363
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We Learn About Life Through Scientific
Experimentation
The Scientific Method Precise Simple Logical Acce
pted Types Wildlife Observations Controlled
Field Controlled Laboratory
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Scientific Method
Observation Observed natural occurrence
Hypothesis Tentative Explanation Honull stated
negative Haalternative stated positive
Control Base of comparison
Treatments (experimental) Independent varied in
experiment Deductive Reasoning-if/then plan
Material Methods
Data (responding) Dependent on treatments Error
measured vs actual Accuracy measure
correctly Precision repeatability
Results Qualitative vs Quantitative Significance
at .30 30 incorrect
Conclusion Based on data
Follow up experiment
Stop
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Scientific MethodYellow Rust Susceptibility
4

• Questions
• Observation
• Hypothesis
• Experimental Variable
• Responding Variable
• Control
• Materials
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion
• Experimental Error

Yellow Rust
Select Resistant Variety
8 Grass Varieties
Compare
Data (1-10) C 1 1 1 2 7 3 2 4 6 5 3 6
9 7 4 8 6
Control Variety Protected Fungicide
Comparison For 8 Varieties
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Goal of Scientific Experimentation

• To better understand the natural world.
• Theory
• Principle and Law
• Ethics and Honesty

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Scientific Method

• Questions
• Observation?
• Hypothesis?
• Experimental (Independent) Variable?
• Responding (dependent) Variable?
• Control?
• Materials?
• Methods?
• Results?
• Conclusion?
• Experimental error?