Introduction to Biology

What is Biology? The study of life The science of living things

Origins of word “biology” Biology (Greek or Latin origin) Bios = life Logos = study of Study of life

Characteristics of Life Metabolism Specific organization Homeostasis Responsiveness Cellular composition Growth Reproduction Movement Adaptation

Cellular Composition Made up of at least one cell Unicellular - made of one cell (bacteria, amoeba, paramecium) Multicellular - made up of two or more cells (plants, fungi, animals)

Growth Increase in cell size (unicellular) and/or an increase in cell number (multicellular)

Reproduction Asexual- cell division (mitosis)—one cell becomes two Ex: bacteria Sexual- union of sex cells (sperm and egg) Ex: plants and animals

Movement 3 types: Place to Place- (ex: bear running, bird flying, etc) External Part- (ex: + phototropism, plants orient leaves toward sun) Internal- (ex: cytoplasmic streaming)

Adaptation Changing to meet the needs of the environment Examples: 1. Bird migration- behavioral adaptation

Adaptation (continued) Human body temperature- Physiological adaptation Hibernation- physiological adaptation Hare ear length (desert vs. arctic hares)- structural adaptation

Metabolism Set of chemical reactions that convert “food” into energy

Specific Organization Certain parts do specific jobs (ex: heart, nucleus, chloroplasts, etc)

Homeostasis Maintaining the same state Homeo = same, steady Stasis = state Examples: -Water balance inside and outside of cell -Human body temperature *Cells function best when these are in balance

Responsiveness Reaction(s) to various stimuli Examples of stimuli: light, heat, pH, vibration, smell, etc.– earthworms respond to all of these

Biology is a Unified Science Biology + Chemistry + Physics= Science Why do arctic hares turn white in winter?

1. Arctic winter conditions

Kirkoff’s Laws White: Good reflector (reflects light and heat) Poor radiator (heat is lost slowly) Black: Good absorber (absorbs light and heat) Good radiator (heat is lost quickly)

Branches of Biology Zoology- the study of animals Ichthyology- the study of fish Why Important? Fish are indicator species. Alert humans to potential environmental problems

Mammalogy- study of mammals (NASA) Ornithology- the study of birds Why important? DDT(insecticide used in ‘50s and ’60s) Birds of prey #s declined bioaccumulation- the build up of chemicals or toxins in living things

Botany- the study of plants Why important? Food production, medicines Microbiology- study of small life Why important? Medicines, bioterrorism

Anatomy- study of an organism’s parts Physiology- study of how organism’s parts work Why important? Health professions, veterinarians

Entomology- study of insects Why important? West Nile virus, Yellow fever, malaria, elephantiasis, dengue fever, yellow fever– carried by mosquitoes Genetics- study of heredity and genetic material (DNA/RNA, chromosomes, genes) Why important? Cloning, research, solving crime

Ecology- study of all life in a particular area, the relationships b/t those life forms and the environment Why important? AMD, Overpopulation Ozone Depletion/Greenhouse Effect Rainforest Destruction Pollution- other states pay to dump garbage in PA

Cell Biology- the study of cells Why Important? Need to know about cells to learn more about whole organisms