ch+1+2+9+intro+to+human+bio+and+evol++accS

Lecture Introduction

• Lecture Presentation by Suzanne Long, Monroe Community College

• Course: BIO 005: Intro to Human Biology

• © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Hierarchy of Life

• Levels of Biological Organization:

  • Biosphere

  • Ecosystems

  • Populations

  • Communities

  • Organ Systems and Organs

  • Tissues

  • Cells

  • Organelles

  • Molecules and Atoms

  • Nucleus Atom

Domains of Life

• Three Domains:

  • Domain Bacteria

    • Includes various species such as:

      • Spirochaetes

      • Thermotoga

      • Aquifex

      • Gram-positive bacteria

      • Cyanobacteria

  • Domain Archaea

    • Includes species like:

      • Methanobacterium

      • Pyrodictium

      • Sulfolobus

  • Domain Eukarya

    • Includes:

      • Protista

      • Fungi

      • Kingdom Animalia

      • Kingdom Plantae

Characteristics of Life

• Living Organisms Must:

  • Have a distinct molecular composition from non-living things

  • Require energy and raw materials

  • Be composed of cells

  • Maintain homeostasis (steady state)

  • Respond to external environments

  • Grow and reproduce

  • Populations must evolve

Grouping Species

• Definition of a Species:

  • A group of organisms that live in the same place and time and can interbreed to produce viable offspring

Taxonomy

• Taxonomy Defined:

  • The science of naming, identifying, and classifying organisms

  • Components:

    • Hierarchical classification: Broad groups to specific species

    • Binomial nomenclature: Two-part naming system (Genus species)

    • Example: Homo sapiens

Example of Taxonomy

• Classification of Panthera pardus:

  • Domain: Eukarya

  • Kingdom: Animalia

  • Phylum: Chordata

  • Class: Mammalia

  • Order: Carnivora

  • Family: Felidae

  • Genus: Panthera

  • Species: pardus

Classification of Humans

• Human Classification:

  • Domain: Eukarya

  • Kingdom: Animalia

  • Phylum: Chordata

  • Class: Mammalia

  • Order: Primates

  • Family: Hominidae

  • Genus: Homo

  • Species: sapiens

Primate Classification

• Defining Groups:

  • Hominoids: Apes, including humans

  • Hominids: Species closely related to humans, distinct from chimpanzees

  • Key Differences define humans from other primates:

    • Bipedalism: Walk on two legs

    • Opposable Thumbs: Hand grasping ability

    • Large Brain: Relative to body size

    • Capacity for Language: Both spoken and written

Evolutionary Theory

• Charles Darwin's Contributions:

  • Concept of descent with modification; species evolve over time

  • Evolution defined as genetic changes in populations across generations

Mechanisms of Evolution

• Four Mechanisms:

  • Mutation: Changes in DNA

  • Genetic Drift: Random changes in allele frequencies

  • Gene Flow: Exchange of genes between populations

  • Natural Selection: Survival of individuals with advantageous traits

    • Leads to adaptation

    • Example: Pesticide resistance in insects

Scientific Theories vs. Hypotheses

• Scientific Theory:

  • A well-supported explanation, based on evidence

  • Acceptance requires extensive evidence and no contradictions

  • Misconception to refer to theories as just hypotheses

The Scientific Method Steps

• Process:

  • Make an observation

  • Ask a question

  • Formulate a hypothesis

  • Make predictions

  • Experiment to test predictions

  • Analyze results

  • Report results based on findings

Evaluating Scientific Information

• Critical Thinking:

  • Check for consistency with other sources

  • Evaluate reliability of the source

  • Assess if proper scientific procedures were followed

  • Consider alternative explanations

Correlation vs. Causation

• Important Distinction:

  • Just because two things correlate does not imply one causes the other

  • Example: The correlation between mozzarella cheese consumption and civil engineering doctorates awarded

  • Reliance on data can lead to misleading conclusions without scientific evidence