everyone is a biologist ! nature of science/characteristics of life

Everyone is a Biologist !Nature of Science/Characteristics of Life

Chapter 1 What is Life?


Today: Three Questions

What are the Characteristics of Life?

How diverse is life?

How do we study the natural world?



All living things exhibit 8 characteristics in combination.



ATOM

MOLECULE

ORGANELLE

CELL

TISSUE

ORGAN

ORGAN SYSTEM

MULTICELLULAR ORGANISM



Each level of biological organization exhibits emergent properties.

Ex. Capillaries transport blood (property not exhibited by

individual endothelial cells).



Energy Use & Metabolism

Metabolism - biochemical reactions that acquire & use energy.

Why do organisms need energy?

How do organisms obtain energy?



Maintenance of Homeostasis

Homeostasis - the ability of an organism to maintain its internal environment despite conditions in the external environment.

Human body temperature maintenance:

if body temperature rises, you sweat.

if body temperature lowers, you shiver.



Reproduction, Growth & Development

Asexual reproduction - involves a single parent; offspring are genetically identical to the parent.

Sexual reproduction - involves 2 parents; offspring are genetically diverse.



Irritability & Adaptation

Irritability - immediate response to a stimulus.



Irritability & AdaptationAdaptation - an inherited behavior or characteristic that enables an organism to survive & reproduce.

Over time, adaptations are modified by natural selection.



Life is always changing…..

On the level of DNA……

Change = Evolution

Evolution is the backbone of biology.



Discuss1. What are the characteristics of life?

2. What is homeostasis? What is an example of homeostasis?

3. Is a computer living? Why or why not?

4. Why is energy required by living things?

All living things have the following 8 characteristics:1)Organization2)Energy Use/Metabolism3)Maintain Homeostasis4)Reproduces5)Grows6)Develops7)Responds to environment8)Adapts

Notes:

1) Evolution is the backbone of biology.2) Life is very diverse, with many different

forms and strategies for survival.3) Living things have levels of organization,

starting at the simplest and becoming more complex at each level.Atom Molecule Cell Tissue Organ Organ System Organism Biosphere

Notes:


Life is Diverse

Biodiversity refers to the many different types of organisms on earth.

Taxonomy is the biological science that classifies life according to evolutionary relationships.

The Domain is the largest group of organisms.


Life is Diverse


Life is Diverse

Kingdom Phylum

Class Order

Family Genus

Species

Kings Play Chess On Funny Green Squares


Life is Diverse

Human classification scheme:

Domain Eukarya

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

Order Primates

Family Hominidae

Genus & species Homo sapiens


Life is Diverse

A Short Quiz:1. What is the order of classification?

2. Which has more critters: an order or a genus?

3. What is taxonomy?

4. The scientific name includes the _____ and _____ name.


How do we study the Natural World?



What is the Scientific Method?

Methodical exploration

What makes science unique!



Question

Hypothesis

Prediction

Observations

Now What???



Question

Hypothesis

Prediction

Observations

Experiment



After you perform your experiment, you need to analyze the generated data. Does the data support or not support your hypothesis?

If your data does not support the hypothesis then……

If your data does support your hypothesis……..



What is difference between hypothesis, theory & law?

Hypothesis - “an educated guess”; a tentative explanation of phenomena.

Theory - a widely accepted explanation of natural phenomena; has stood up to

thorough & continual testing.

Law - a statement of what always occurs under certain conditions.

NOTES



Question

Hypothesis

Prediction

Observations

Experiment

NOTES

Scientific Method and Biology Day 2

• Agenda– Open Note Quiz– Scientific Communication Lab


• How closely do your setups resemble each other?• What method did you use to communicate your

results? What would have been a better method?• If this was an experimental setup, would the

scientists you were communicating with have gotten the same results?


• Think of a better way to communicate your results. Make a new setup with your blocks and try to communicate that way.

For example:• Draw a diagram• Describe using exact measurements (get a ruler)• Write a setup procedure• Etc.

everyone is a biologist ! nature of science/characteristics of life

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