AP Biology Study of Life Themes

AP Biology Themes  Science as a process of inquiry  questioning & investigation  Evolution  Energy transfer  Continuity & Change  Relationship of structure to function  Regulation  Interdependence in nature  Science, technology & society

AP Biology Science as a process of inquiry

AP Biology Science as a process of inquiry  Built on repeatable observations & testable, falsifiable hypotheses

AP Biology Evolution  Core theme of biology  Connects EVERYTHING… Charles Darwin

AP Biology "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." -- Theodosius Dobzhansky March 1973 Geneticist, Columbia University ( )

AP Biology Natural selection  Evolutionary change is a product of the process of natural selection Organisms don’t adapt; Organisms have adaptations.

AP Biology Evolution explains unity & diversity  Unity  what do organisms have in common & why do similarities exist?  common biochemistry & physiology  evolutionary relationships  connected through common ancestor  Diversity  but why are there differences?  natural selection  adaptations allow different individuals to survive in different environments

AP Biology

Organizing systems  Making sense out of the diversity  Hierarchical scheme Eastern gray squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

AP Biology 3 Domains of Life Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya EukaryaBacteriaArchaea

AP Biology 12 Rules for Naming Organisms The International Code for Binomial Nomenclature contains the rules for naming organisms The International Code for Binomial Nomenclature contains the rules for naming organisms All names must be approved by International Naming Congresses (International Zoological Congress) All names must be approved by International Naming Congresses (International Zoological Congress) This prevents duplicated names This prevents duplicated names

AP Biology 13 *Classification Groups Taxon ( taxa-plural) is a category into which related organisms are placed Taxon ( taxa-plural) is a category into which related organisms are placed There is a hierarchy of groups (taxa) from broadest to most specific There is a hierarchy of groups (taxa) from broadest to most specific Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, species Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, species 

AP Biology 14 *Hierarchy-Taxonomic Groups  Domain  Kingdom  Phylum (Division – used for plants)  Class  Order  Family  Genus  Species BROADEST TAXON Most Specific

AP Biology 15  Dumb  King  Phillip  Came  Over  For  Gooseberr y  Soup! copyright cmassengale

AP Biology 16 copyright cmassengale

AP Biology Continuity & change  Continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form of DNA  DNA – the genetic material – carries biological information from one generation to the next  Cornerstone of evolutionary change as well You can make more, a lot like you! TRAITTRAIT

AP Biology Energy transfer  It takes ENERGY to keep stuff from falling apart!  At the cellular level  Photosynthesis - harvest  Respiration - use  At the ecosystem level  Energy Flow  sun > producers > consumers  Nutrient Cycling  Materials used to build bodies go round ‘n round…. ENTROPY RULES! DECOMPOSERS RULE, too! nutrients

AP Biology Energy Harvesting and Nutrient Cycling… You think they’re eating… They’re actually harvesting energy and cycling nutrients!

AP Biology Form follows function  The alignment of structure & function is seen at all levels of biology organism cell organelle organ

AP Biology Regulation  Organisms need to maintain a “steady state” in the face of changing conditions  maintain homeostasis  achieve this through feedback  monitor the body like a thermostat  turn on when it’s needed, off when its not

AP Biology Regulation  But individual organisms are not the only biological entities that regulate…  Entire ecosystems undergo regulation as well  Predator / prey relationships  Nutrient cycling  And this leads us to….

AP Biology Interdependence  No organism is an island standing alone  communities, ecosystems

AP Biology Science, technology & society  Science & particularly technology profoundly change society  TV, computers, cell phones, DNA technologies, medicine…  Science & technology must function within the rules of society  ethics

AP Biology Themes  Science as a process of inquiry  questioning & investigation  Evolution  Energy transfer  Continuity & Change  Relationship of structure to function  Regulation  Interdependence in nature  Science, technology & society

AP Biology Why study themes of Biology?  Biology is an ever expanding body of knowledge  too much to memorize it all  need to generalize  create a framework upon which to organize new knowledge  themes are the key to understanding the true nature of living organisms  DON’T drown in the details!

AP Biology ANY QUESTIONS?