Topic 1 - Themes and Concepts of Biology

This is an introduction to Biology and some of the terminology to remember.

Phototaxis

Plants sense and grow towards sunlight

Chemotaxis

Bacteria can sense and move away from chemicals

Negative response

Movement AWAY from a stimulus

Positive response

Movement TOWARDS a stimulus

Asexual Reproduction

Offspring arise from ONE parent and are genetically identical to that parent

Sexual Reproduction

Offspring arise from TWO parents and are a genetic mixture of the parents

Adaptation

Organisms “fitting” into their environment *give example*

Genetic Code

Information (set of rules) for how to grow from DNA

Regulation

The individual components that need done - cell moves nutrients around the body

Homeostasis

Process of maintaining “appropriate” conditions both inside individual cells and entire bodies of multicellular organisms

Phototrophs

Harness light energy from the sun *give example*

Chemotrophs

Get energy by breaking down biological molecules *give example*

-troph

To eat/consume

What is the smallest unit of matter?

Atom

What is the smallest unit of life?

Cell

Molecular Biology

Study of molecules such as DNA and proteins

Neurobiology

Study of the nervous system

Paleontology

Uses fossils to study life’s history

Zoology and botany

Study of animals and plants

Biotechnologists

Use knowledge of biology to make useful products

Physiologists

Study cells, tissues, and organs

What do all of the Branches of Science have in common?

The Study of Life and Biological Systems

Taxonomy

How living organisms are organized or the classification of living organisms

Taxonomy began...

2,500 years ago

Aristotle’s writings were among the first descriptions of taxonomic organization when?

3-400 BC

Organisms were classified by their…

Morphology (Structure)

True or False? The more similar the outward appearance of two organisms, the more closely related they were thought to be.

True

Carl Linnaeus

• Built the classification system we use today

• Started in the 1700’s from recorded morphological observations

• He also erroneously classifies human “races” in his system as well

• All naming was done in Latin

Carl Woese

• 1928 – 2012

• Microbiologist at University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne

• Early work on genetic code, following Franklin,

• Watson and Crick’s discovery of DNA structure Identified new domain of life, the Archaea

• Established Molecular Phylogentics, evolutionary history based on DNA sequence

What are the organisms that are separated into 3 domains?

1. Bacteria

2. Archaea

3. Eukarya

What are the Bacteria?

Aquifex, Thermotaga, Bacteroides Cytophaga, Planctomyces, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Spirochetes, Gram positives, and Green Filamentous bacteria

What are the Archaea?

Pyrodicticum, Thermoproteus, T. celer, Methanococcus, Methanobacterium, Methanosarcina, and Halophiles

What are the Eukarya?

Entamoebae, Slime molds, Animals, Fungi, Plants, Ciliates, Flagellates, Trichomonads, Microsporidia, Diplomonads

-Eu -Karya

Eu = True; Karya = Kernel (Nucleus)

Phylogenetic Tree of Life

The three organisms, Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya are separated into 3 domains within this tree. This tree is to show evolutionary relationships and history between different species or groups of organisms.

-Pro -Karyote

Pro = Before Karyote = no nucleus