What is life science?What is life science?

What will science in my grade What will science in my grade teach me?teach me?

Understanding life ScienceUnderstanding life Science

► Life science is the Life science is the study of living study of living things.things.

► Another term used Another term used for life science is for life science is “biology”.“biology”.

► ““Bio” is Greek for Bio” is Greek for “life”“life”

► ““Logos” is Greek for Logos” is Greek for “reason”.“reason”.

What do biologist study?What do biologist study?

►Organisms are the “living” things that Organisms are the “living” things that biologist study.biologist study.

►Organisms can be anything from the Organisms can be anything from the biggest of mammals to the smallest of biggest of mammals to the smallest of viruses.viruses.

►The following two pictures are two The following two pictures are two very different examples of organisms very different examples of organisms studied by biologists around the world.studied by biologists around the world.

Worlds biggest fishWorlds biggest fish

A photograph of Cocci, a A photograph of Cocci, a bacteria found on the human bacteria found on the human

bodybody

What are the branches of life What are the branches of life sciencescience

►Molecular biology Molecular biology (Study of chemical (Study of chemical building blocks of the building blocks of the cells)cells)

►Genetics (Study of Genetics (Study of heredity)heredity)

► Physiology (Study of Physiology (Study of the structures and the structures and functions of organisms)functions of organisms)

► Ecology (Study of Ecology (Study of organisms interacting organisms interacting with each other and with each other and their environment). their environment).

Big ideas covered in life Big ideas covered in life sciencescience

►Organisms are diverse, but similar.Organisms are diverse, but similar.►Organisms change over time.Organisms change over time.►The structure and function within an The structure and function within an

organism is connected.organism is connected.►The natural world allows organisms to The natural world allows organisms to

operate on the same pricipals.operate on the same pricipals.

Diverse but similarDiverse but similar

►There is a huge There is a huge diversity to life, diversity to life, but there are but there are some things which some things which every living every living organism has in organism has in common. common.

►What are some What are some common common characteristics characteristics between these two between these two different animals?different animals?

Similarities seen in the natural Similarities seen in the natural worldworld► Cells-all living things are made from cells. The cell Cells-all living things are made from cells. The cell

is the building block for every organism.is the building block for every organism.► Chemicals-all living things are very similar in Chemicals-all living things are very similar in

chemical composition. The major chemicals which chemical composition. The major chemicals which make up life on this planet are carbon, hydrogen, make up life on this planet are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.oxygen, and nitrogen.

► Energy-all living things need energy. How do we as Energy-all living things need energy. How do we as a species make energy?a species make energy?

► Development-all living things grow and develop. Development-all living things grow and develop. Right now many of you are undergoing Right now many of you are undergoing development (puberty). What happens in puberty?development (puberty). What happens in puberty?

► Evolution-all of life has changed with time. Here is a Evolution-all of life has changed with time. Here is a question, what do you think changes with time?question, what do you think changes with time?

► Structure means Function-animals and plants have Structure means Function-animals and plants have structures which perform special jobs. What are the structures which perform special jobs. What are the functions of your feet and hands? The number of functions of your feet and hands? The number of bones in each are very similar, but they function bones in each are very similar, but they function very differently. very differently.

In class assignmentIn class assignment

►Understanding that life science is Understanding that life science is about the study of life and now about the study of life and now knowing what sub disciplines in knowing what sub disciplines in biology contribute to life science, what biology contribute to life science, what are you interested in?are you interested in?

►Write a one paragraph minimum short Write a one paragraph minimum short essay about your interest in science essay about your interest in science and what in biology you would like to and what in biology you would like to understand. understand.