BIOLOGY Chapter 1 - Introduction and Properties of Life (Vocabulary)

1. Themes and Concepts of Biology

• What is “biology”? The study of life.

• What is “life”? A distinctive characteristic or condition distinguishing animate from inanimate objects or vital from dead organisms, characterized by properties such as organization, metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation.

• Four questions of biology:

  • What are the shared properties that make something “alive”? Living things exhibit common properties such as order, sensitivity, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation, and homeostasis.

  • How do those various living things function? Living things function through complex biological processes, including metabolism, cellular activities, regulation of internal conditions, and interactions between organ systems, as exemplified by the digestive process.

  • When faced with diversity of life, how do we organize the different organisms to better understand them? Organisms are organized through classification systems (taxonomy), grouping them based on shared characteristics, evolutionary relationships, and hierarchical levels from species to domains.

  • How did diversity arise and how is it continuing? Diversity arises and continues through evolution, driven by mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic variation, mutation, and adaptation to changing environments, leading to the ongoing diversification of life forms.
    Notes on sources and figures

• The content is part of an OpenStax ancillary resource (© Rice University) under a CC-BY 4.0 International license; attribution is required for reproduction or modification, and changes must be noted.

• Figure 1.1 is introduced as a NASA image concept: a composite of several satellite-based views of Earth; to assemble a whole-Earth image, observations of different parts of the planet are combined (credit: modification of work by NASA).

• Figure captions referenced: Fig. 1.1 (Intro), Fig. 1.2 (A toad showing levels of organization), Fig. 1.3 (Mimosa pudica leaves), Fig. 1.4 (Kittens with inherited traits), Fig. 1.5 (Polar bears and heat management).

2. Properties of Life

• Order

  • Definition: Order → highly organized structure containing one or more cells.

  • Implication: Living things exhibit organized cellular structure (cells, tissues, organs, organ systems).

  • Figure reference: Figure 1.2 (A toad showing hierarchy: cells → tissues → organs → organ systems).

• Sensitivity (Responsiveness)

  • Definition: Sensitivity or response to stimuli.

  • Example from figure: Mimosa pudica leaves fold in response to touch (Figure 1.3).

• Reproduction

  • Definition: Reproduction → offspring with same characteristics as the parent.

  • Note from figure: Figure 1.4 (Kittens) illustrates inheritance of traits from both parents.

• Adaptation

  • Definition: Adaptation → “survival of the fittest.”

  • Concept: Heritable traits that enhance survival and reproductive success in a given environment.

• Growth & Development

  • Definition: Growth & Development → instructions provided by genetic information passed down from parents.

  • Significance: Development follows genetic blueprints to produce mature organisms.

• Regulation

  • Definition: Regulation → mechanisms to ensure all systems and processes are functioning properly.

  • Function: Maintains stability and coordinates activities across organ systems.

• Homeostasis

  • Definition: Homeostasis → stability in the internal environment to sustain life.

  • Note: Presented alongside other properties; linked to the organism’s ability to regulate internal conditions.

3. The Digestive Process

• Overview: Everything you eat—from salads to pizza—passes through a common basic digestive process to provide energy and nourishment.

• Core question: How does the body use nutrients?

• Nutrient processing overview

  • Most digested food particles, including what you drink, are absorbed through the small intestine.

  • Not all nutrients are used in the same way by the body.

• Carbohydrates

  • Role: Produce energy and provide stamina; fibers stabilize blood sugar and promote a healthy digestive system.

  • Subpoints: Carbohydrates are associated with energy production; fibers contribute to digestion and blood sugar regulation.

• Proteins

  • Role: Produce energy and provide stamina; build and repair body tissues; produce enzymes, hormones, and other elements the body needs.

• Fats

  • Role: Produce energy; lubricate joints; protect nerve tissue; cushion vital organs.

• Vitamins & Minerals

  • Role: Build strong bones and teeth; support the immune system; prevent deficiencies that can cause fatigue or lead to organ damage.

• Digestive workflow overview (anatomical path)

  • Salivary glands: Saliva contains an enzyme that begins digesting carbohydrates from food into smaller molecules.

  • Mouth: Digestion starts in the mouth with chewing and swallowing.

  • Esophagus: Swallowed food travels down the esophagus toward the stomach.

  • Stomach: Gastric juice and acids break down stored food; stomach performs three jobs: (1) storing swallowed food and liquid, (2) breaking down the food and mixing it with digestive juices, (3) emptying contents into the small intestine.

  • Liver: Involved in processing fats and other digestive components.

  • Small intestine: Primary site of nutrient absorption and transport