1. Introduction to Biology

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

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

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

5. 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)

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

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

8. 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)

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

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

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

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

13. 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

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

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

16. 1. Arctic winter conditions

17. 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)

18. 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

19. 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

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

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

22. 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

23. 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

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