Welcome to Biology!

What is Biology? It is the study of life. Branch of science A way of understanding nature. A human endeavor An attempt to understand, explain, integrate and describe the world of living things.

What is Biology? It includes: Zoology: Study of animals Botany: Study of plants Microbiology: Study of microscopic life Ecology: Study of the relationships between life and the environment Genetics: The study of how living things reproduce and pass on their genes Biochemistry: Study of the chemistry of life.

Characteristics of Life Cellular composition Growth Reproduction Movement Adaptation Metabolism Specific organization Homeostasis Responsiveness

Cellular Composition Made up of at least one cell Unicellular - made of one cell (bacteria, amoeba, paramecium) Multicellular - made up of two or more cells (plants, fungi, animals)

Growth Increase in cell size (unicellular) and/or an increase in cell number (multicellular)

Reproduction Asexual- cell division (mitosis)—one cell becomes two Ex: bacteria Sexual- union of sex cells (sperm and egg) Ex: plants and animals

Movement 3 types: Place to Place- (ex: bear running, bird flying, etc) External Part- (ex: + phototropism, plants orient leaves toward sun) Internal- (ex: cytoplasmic streaming)

Adaptation Changing to meet the needs of the environment Examples: 1. Bird migration- behavioral adaptation

Adaptation (continued) Human body temperature- Physiological adaptation Hibernation- physiological adaptation Hare ear length (desert vs. arctic hares)- structural adaptation

Metabolism Set of chemical reactions that convert “food” into energy

Specific Organization Certain parts do specific jobs (ex: heart, nucleus, chloroplasts, etc)

Homeostasis Maintaining the same state Homeo = same, steady Stasis = state Examples: -Water balance inside and outside of cell -Human body temperature *Cells function best when these are in balance

Responsiveness Reaction(s) to various stimuli Examples of stimuli: light, heat, pH, vibration, smell, etc.– earthworms respond to all of these

How is Biology studied? Insert F01-06

Scientific Method Begins with observations about our surroundings. Next, ask questions about the phenomena we are observing.

Scientific Method Followed by generating a hypothesis. Tentative explanation to the question.

Scientific Method Testing Scientists perform tests to determine the accuracy of their hypothesis.

Scientific Method Explanation It is a hypothesis that has passed the widest and most comprehensive series of tests. Still subject to review and consideration. May be elevated to a theory = well demonstrated principle.