Introduction to Biology

Chapter 1

What is Biology?

Biology is the study of life! Bio means life and

logy means study of

Why do I have to take a Biology class?

To learn how to investigate and understand

nature, to explain events in nature, and to use
those explanations to make useful predictions
To make informed decisions about health and
well being

The Steps of the Scientific Method:

Francesco Redi (1600s)- designed

one of the first controlled experiments
to determine what caused appearance
of maggots on meat
1. Stating a Question: process of
science always starts with a
question sparked by curiosity
Example:

Where do maggots come from?

2. Collect information about your

problem in your surroundings and
environment.
Example: Redi noticed maggots
growing on the surface of meat and
flies flying around it

3. Form a hypothesis a possible

explanation to a scientific question
In science, hypothesis only useful if it can be tested
Hypothesis may arise from prior knowledge, logical
inferences, or imaginative guesses.

Example: Redi hypothesized that

maggots would not appear if kept flies
away from meat.

4. Test the hypothesis through a

controlled experiment
Controlled variables
(variables that stay
constant): jars, type of meat,
location, temperature, time
Independent variable (a
single variable that is
different): gauze covering
one set of jars that will keep
flies away from meat
Dependent variable (a
variable that depends on
the independent variable):
the presence of maggots

5. Observe the experiment for changes

Observation involves one or more senses

(sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste) to gather
information
There are 2 types of observations:
1. Quantitative involve numbers, counting, and
measurements.
2. Qualitative involve characteristics that cannot
be measured or counted, such as color or texture.
Example: Redi noticed that maggots did not appear on
meat placed in jars with gauze.

6. Record, study and analyze data

organize data into tables, graphs, and charts to
easily detect patterns of change within your data.

7. Draw a Conclusion scientist use data

from experiment to evaluate the hypothesis
and draw conclusion
Repeat experiment to check for errors.
When you get consistent results, then
publish your discovery.
Example: Redi concluded that maggots
come from flies that lay eggs on the surface
of the meat. Maggots did not spontaneously
appear.

Redis experiment helped to disprove the prevailing

hypothesis of spontaneous generation- life comes
from non-living things
Although Redi proved that
spontaneous generation
is not true for
macroscopic organisms,
people were skeptical if
spontaneous generation
holds true for
microorganisms.

Redis experimental results were retested nearly a 100 years later.

Spallanzani (mid 1700s)- experiment
showed microorganisms will not grow
in boiled and sealed gravy but will
grow in boiled gravy that is left open to
air.

Spallanzani concluded nonliving

gravy did not produce living
organisms.
What variable was controlled in this
experiment?

Louis Pasteur (1864)- tried to settle argument for

spontaneous generation. Some said that air was
necessary for Spontaneous generation.
Pasteurs experiment showed that boiled broth would remain
free of microorganisms even if air was allowed in, as long as
dust mites and other particles were kept out
Why did microorganisms grow after Pasteur broke
the neck of the flask?

Broth is boiled

Both is free of
microorganisms for a year

Curved neck
removed

Broth is teeming
with microorganisms

How a hypothesis develops into a theory: as

evidence builds up, a particular hypothesis may
become so well supported that scientists consider it a
theory. A theory can be changed and revised as
new evidence is discovered.

Although Redi, Spallanzani, and Pastuers

experiments were designed differently, they all
disprove the theory of spontaneous generation. The
new theory is called Biogenesis, which means life
comes from life.
Certain qualities are desirable in a scientist: curiosity,
honesty, openness, skepticism, and recognition that
science has limits.

All living things share 8 characteristics:

1. All Living things are made up of cells.
Cells are smallest units of life.
Life begins at the cell!

Unicellular organism
consist of a single cell
Example: Bacteria
Multicellular organism
consist of many cells. Cells
may be diverse (sizes,
shapes, specialized jobs)
Example: Humans

2. All living things reproduce.

Sexual reproductiontwo cells from different
parents unite to produce
offspring

Asexual reproduction
single parent reproduces
by making a copy of itself

3. All living things have an universal genetic code

called DNA.
Offspring always resemble their parents
Genetic code of DNA determines inherited traits

4. All living things grow and develop.

Each living thing has a distinctive life cycle (a

particular pattern of growth and change that
occurs over lifetime)
As development occurs, a process called aging
takes place. Death, too, is a process of change
that separates living and nonliving things

5. All living things use energy for metabolism

Living things obtain energy from their environment,
or their surrounding
Use energy to grow, develop and reproduce
Photosynthesis process
by which plants make
energy through sun
Metabolism the
combination of chemical
reactions in which an
organism builds up or
breaks down materials as it
carries out its life processes

6. All living things respond to their environment.

Organisms live in constantly

changing environments

Stimulus anything in environment

that causes organism to react
Response could be to light,
temperature, odor, sound, gravity,
heat, water, pressure, and etc.

7. All living things maintain an internal balance,

called Homeostasis.
Living things respond to stimuli in ways that
improve their chances for survival
Homeostasis ability to maintain constant or
stable conditions inside body despite the changes
outside. Example: maintaining body temp. of
98.6 F.

8. All Living things change over time as a group,

not as an individual

evolution individuals dont usually change basic traits

over lifetime. Groups can evolve, or change over
time.

Levels of Organization

Atom
Molecules/Compounds
Organelles (mitochondria, nucleus, ribosome, etc.)
Cell (life starts here)
Tissue (group of cells working together)
Organ (group of tissue working together)
Organ System (various organs working together)
Organism/species (an individual that can breed with other
members of the same species to produce fertile offspring.)
Population (group of same species/organisms living together )
Community (different species/organisms living together)
Ecosystem (different communities living together with nonliving things)
Biome (a regional ecosystem characterized by climate)
Biosphere (all life on Earth)

The broad field of Science contains many branches

Biology = the study of life
Botany= the study of plants
Ecology = the study of organisms and their
interactions with the environment
Genetics= the study of genes and heredity
Microbiology= the study of microscopic
organisms
Taxonomy =the study of classification
Zoology= the study of animals

Understanding biology can help you

make informed decisions.

Your health and the health of the environment depend

on your knowledge of biology.

1. food allergies
2. potential effects of
obesity
3. cancer
4. effects of alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs
5. interactions in
ecosystems
6. pollution

brain

lungs
heart
liver
kidneys