Exploring_life__2_
Page 1: Biological Hierarchy
Concepts: Biology involves multiple levels of organization including:
Organism
Population
System of organs
Biocenoses
Tissue
Cell
Ecosystem
Organelle
Molecule
Biomass
Atom
Page 2: Definition of Biology
Etymology:
Bio: Life
Logy: Study of
Description: The scientific study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Page 3: Characteristics of Life
All living things exhibit certain characteristics:
Growth & Development: Increases in size and complexity over time.
Energy Metabolism: Processes such as eating, breathing, and waste excretion contribute to energy usage.
Homeostasis: Maintenance of a stable internal environment.
Adaptation: Adjustments over time driven by mutation and natural selection to improve survival.
Response to Stimuli: Reacting to environmental changes, often through movement.
Organization: Composed of one or more cells with complex structures and processes.
Reproduction: Ability to produce offspring, guided by genetic material (DNA).
Page 4: Summary of Biological Characteristics
Key Concepts:
Growth and Development
Energy Processing
Order
Reproduction
Response to the Environment
Regulation
Evolutionary Adaptation
Page 5: Viruses - Living or Non-Living?
Nature of Viruses:
Characterized as non-living because they cannot replicate without a host.
Debate among scientists regarding their classification as living organisms.
Viruses utilize the host's biological functions for replication.
Page 6: Exotic Organisms
Question: Encourage thinking about the diversity of life.
Examples: Various imaginative organisms stimulate curiosity.
Page 7: Biodiversity and Domains of Life
Biodiversity: Variation among living organisms’ observable characteristics.
Domains:
Bacteria: Simple cells, DNA not in nucleus, first to evolve.
Archaea: Similar to bacteria but with distinct genetics and biochemistry.
Eukaryotes: Complex cells with DNA contained in a nucleus and organelles.
Page 8: Classification of Life
Domains:
Bacteria and Archaea: Simple, prokaryotic organisms.
Eukarya: Includes kingdoms such as Protista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia (complex eukaryotic organisms).
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Page 10: Taxonomy
Taxonomy: Naming and classifying species.
Species: A unique kind of organism, identified by a two-part name (genus and specific epithet).
Taxon: A group of organisms sharing a set of traits.
Page 11: Taxonomic Hierarchy
Levels:
Species: Ursus americanus (American black bear)
Genus: Ursus
Family: Ursidae
Order: Carnivora
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia
Domain: Eukarya
Page 12: Scientific Names
Examples of scientific nomenclature:
Alligator mississippiensis (American alligator)
Lutra canadensis (River otter)
Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald eagle)
Humans: Homo sapiens
Page 13: Understanding Life Organization
Biologists study life across a vast scale, from molecules to entire ecosystems.
Emergent Properties: New characteristics emerge from complex arrangements and interactions among components.
Page 14: Hierarchical Organization of Life
Levels:
Biosphere: All ecosystems.
Ecosystem: Includes the physical environment (e.g., forests).
Community: All organisms within an ecosystem.
Population: Individuals of the same species.
Organism: An individual living being.
Page 15: Cellular Organization
Examples using the Ring-tailed lemur:
Organism: Ring-tailed lemur
Organ System: Nervous system
Organ: Brain
Tissue: Nervous tissue
Cell: Nerve cell
Organelle: Nucleus
Molecule: DNA
Atom: Fundamental units of matter.
Page 16: Emergent Properties in Biology
Definition: Characteristics that arise from the interaction of component parts, not present in individual parts.
Life Emergence: Life appears at the cellular level, highlighting its foundational role.
Page 17: Understanding Science
Process of Inquiry: Evidence-based investigation of the natural world.
Components of Scientific Approach:
Observations
Hypotheses
Predictions
Testing
Data analysis
Critical Thinking: Assessing information through questioning and bias evaluation.
Page 18: Types of Reasoning in Science
Inductive Reasoning: Drawing general conclusions from specific observations. For example, seeing that all cats purr leads to the general conclusion that all cats purr.
Deductive Reasoning: Using general principles to make specific predictions; for example, stating that all mammals (general) must have kidneys, and thereby concluding that dolphins, as mammals, have kidneys (specific).
Page 19: Scientific Method Steps
Observation: Noticing and studying a natural phenomenon.
Question: Formulating questions based on observations.
Hypothesis: Creating an explanation for observations.
Experiment: Testing hypotheses through controlled experiments.
Analysis: Interpreting results and data.
Conclusion: Drawing conclusions from analyzed data.
Report: Communicating findings to the broader scientific community.
Page 20: Hypothesis Examples
If-Then Statements:
If the water faucet is opened, then water flow will increase.
If fenders are attached to a bicycle, then the rider will remain dry in puddles.
If temperature increases, then the rate of metabolism in animals will also rise.
Page 21: Hypothesis Testing Framework
Process:
Developing multiple hypotheses (e.g., Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 2).
Conducting tests and evaluating predictions to achieve results (hypothesis validation).
Page 22: Experimental Design and Variables
Variables:
Independent Variable: Altered by the researcher.
Dependent Variable: Measured response affected by the independent variable.
Groups:
Experimental Group: Receives treatment.
Control Group: Similar conditions without the treatment for comparison.
Page 23: Nature of Science
Scientific Theory: Robust hypotheses that withstand testing over time and produce consistent data.
Scientific Law: Describes invariable phenomena observed without exception.
Page 24: Limits of Science
Recognizes that science operates within defined boundaries:
Team-based collaboration among scientists.
Focus on natural causes for natural phenomena.
Excludes supernatural elements which cannot be measured or tested.
Does not answer philosophical questions regarding existence.
Page 25: Five Themes of Biology
Evolution
Flow of Information
Structure and Function
Transfer of Energy
Interactions Within/Between Systems
Page 26: Evolution Theme
Process: Change in organisms over generations.
Natural Selection (Charles Darwin):
Individual variations exist within populations.
Overproduction of offspring leads to competition.
Some variations enhance survival leading to reproductive success.
Page 27: Tree of Life
Concept: Visual representation where each species is a twig on a tree extending back in evolutionary history.
Page 28: Evolution's Relevance
Applications: Used in medicine, conservation, and agriculture.
Artificial Selection: Humans influence evolution through selective breeding which alters organisms significantly from their wild ancestors.
Page 29: Genetic Information Theme
DNA: Blueprint of life, dictating structure and function of organisms.
Information Storage: Genes provide information that regulates biological processes and gene expression.
Page 30: Theme of Energy Transfer
Ecosystem Dynamics:
Energy flows one way:
Enters as sunlight,
Converted to chemical energy by producers,
Passed to consumers,
Exits as heat.
Page 31: System Interactions Theme
Study Span: Covers microscopic (cells) to macroscopic (ecosystems).
Emergent Properties: Characteristics arise from the interactions of components; e.g., a properly assembled set of bicycle parts functions as a bike.