Biology: Exploring Life - Key Concepts

Biology: Exploring Life

  • Biology is the scientific study of life with defining properties:
    • Order
    • Reproduction
    • Growth and development
    • Energy processing
    • Regulation
    • Response to the environment
    • Evolutionary adaptation

Diversity of Life

  • Life is organized into three domains:
    • Domain Bacteria
    • Domain Archaea
    • Domain Eukarya (includes kingdoms Fungi, Plantae, Animalia)

Hierarchy of Biological Organization

  • Hierarchical structure from molecules to biosphere:
    • Molecule
    • Cell
    • Tissue
    • Organ
    • Organ system
    • Organism
    • Population
    • Community
    • Ecosystem
    • Biosphere
    • Emergent properties arise at each level

Scientific Method

  • Science as a way of knowing via evidence-based inquiry:
    • Observations, hypotheses, predictions, experiments, data analysis

Hypothesis and Theory

  • Scientific hypothesis must be testable; can be supported/refuted
  • Scientific theory is robust and supported by substantial evidence

Experiment Design

  • Independent variable (IV): manipulated;
  • Dependent variable (DV): measured outcome;
  • Confounding variables need control

Observational vs. Experimental Data

  • Observational data involves identifying patterns without manipulation
  • Example: DNA sequence comparisons in red pandas

Interconnections in Science

  • Science aims to understand, while technology applies scientific knowledge
  • Both fields are interdependent, influencing advancements and application