Exploring Biology: The Study of Life and Unifying Themes

1. Chapter 1: The Study of Life Section 1.1: The Study of Life Section 1.2: Unifying Themes of Biology Section 1.3: Scientific Thinking and Processes

2. I. What is Biology? Biology: The study of all living and once living things If you break it down: Bio = means Life logy = means the study of Biologist: A person who studies living and once living things

3. Earth is home to an incredible diversity of life • Biosphere - Bio = Life - sphere = circle • Biosphere = Earth • It is where allliving things and all the places they are found. • Includes environments (ecosystems) such as deserts, grasslands, forests, saltwater and freshwater, etc.

4. BiodiversityVideo • Biodiversity - Bio = “life” - diversity = variety/differences • Biodiversity = all the variety of life across the biosphere. Why is biodiversity greater closer to the equator? • Species – is a particular type of living organism that can reproduce by interbreeding among themselves to produce fertile offspring. • Approximately 10,000 species discovered a year. • Approximately 50,000 species become extinct every year.

5. Characteristics of Life - Video What does it mean to be living? - To be considered LIVING, ALL Characteristics of Life must be met. - Organism – is any individual living thing. 1. All living organisms are made of CELLS • The cell is the basic unit (building blocks) of structure and function in all living things (life) • Some organisms are unicellular - one-celled (all bacteria) • Some are multicellular - made of many cells Intro to cells video

6. Characteristics of Life 2. Need for Energy: Living organisms need a source of chemicalenergy. - Three ways an organism obtains food • Consumers – (Animals) that rely on other organisms for food. • Producers – (plants) make or produce their own food through photosynthesis. • Decomposers – (bacteria, fungi) Break down items by releasing digestive enzymes onto it. * Energy is important for metabolism! • Metabolism – all the chemical processes in the the body that build up or break down materials.

7. Characteristics of Life 3. Living organisms RESPOND TO THE ENVIRONMENT • Organisms must react to a stimulus (stimuli)in their environment in order to survive. • A stimulus causes areaction. • Physical – light, temperature and touch. • Reaction video

8. Characteristics of Life 4. Reproduction and Development - Reproduction - A process of creatingoffspring (new individuals of same species). *Includes the passing of genetic material, DNA, from parent to offspring. *DNA = Deoxyribonucleic Acid *This is Important for the survival of a species. *There are 2 types of reproduction.

9. TWO TYPES of REPRODUCTION A.Sexual Reproduction • Formation of a new organism by the union of 2 reproductive cells (sperm and egg) • The offspring will be genetically different from the parents. B. Asexual Reproduction video • Formation of a new organism from only 1 cell • Offspring will be genetically identicalto the parent cell. • Example: a bacterial cell dividing into two identical cells.

10. Characteristics of Life - Development • Organisms grow in size (length and width) using materials and energy from the environment • As a living organism grows; body structures develop and change. • Examples: • Adolescents change into adults (puberty) • Maggot develops into a fly • Caterpillar develops into a butterfly • Tadpole develops into a frog

11. http://biology.kenyon.edu/fennessy/AMN%20Wetland%20Webpage/Comps%20Webpage/usingamphibiansasindicatorsofwetlandintegrity.htmhttp://biology.kenyon.edu/fennessy/AMN%20Wetland%20Webpage/Comps%20Webpage/usingamphibiansasindicatorsofwetlandintegrity.htm

12. II. Unifying Themes of Biology 1. All levels of life have systems of related parts. - System – is an organized group of related parts that interact to form a whole. - Examples: - Ecosystem Eco = environment System = related parts - Ecosystem – all the living and nonliving parts interacting with one another. - Ecosystem video

13. Unifying Themes of Biology • 2. Structure and Function are related. - What something does (function) in an organism is directly related to its shape or form (structure). - List five cell examples below: StructureFunction

14. Unifying Themes of Biology 3.Maintaining Homeostasis in order to survive in diverse environments. - Homeostasis - Homeo = constant/remains the same - stasis = stable - Homeostasis – maintaining a constant internal condition with changing environmental conditions. - Examples - Body temperature and outside temperature - Shiver when cold - Sweat when hot - thirsty when you need water. - Blood sugar (glucose/insulin) Video (girl) Homeostasis reaction video

15. Unifying Themes of Biology 4. Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life - Unity – how things are the same - Diversity – how they are different - Two organisms can be very different like a human and bacteria but can share similar cell characteristics. - Evolution – a change over a long period of time. - One way evolution occurs is through adaptations. - Adaptation - a trait that makes a living organism better able to survive. Evolution Video

16. 1.3 Scientific method A series of steps used to solve a problem • Make an observation - Use your senses to record data and study the world. - Observations can recorded as data. 1. Qualitative data - include descriptions such as sights, sounds, touch, taste and smells. 2. Quantitative data – can be measured or counted such as mass, volume, temperature.

17. Scientific method A series of steps used to solve a problem 2. Form a hypothesis- Based on your observations and data research, what do you think will happen? Or what could be a possible explanation? - A hypothesis is a proposed answer for a scientific question that can be tested. - Always written as an “if” “then” “because” sentence. - If I place ice in boiling water then the ice will melt because heat causes the molecules to move faster. - When data does not support a hypothesis, it is rejected.

18. Scientific method • Conduct a controlled experiment - Testing the hypothesis using a step-by-step procedure. - A controlled experiments tests 1 variable at a time. 1. An independent variable - a condition that is changed or manipulated by a scientist. - What you are testing. 2. A dependent variable – what you are observing and measuring during the experiment. - Everything in a controlled experiment remains constant (the same) except for one thing that you change.

19. Scientific method 3. Controlledexperiment continued - A controlled experiment needs to have 2 groups. 1. The experimental group – receives the independent variable. 2. The control group – is used for comparison to the experimental group.

20. Scientific method 4. Analyze the Data – Interpret the recorded results of the experiment in order to make a conclusion. 5. Draw a conclusion – Evaluate the results. - A conclusion should address the following: • Was the hypothesis correct? • How does the data support your conclusion? • Were there errors that might have changed the results? • How might those errors be avoided next time?

21. SCIENTIFIC METHOD CONTINUED - Experiments should be repeated many times to check the results for consistency. • If the results are not the same then a new hypothesis needs to be made. • A hypothesis can become a theory if it is tested over and over again and is supported with a wide range of evidence. • A theory can be used to predict the outcome of other events. • Theories are not proven to be true. • Theories can change based on new evidence. • Are supported by a wide range of evidence.

22. SCIENTIFIC METHOD CONTINUED