Title: Biology 121 Introduction
1Biology 121 - Introduction
- Biology website http//biology.missouristate.edu
- Bio 121 lecture http//courses.missouristate.edu/
ChrisBarnhart/Bio121/
- Syllabus and course policy statement.
- Textbook, lab manual
2http//www.amazon.com/Life-Science-Biology-David-S
adava/dp/0716776715
3Hierarchical organization of life
- Subatomic particles
- Atoms
- Molecules
- Organelles
Non-living Chemistry, Physics
Cells
Life Cell Biology, Physiology
4Hierarchical organization of life, continued
- Tissues
- Organs organ systems
- Organisms
Physiology, Organismal Biology
Populations species Communities Ecosystems
Evolutionary Biology Ecology
5Levels of biological organization
Organism
6Emergent properties
- Each level of organization has new properties not
present at lower levels
Reductionism
To understand a complex phenomenon, study it at
lower levels of the hierarchy.
7Reductionism- example
- Watson and Crick 1953
- Structure of DNA
- Genetics explained by chemistry physics
8Definition of Life
- Life is a property of organisms
- Organisms are complex chemical systems
- Possess intrinsic plan or program (genetic
program). DNA, RNA
9Definition of Life, continued
- Homeostasis
- Dynamic equilibrium
- Maintained by regulatory mechanisms
- Examples of homeostasis
- Growth reproduction
- increase in size
- increase in number
10Definition of Life, continued
- Open systems require energy and materials from
the environment.
- Autotrophy
- Heterotrophy
- Responsiveness to the environment-movement, gene
expression, and
- Evolution
11Some properties of life
Complexity, homeostasis, growth reproduction,
energy materials, responsiveness, evolution
12Life vs. non-life
- Crystals
- Example sodium chloride, NaCl
- Organized chemical structure, intrinsic pattern
- Growth and reproduction
13Life vs. non-life
- Viruses
- Complex biochemical structures derived from
cells
- Genetic information DNA, RNA
- Produced by cells
- Obligate parasites
- Not alive. Why not?
14Viral structure
15Life vs. non-life
- Cryptobiosis in brine shrimp
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20Sadava 1.1 recap
- Cells
- Evolution
- Genetic information
- extract energy and use it
- Control internal environment
- Interact with one another
21Definition of Science
- Scientific method a process for obtaining
objective knowledge
- Scientific literature the information gathered
by this method
22Scientific Method
- 1. Ask question or make an observation
- Propose hypothesis a possible answer or
explanation that makes testable predictions.
- Use hypothetico-deductive method to testing
logical consequences of the hypothesis.
Example what is the shape of the earth?
23Inductive logic(specific to general)
Deductive logic(general to specific)
24Scientific Method, continued
- Important try to disprove hypotheses, not prove
them.
- Communicate results
- Prepare detailed description of context, methods,
results of the work
- Verbal or poster reports at professional
meetings
- Submit manuscript to technical journal for
peer-review publication
25Scientific Method, continued
- Peer review
- Formal critique by other professional scientists
precedes publication
- Publication in the primary literature
26Scientific Literature
- Primary literature original research reports in
technical journals
- Journal is usually associated with a professional
society, and/or a commercial publisher.
- Peer-reviewed
- Examples of journals Science (AAAS),
Neuroscience, Conservation Biology, Copeia.
There are thousands!
27Scientific Literature, continued
- Secondary literature
- Review articles, textbooks
- Popular science books and magazines examples
Discover, Scientific American, Audubon.
- Less well documented, editorial review vs. peer
review
- Derived from primary literature
28Science as a way of knowing
- Objective knowledge depends on the external
world- not on internal conviction, faith or
supernatural explanations
- Subjective knowledge includes values, and
morality- good and evil, beauty, love
- Both subjective and objective knowledge are REAL
and IMPORTANT!
29Science as a way of knowing
- Science deals only with objective (natural)
knowledge
- Science cannot make value judgements
- Science cannot prove or disprove existence of
supernatural (i.e. God)
30Galileo Galilei 1564-1642.
- First to use a telescope for astronomy.
- Supported Copernicus heliocentric theory.
- Aggressively promoted belief that man could
learn truth from the natural world as well as
from Scripture.
- Convicted of heresy and imprisoned by religious
authorities.
- Formally pardoned by the Pope in 1992 (!)
31Quotes from Galileo
- "God equally admirably reveals himself to us in
Nature's actions as in the Scripture's sacred
dictions."
- "I think that in the discussion of natural
problems we ought not to begin at the authority
of ...Scripture, but at sensible experiments and
necessary demonstrations. For, from the Divine
Word, the sacred Scripture and Nature doth alike
proceed."
32Albert Einstein on science religion
Science can only be created by those who are
thoroughly imbued with the aspiration toward
truth and understanding. This source of feeling
springs from the sphere of religion. To this
there also belongs the faith.that the world of
existence is rational, that is, comprehensible to
reason. I cannot conceive of a genuine scientist
without that profound faith. The situation may be
expressed by an image science without religion
is lame, religion without science is blind.