WHAT IS BIOLOGY?

Biology is the study of all living things. From microscopic bacteria to the largest animal on Earth.

Living things are called organisms.

Living things are found everywhere in our biosphere. The biosphere is all organisms and the parts of the Earth where they are found.

Organisms can be found …in the air

…in the soil

…in boiling hot springs bacteria

….in the deepest oceans

The variety of life is called biodiversity.

There are 1.6 million species described on Earth. GROUP Described species Likely total Insects 950,000 8,000,000 Fungi 70,000 1,000,000 Arachnids 75,000 750,000 Viruses 5,000 500,000 Nematodes 15,000 Bacteria 4,000 400,000 Vascular plants 250,000 300,000 Protozoans 40,000 200,000 Algae Mollusks Crustaceans 150,000 Vertebrates 45,000 50,000

But…… the estimated amount is 12,000,000 species. NO WAY!!!!

What is a species? A species is a particular type of organism that can reproduce by interbreeding among themselves and produce fertile offspring.

Male donkey + female horse = mule infertile Different species