Chapter 1 An Introduction to Biology

!  Criteria for living organisms !  Evolution: Unity and Diversity of Life !  Taxonomy: Levels of Biological Organization !  Scientific Method & Discovery Science

Key Concepts:

Figure 1.1 The Many Faces of Life

What is the Fundamental Unit of Life?

Evolution: Change in genetic makeup over time

!  Charles Darwin-On the Origin of the Species (1859)

Darwin’s World Tour

Observations of Darwin

•  Natural  selec+on-­‐Differen(al  survival  and  reproduc(on  in  a  popula(on.  

–  Adapta+on-­‐Process  where  structural,  physiological,  or  behavioral  traits  are  acquired  from  natural  selec(on  that  are  op(mal  for  survival  or  reproduc(on  

–  Mechanism  of  evolu+on:  Due  to  non-­‐random  gene+c  changes  

–  Mechanism  of  how  biological  traits  become  more/less  common  in  a  popula+on  

•  Species-­‐Biological  group  that  can  reproduce  fer(le  and  viable  offspring  together.  

–  Specia+on-­‐Two  groups  diverge  un(l  they  can  no  longer  reproduce  

Charles Darwin Observed Species Diversity of Finches

Adapta(ons  

Why so Blue?

!  Binomial nomenclature " Each species has a unique scientific name " Genus name capitalized " Species descriptor is not capitalized " Both names are italicized

Amphiprion ocellaris = Ocellaris clownfish

Biologists use different model systems

Fugu rubripes-Pufferfish S. cerevisiae

Drosophila Zebrafish

Xenopus

C. elegans Bacteria

Human/Primate

Rodent

In silico

The Scientific Method: Hypothesis Testing