Christina Liberto, M.S.

WELCOME!! Plans for today: Introductions Review Syllabus Scientific Method

Meeting times: MON, WED 6:00 - 6:50 PM, Lecture 7:00 – 8:50 PM, Lab TU, TH 6:00 - 6:50 PM, Lecture 7:00 – 8:50 PM, Lab LECTURE ROOM: Aberdeen Hall 139, Lecture Aberdeen Hall 128, Lab Office Hours: By appointment REQURED TEXT Grading Policy Exams

Tips on test taking DO NOT wait until the last minute to study Study nightly Eat and sleep well the night before the test Take your time on exams: Read questions carefully, do not rush and check your answers before turning in the exam Have a positive attitude! Remember: SCIENCE IS FUN!!!

Major Topics Biological chemistry Biological molecules Cells, Cell theory Characteristics of living things Living systems Evolution Diversity of plants and animals Biotechnology

Course Procedures Set aside time each week to study and complete assignments If you don’t understand a concept taught in class, get help from either me, someone else in the class, or from the tutoring center Read each assigned chapter prior to coming to class Ask for help if you need it!!

Biology Biology is the study of life Science is a body of knowledge, a collection of unified insights about nature So…why does this matter to me?? What does this have to do with my life??

Hierarchal Organization of Life The living world is organized in a hierarchy, from simple to complex with each level building upon the level(s) below it. Ecological: population, community, biosphere Organismal: tissues, organs, systems, species Cellular: organelles, cells Chemical: atoms, molecules

Atom Smallest unit of an element Building blocks: electrons protons neutrons

Molecule two or more atoms includes carbs, lipids, proteins, DNA and RNA

Cell smallest unit that can live AND reproduce on its own outer membrane and DNA

Tissue Organized cells

Organ Two or more tissues interacting in some task

Organ System Organs interacting physically, chemically, or both, in some task

Multicelled Organism Individual made of different types of cells

Population Group of single-celled or multi-celled individuals of the SAME species occupying a specified area

Ecosystem A community interacting with its physical environment Has inputs and outputs of energy and materials

Biosphere All regions of the Earth’s waters, crust and atmosphere

Having reviewed how life is organized, what exactly characterizes life?

What is Life? Characteristics of all living things: a. assimilate energy, capacity to do work b. respond to their environment, i.e. with receptors c. maintain a relatively constant internal temperature (homeostasis) d. posses an inherited information base (DNA) that allows them to function e. reproduce (parental transmission of DNA to offspring) f. are composed of at least one cell g. are evolved from other living things h. are highly organized

Life’s Diversity There are MILLIONS of living species!! How can we organize and classify all of these species? in three domains: PROKARYOTES = NO NUCLEUS EUKARYOTES = NUCLEUS

Prokaryotes SINGLE CELLED!! NO membrane-bound organelles DNA is found in the nucleoid region; NOT contained in a membrane-bound nucleus LACK internal membrane systems and NO internal compartmentalization Includes Bacteria and Archaea cells

Prokaryotic cell

Eukaryotes SINGLE OR MULTI CELLED Have a nucleus Larger and more complex then prokaryotes: Organelles are immersed in the cytosol Extensive internal membrane systems Exhibit internal compartmentalization Includes plants, animals and fungi

Eukaryotic cell

Plant Cell

Eukaryotic Cell

How do we arrive at this body of knowledge? Through the collection of facts How do we collect these facts that encompass science? Through investigation, experimentation and reasoning Therefore…Science is a DEFINED way of learning reached by using OBSERVATIONS and the testing of HYPOTHESES SCIENTIFIC METHOD Science is a body of knowledge, a collection of unified insights about nature

Scientific Method A way in which one can make predictions tested by experiments to reject one alternative Steps of the Scientific Method 1.Observations 2.Ask a question 3.Formulate a hypothesis – a tentative, testable answer to your question 4.Experiment 5.Gather results 6.Make conclusions based on results

Experiments have two components Control Group A standard for comparison Identical to the experimental group EXCEPT for the variable being studied Experimental Group Includes the variable being studied

Example Does Olestra® cause intestinal cramps? ?

Fig. 1.8

The Limits of Science A hypothesis cannot be proven 100% correct Cannot provide answers to subjective questions i.e. Why do we die at a particular moment? May conflict with supernatural beliefs

Questions 1. The diversity of life is separated into ________ kingdoms. 2. A series of steps used to answer scientific questions is called the _________. 3. A group of individuals living together is referred to as a(n) a.Population.b. Community.c. Species. d. Ecosystem. e. Biome.