Introduction to Biology

I. What is Biology? The study of living and once living things –Plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and protista –How organisms interact with other living things and nonliving things

II. Characteristics of Life 1.Organization –Orderly structure –All made of cells (basic unit of life)

2.Reproduction –Ability to produce offspring

3.Growth –Increase in size

4.Development –Change in structure over life

5.Respond –React to the environment Stimulus and response

6.Adapt –Structure, behavior or process that helps and organism respond and better survive

7.Need Food –Producers – make their own food (plants/bacteria) –Consumers – eat something

8.Use Energy –Use for life functions Chase prey, run from predators, find shelter, metabolism

II. Methods of Biology Science starts with curiosity –Why do things happen? –Answers usually produce more questions Scientific Methods –Steps scientist use to gather information about the world around us (answers to questions) –Observations are very important

Steps of the Scientific Method 1.Purpose – question 2.Hypothesis – prediction or explanation Test using an experiment 3.Experiment – Test hypothesis Materials – list of everything used in experiment Procedure – instructions on how to do experiment –Independent variable – the one condition that is changed by the experimenter –Dependent variable – condition that changes due to the independent variable –Control – standard for comparison group or part kept at the same conditions

4. Collect & Analyze data – organize and graph information gathered during the experiment Tables, charts and graphs 5.Conclude – what you learned from the data and if it supported your hypothesis If the hypothesis is proven wrong, make a new hypothesis, do not change the data.

Quantitative versus Qualitative –Quantitative – measured in numbers Example- growth in cm per day or number of zebra in a herd –Qualitative – descriptive observations without number Example -behavior of a predator or a protozoan's response to a bright light III.Collecting Data

International System of Units (SI) –Based on tens –Units UnitBase UnitSymbol Lengthmeterm Volumeliterl MasskilogramKg Timesecondss TemperatureKelvinK

SI Prefixes PrefixSymbolFactor KiloK1000 HectoH100 DecaD10 decid0.1 centic0.01 millim0.001 microµ

IV. Theory and Law Theory –Explanation that is supported by many experiments and observations Always being verified and refined Example: Evolution Law –Facts of nature Very few laws compared to theories Example: Law of Gravity Ethics –Human morals or values Technology –Using scientific research to improve our lives