General Biology-1

General Biology Course

Chapter 1
Submitted by: Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj, PhD in Molecular Biology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences
By: MuhamedM
Slide 1 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Textbook

  • Authors: Wasserman, Cain, Urry, Minorsky, Reece

  • Year: 2017

  • Title: Campbell Biology, 11th edition

  • Publisher: Pearson Education, Inc, United States of America

Slide 2 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Course Contents

  • Introduction to Biology & Levels of Biological Organization.

  • The Chemical Context of Life & Water and Life.

  • Classifying the Diversity of Life.

  • Protists.

  • Fungi.

  • Viruses.

  • Plant cell.

  • The Cell.

  • Membrane Structure & Function.

  • The Cell Cycle.

  • Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles.

Slide 3 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Introduction to Biology

  • Father of Biology: Aristotle (300 B.C.)

  • Term "Biology": First introduced by Jean Lamark (1801).

  • Definition: Biology is the science of life, derived from two Greek words:

    • Bios: meaning life.

    • Logos: meaning science.

Slide 5 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Levels of Biological Organization

  • Definition: The study of life extends from a microscopic scale (molecules and cells) to a global scale (entire living planet).

  • Hierarchical Organization:

    • Biosphere

    • Ecosystem

    • Community

    • Population

    • Organism

    • Organ System

    • Organ

    • Tissue

    • Cell

    • Organelle

    • Molecule

    • Atom

Slide 6 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Definitions of Biological Levels

  • Biosphere: Entire planet Earth and all its living inhabitants.

  • Ecosystem: Living things in a specific area and their nonliving environment.

  • Community: Living components of an ecosystem.

  • Population: Group of individuals of the same species in a particular area.

  • Organism: An individual complex, self-reproducing unit.

  • Organ System: Assigned body parts to specific functions within an organism.

  • Organ: Group of tissues performing specialized functions.

  • Tissue: A group of similar cells executing specific functions.

  • Cell: Smallest unit of biological organization considered alive.

  • Organelle: Specialized structure within a cell.

  • Molecule: Cluster of atoms.

  • Atom: Smallest unit of matter with chemical properties of an element.

Slides 7-8 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Properties of Life

  • Order: Coherent patterns within living organisms.

  • Response to Environment: Organisms sense and react to environmental changes.

  • Energy Processing: Energy synthesis and breakdown for metabolism.

  • Growth and Development: Increase in mass and addition of capabilities via DNA inheritance.

  • Reproduction: Ability to replicate either sexually or asexually.

  • Regulation: Coordination and control of activities.

  • Homeostasis: Maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external changes.

  • Evolutionary Adaptation: Changes over generations that enhance survival and may lead to new species.

Slides 10-11 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Chemical Basis of Life

  • Defining Matter: Anything occupying space and with mass.

  • Elements: Substances that cannot be further broken down chemically (92 found in nature).

  • Compounds: Substances made of two or more element combinations.

  • Essential Elements: Approximately 20-25% of known elements vital for life. Varied across species; humans require 25, plants 17.

Slides 13-14 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Fundamental Elements in Living Matter

  • Main Elements:

    • Oxygen (O): 65.0%

    • Carbon (C): 18.5%

    • Hydrogen (H): 9.5%

    • Nitrogen (N): 3.3%

    • Calcium (Ca): 1.5%

    • Phosphorus (P): 1.0%

    • Trace Elements include Boron (B), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), etc.

Slide 15 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Atomic Structure

  • Atoms: Smallest matter units with element properties; typically electrically neutral.

  • Components: Protons (determine atomic number), neutrons, and electrons (organized in shells).

  • Chemical Behavior: Atoms with incomplete outer (valence) shells are reactive.

Slide 16-17 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Chemical Bonds

  • Covalent Bonds: Electrons shared between atoms.

    • Nonpolar Covalent Bonds: Equally shared electrons.

    • Polar Covalent Bonds: Unequally shared based on electronegativity.

  • Ionic Bonds: Attracted oppositely charged ions.

    • Cations: Positively charged via electron loss.

    • Anions: Negatively charged via electron gain.

Slides 18-19 of 416
Dr. Heba A. R. AL Sarraj
Water and Life

  • Distribution: Covers three-quarters of Earth, exists as solid, liquid, and gas.

  • Molecular Structure: Bent shape with polar