01_Lecture_Presentation_Chap1

Introduction to Biology

Red Pandas

• Adaptations for mountainous forests in Asia

• Cinnamon red and white coat for camouflage

• Long bushy tail for warmth in winter

• Bony wrist projection aids in grasping bamboo

Giant Pandas

• Live in similar areas as red pandas

• Initially thought to be closely related, now classified separately

• Both species are at risk of extinction

The Scientific Study of Life

What is Life?

• Biology is the study of life with properties including:

  • Order

  • Reproduction

  • Growth and development

  • Energy processing

  • Regulation

  • Response to the environment

  • Evolutionary adaptation

• Cells are the fundamental units of life.

Properties of Life

• Order: Highly ordered structures

• Reproduction: Organisms produce their own kind

• Growth and Development: Controlled by DNA

• Response to Environment: Organisms react to stimuli

• Energy Processing: Energy is used for activities

• Regulation: Maintaining internal balance

• Evolutionary Adaptation: Traits evolve for survival

Biological Diversity and Organization

Domains of Life

• Life categorized into three domains:

  • Bacteria: Simple cells

  • Archaea: Simple cells, extremophiles

  • Eukarya: Complex cells including fungi, plantae, and animalia

Levels of Biological Organization

• From molecules to biosphere:

  • Atom

  • Molecule

  • Organelle

  • Cell

  • Tissue

  • Organ

  • Organ systems

  • Organism

  • Population

  • Community

  • Ecosystem

  • Biosphere

• New properties emerge at each level.

Understanding Science

What is Science?

• A method for understanding the natural world.

• Involves:

  • Observations

  • Hypotheses

  • Predictions

  • Testing through experiments

  • Data analysis

• Scientific theories are broad, evidence-supported explanations.

Testing Hypotheses

• Controlled Experiments: Compare experimental and control groups.

• Independent Variable: Manipulated factor

• Dependent Variable: Measured outcome

Evolution and Its Themes

Core Theme of Biology

• Unity and diversity of life explained by evolution.

• Natural Selection: Adaptations occur over generations for better reproductive success.

Role of DNA

• DNA as the blueprint for heredity and cellular function.

• Flow of information is vital in biological processes.

Energy and Matter

• Energy Flow: Sunlight enters ecosystem, used by producers, and exits as heat.

• Matter Cycling: Between producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Interconnectedness

Structure and Function

• The structure of biological components correlates with their function.

• Examples include protein structure related to its activity.

Systems Biology

• Study interactions within biological systems.

• Emergent properties arise from component interactions.

Learning Objectives

• Compare life properties and biological domains.

• Explain biological organization levels.

• Define science, hypothesis, and theory.

• Discuss evolution’s impact on life.

• Describe the energy and matter dynamics in ecosystems.