THEMES IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY

THEMES IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 1

(3) Growth and development (6) Response to the environment
Figure 1.1-0 (1) Order (2) Reproduction (3) Growth and development (4) Energy processing Figure Some important properties of life (5) Regulation (6) Response to the environment (7) Evolutionary adaptation

1.1 All forms of life share common properties
Biology is the scientific study of life. Properties of life include Order—the highly ordered structure that typifies life, Reproduction—the ability of organisms to reproduce their own kind, Growth and development—consistent growth and development controlled by inherited DNA, Energy processing—the use of chemical energy to power an organism’s activities and chemical reactions, Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief. Active Teaching Tips Consider asking students to pair up with someone sitting near them to identify examples of the seven properties of life in some organism from your region (or perhaps a school mascot, if appropriate). © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 3

1.1 All forms of life share common properties
Regulation—an ability to control an organism’s internal environment within limits that sustain life, Response to the environment—an ability to respond to environmental stimuli, and Evolutionary adaptation—adaptations evolve over many generations, as individuals with traits best suited to their environments have greater reproductive success and pass their traits to offspring. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief. Active Teaching Tips Consider asking students to pair up with someone sitting near them to identify examples of the seven properties of life in some organism from your region (or perhaps a school mascot, if appropriate). © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 4

Ecosystem Florida Everglades
Figure 1.2-1 Biosphere Ecosystem Florida Everglades Florida Community All organisms in this wetland ecosystem Population All alligators living in the wetlands Figure Life’s hierarchy of organization (part 1) Organism an American alligator

Organism an American alligator Organ system Nervous system
Figure 1.2-2 Organism an American alligator Spinal cord Organ system Nervous system Nerve Brain Organ Brain Tissue Nervous tissue Atom Figure Life’s hierarchy of organization (part 2) Cell Nerve cell Nucleus Organelle Nucleus Molecule DNA

1.2 In life’s hierarchy of organization, new properties emerge at each level
Biological organization unfolds as follows: Biosphere—all of the environments on Earth that support life, Ecosystem—all the organisms living in a particular area and the physical components with which the organisms interact, Community—the entire array of organisms living in a particular ecosystem, Population—all the individuals of a species living in a specific area, Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief.  For a chance to add a little math to the biological levels of organization, consider calculating the general scale differences between each level of biological organization. For example, are cells generally 5, 10, 50, or 100 times larger in diameter than organelles? Are organelles generally 5, 10, 50, or 100 times larger than macromolecules? For some levels of organization, such as ecosystems, communities, and populations, size/scale differences are perhaps less relevant and more problematic to consider. However, at the smaller levels, the sense of scale might enhance an appreciation for levels of biological organization. • The U.S. Census Bureau maintains updated population clocks that estimate the U.S. and world populations on its website at If students have an accurate general idea of the population of the United States, statistics about the number of people affected with a disease or disaster become more significant. For example, the current population of the United States is about 318 million (in 2014). It is currently estimated that about 1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV. The number of people infected with HIV is impressive and concerning, but not perhaps as meaningful as realizing that the number of people infected represents about one out of every 318 people in the United States. Although the infected people are not evenly distributed among geographic and ethnic groups, if you apply this generality to the enrollments in your classes, the students might better appreciate the tremendous impact of the infection. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 7

Organism—an individual living thing, Organ system—several organs that cooperate in a specific function, Organ—a structure that is composed of tissues, Tissue—a group of similar cells that perform a specific function, Cell—the fundamental unit of life, Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief.  For a chance to add a little math to the biological levels of organization, consider calculating the general scale differences between each level of biological organization. For example, are cells generally 5, 10, 50, or 100 times larger in diameter than organelles? Are organelles generally 5, 10, 50, or 100 times larger than macromolecules? For some levels of organization, such as ecosystems, communities, and populations, size/scale differences are perhaps less relevant and more problematic to consider. However, at the smaller levels, the sense of scale might enhance an appreciation for levels of biological organization. • The U.S. Census Bureau maintains updated population clocks that estimate the U.S. and world populations on its website at If students have an accurate general idea of the population of the United States, statistics about the number of people affected with a disease or disaster become more significant. For example, the current population of the United States is about 318 million (in 2014). It is currently estimated that about 1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV. The number of people infected with HIV is impressive and concerning, but not perhaps as meaningful as realizing that the number of people infected represents about one out of every 318 people in the United States. Although the infected people are not evenly distributed among geographic and ethnic groups, if you apply this generality to the enrollments in your classes, the students might better appreciate the tremendous impact of the infection. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 8

Organelle—a membrane-enclosed structure that performs a specific function within a cell, and Molecule—a cluster of small chemical units called atoms held together by chemical bonds. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief.  For a chance to add a little math to the biological levels of organization, consider calculating the general scale differences between each level of biological organization. For example, are cells generally 5, 10, 50, or 100 times larger in diameter than organelles? Are organelles generally 5, 10, 50, or 100 times larger than macromolecules? For some levels of organization, such as ecosystems, communities, and populations, size/scale differences are perhaps less relevant and more problematic to consider. However, at the smaller levels, the sense of scale might enhance an appreciation for levels of biological organization. • The U.S. Census Bureau maintains updated population clocks that estimate the U.S. and world populations on its website at If students have an accurate general idea of the population of the United States, statistics about the number of people affected with a disease or disaster become more significant. For example, the current population of the United States is about 318 million (in 2014). It is currently estimated that about 1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV. The number of people infected with HIV is impressive and concerning, but not perhaps as meaningful as realizing that the number of people infected represents about one out of every 318 people in the United States. Although the infected people are not evenly distributed among geographic and ethnic groups, if you apply this generality to the enrollments in your classes, the students might better appreciate the tremendous impact of the infection. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 9

1.2 In life’s hierarchy of organization, new properties emerge at each level Emergent properties are new properties that arise in each step upward in the hierarchy of life from the arrangement and interactions among component parts. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief.  For a chance to add a little math to the biological levels of organization, consider calculating the general scale differences between each level of biological organization. For example, are cells generally 5, 10, 50, or 100 times larger in diameter than organelles? Are organelles generally 5, 10, 50, or 100 times larger than macromolecules? For some levels of organization, such as ecosystems, communities, and populations, size/scale differences are perhaps less relevant and more problematic to consider. However, at the smaller levels, the sense of scale might enhance an appreciation for levels of biological organization. • The U.S. Census Bureau maintains updated population clocks that estimate the U.S. and world populations on its website at If students have an accurate general idea of the population of the United States, statistics about the number of people affected with a disease or disaster become more significant. For example, the current population of the United States is about 318 million (in 2014). It is currently estimated that about 1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV. The number of people infected with HIV is impressive and concerning, but not perhaps as meaningful as realizing that the number of people infected represents about one out of every 318 people in the United States. Although the infected people are not evenly distributed among geographic and ethnic groups, if you apply this generality to the enrollments in your classes, the students might better appreciate the tremendous impact of the infection. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 10

1.3 Cells are the structural and functional units of life
Cells are the level at which the properties of life emerge. A cell can regulate its internal environment, take in and use energy, respond to its environment, develop and maintain its complex organization, and give rise to new cells. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief. • Here is a simple way to contrast the relative size of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are thought to have evolved by endosymbiosis. Thus, mitochondria and chloroplasts are about the size of bacteria, contained within a plant cell. A figure of a plant cell therefore provides an immediate comparison of these sizes, not side by side, but one inside the other! • Examples of biological form and function relationships are nearly endless. Those immediately apparent to your students will be easiest to comprehend. Have your students examine (in photos or in specimens) the teeth of various vertebrates. The diet of these animals is implied by the shape of the teeth (sharp teeth in carnivorous cats and blunted molars in a rat). Sliding your tongue over your teeth reveals our omnivorous history, with sharp canine teeth for slicing flesh and flat rear molars well suited for grinding plant material. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 11

All cells are enclosed by a membrane that regulates the passage of materials between the cell and its surroundings and use DNA as their genetic information. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief. • Here is a simple way to contrast the relative size of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are thought to have evolved by endosymbiosis. Thus, mitochondria and chloroplasts are about the size of bacteria, contained within a plant cell. A figure of a plant cell therefore provides an immediate comparison of these sizes, not side by side, but one inside the other! • Examples of biological form and function relationships are nearly endless. Those immediately apparent to your students will be easiest to comprehend. Have your students examine (in photos or in specimens) the teeth of various vertebrates. The diet of these animals is implied by the shape of the teeth (sharp teeth in carnivorous cats and blunted molars in a rat). Sliding your tongue over your teeth reveals our omnivorous history, with sharp canine teeth for slicing flesh and flat rear molars well suited for grinding plant material. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 12

There are two basic forms of cells. Prokaryotic cells were the first to evolve, are simpler, and are usually smaller than eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are found in plants, animals, fungi, and protists and are subdivided by membranes into various functional compartments, or organelles, including a nucleus that houses the DNA. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief. • Here is a simple way to contrast the relative size of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are thought to have evolved by endosymbiosis. Thus, mitochondria and chloroplasts are about the size of bacteria, contained within a plant cell. A figure of a plant cell therefore provides an immediate comparison of these sizes, not side by side, but one inside the other! • Examples of biological form and function relationships are nearly endless. Those immediately apparent to your students will be easiest to comprehend. Have your students examine (in photos or in specimens) the teeth of various vertebrates. The diet of these animals is implied by the shape of the teeth (sharp teeth in carnivorous cats and blunted molars in a rat). Sliding your tongue over your teeth reveals our omnivorous history, with sharp canine teeth for slicing flesh and flat rear molars well suited for grinding plant material. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 13

Nucleus (membrane- enclosed)
Figure 1.3 Prokaryotic cell DNA (no nucleus) Eukaryotic cell Membrane Organelles Nucleus (membrane- enclosed) Figure 1.3 Contrasting the size and complexity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells DNA (throughout nucleus)

Cells illustrate another theme in biology: the correlation of structure and function. Structure is related to function at all levels of biological organization. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief. • Here is a simple way to contrast the relative size of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are thought to have evolved by endosymbiosis. Thus, mitochondria and chloroplasts are about the size of bacteria, contained within a plant cell. A figure of a plant cell therefore provides an immediate comparison of these sizes, not side by side, but one inside the other! • Examples of biological form and function relationships are nearly endless. Those immediately apparent to your students will be easiest to comprehend. Have your students examine (in photos or in specimens) the teeth of various vertebrates. The diet of these animals is implied by the shape of the teeth (sharp teeth in carnivorous cats and blunted molars in a rat). Sliding your tongue over your teeth reveals our omnivorous history, with sharp canine teeth for slicing flesh and flat rear molars well suited for grinding plant material. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 15

1.4 Organisms interact with their environment, exchanging matter and energy
Living organisms interact with their environments, which include other organisms and physical factors. In most ecosystems, plants are the producers that provide the food, consumers eat plants and other animals, and decomposers act as recyclers, changing complex matter into simpler chemicals that plants can absorb and use. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief. • Help the class think through the diverse interactions between an organism and its environment. In class, select an organism and have the class develop a list of environmental components that interact with the organism. Items in this list will likely fall into living and nonliving categories. • Perhaps you have seen and can find a photo of a glass-enclosed miniature ecosystem, likely containing some plants and shrimp. These are sometimes called a “shrimp biosphere,” “Aqua-Biosphere,” or “Ecosphere.” Present this system to your students and challenge them to explain the dynamics of energy and nutrients in this system. Such an analysis will reveal that energy flows through but nutrients cycle within this system. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 16

1.4 Organisms interact with their environment, exchanging matter and energy
The dynamics of ecosystems include two major processes: the recycling of chemical nutrients from the atmosphere and soil through producers, consumers, and decomposers back to the air and soil and the one-way flow of energy through an ecosystem, entering as sunlight and exiting as heat. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students enter our courses with a limited appreciation of the diversity of life. Ask any group of freshmen at the start of the semester to write down the first type of animal that comes to mind, and the most frequent response is a mammal. As the diversity of life is explored, the common heritage of biological organization can be less, and not more, apparent. The diverse forms, habits, and ecological interactions overwhelm our senses with striking distinctions. Emphasizing the diversity and the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth. • We live in a world that is largely understood by what we can distinguish and identify with our naked senses. However, the diversity of life and the levels of biological organization extend well below the scale of our unaided perceptions. For many students, appreciating the diversity of the microscopic world is abstract, nearly on par with an understanding of the workings of atoms and molecules. The ability to examine the microscopic details of the world of our students (the surface of potato chips, the structure of table salt and sugar, the details of a blade of grass) can be an important sensory extension that prepares the mind for greater comprehension of these minute biological details. Teaching Tips • Consider asking students to bring to class a page or two of some article about biology that appeared in the media in the last month. Alternatively, you might have each student post a recent biology-related news article on a course website. • The scientific organization Sigma Xi offers a free summary of the major science news articles appearing each weekday in major U.S. news media. The first paragraph or so of each article is included in the with a hyperlink to the rest of the article. The diverse topics are an excellent way to learn of general scientific announcements and reports in the national media. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to and sign up for the Sigma Xi Smart Brief. • Help the class think through the diverse interactions between an organism and its environment. In class, select an organism and have the class develop a list of environmental components that interact with the organism. Items in this list will likely fall into living and nonliving categories. • Perhaps you have seen and can find a photo of a glass-enclosed miniature ecosystem, likely containing some plants and shrimp. These are sometimes called a “shrimp biosphere,” “Aqua-Biosphere,” or “Ecosphere.” Present this system to your students and challenge them to explain the dynamics of energy and nutrients in this system. Such an analysis will reveal that energy flows through but nutrients cycle within this system. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 17

Chemical energy in food
Figure 1.4-0 ENERGY FLOW Sun Inflow of light energy Outflow of heat Consumers (animals) Producers (plants) Figure The cycling of nutrients and flow of energy in an ecosystem Chemical energy in food Leaves take up CO2 from air; roots absorb H2O and minerals from soil Decomposers such as worms, fungi, and bacteria return chemicals to soil

Evolution, the Core Theme of Biology

1.5 The unity of life is based on DNA and a common genetic code
All cells have DNA, the chemical substance of genes. Genes are the unit of inheritance that transmit information from parents to offspring, are grouped into very long DNA molecules called chromosomes, and control the activities of a cell. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Students likely have heard the terms chromosome, DNA, and gene. But distinguishing between a chromosome and DNA is often difficult for students, and defining a gene has been problematic even for scientists. Consider spending additional time to distinguish between these terms and note how our understanding has dramatically changed in the last 60 years. Teaching Tips • The authors make an analogy between the four bases used to form genes and the 26 letters of the English alphabet used to create words and sentences. One could also make an analogy between the four bases and trains composed of four different types of railroad cars (perhaps an engine, boxcar, tanker, and flatbed). Imagine how many different types of trains one could make using just 100 rail cars of four different types. (The answer is 4100.) © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 20

A species’ genes are coded in the sequences of the four kinds of building blocks making up DNA’s double helix. All forms of life use essentially the same code to translate the information stored in DNA into proteins. The diversity of life arises from differences in DNA sequences. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Students likely have heard the terms chromosome, DNA, and gene. But distinguishing between a chromosome and DNA is often difficult for students, and defining a gene has been problematic even for scientists. Consider spending additional time to distinguish between these terms and note how our understanding has dramatically changed in the last 60 years. Teaching Tips • The authors make an analogy between the four bases used to form genes and the 26 letters of the English alphabet used to create words and sentences. One could also make an analogy between the four bases and trains composed of four different types of railroad cars (perhaps an engine, boxcar, tanker, and flatbed). Imagine how many different types of trains one could make using just 100 rail cars of four different types. (The answer is 4100.) © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 21

Cell Nucleus DNA Figure 1.5-0
T A A T C G A T Figure The four building blocks of DNA (left); part of a DNA double helix (right) T A A C G G C T C G C A T A T G T A

The entire “library” of genetic instructions that an organism inherits is called its genome. In recent years, scientists have determined the entire sequence of nucleotides in the human genome. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Students likely have heard the terms chromosome, DNA, and gene. But distinguishing between a chromosome and DNA is often difficult for students, and defining a gene has been problematic even for scientists. Consider spending additional time to distinguish between these terms and note how our understanding has dramatically changed in the last 60 years. Teaching Tips • The authors make an analogy between the four bases used to form genes and the 26 letters of the English alphabet used to create words and sentences. One could also make an analogy between the four bases and trains composed of four different types of railroad cars (perhaps an engine, boxcar, tanker, and flatbed). Imagine how many different types of trains one could make using just 100 rail cars of four different types. (The answer is 4100.) © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 23

1.6 The diversity of life can be arranged into three domains
We can think of biology’s enormous scope as having two dimensions. The “vertical” dimension is the size scale that stretches from molecules to the biosphere. The “horizontal” dimension spans across the great diversity of organisms existing now and over the long history of life on Earth. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • As noted in the text, the classification of life has changed significantly in recent years. Many of your students may have used outdated materials in high school, increasingly common in difficult financial times. Therefore, the current descriptions may be contrary to schemes already understood by your students. Noting these revisions in classification can also be an opportunity to reflect on the nature of science, as new information is used to revise our understandings. Teaching Tips • An excellent introduction to the domains and kingdoms of life is presented at © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 24

Diversity is the hallmark of life. Biologists have identified about 1.8 million species. Estimates of the actual number of species range from 10 million to over 100 million. Taxonomy is the branch of biology that names species and classifies species into a hierarchy of broader groups: genus, family, order, class, phylum, and kingdom. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • As noted in the text, the classification of life has changed significantly in recent years. Many of your students may have used outdated materials in high school, increasingly common in difficult financial times. Therefore, the current descriptions may be contrary to schemes already understood by your students. Noting these revisions in classification can also be an opportunity to reflect on the nature of science, as new information is used to revise our understandings. Teaching Tips • An excellent introduction to the domains and kingdoms of life is presented at © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 25

The diversity of life can be arranged into three higher levels called domains. Bacteria are the most diverse and widespread prokaryotes. Archaea are prokaryotes that often live in Earth’s extreme environments. Eukarya have eukaryotic cells and include single-celled protists and multicellular fungi, animals, and plants. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • As noted in the text, the classification of life has changed significantly in recent years. Many of your students may have used outdated materials in high school, increasingly common in difficult financial times. Therefore, the current descriptions may be contrary to schemes already understood by your students. Noting these revisions in classification can also be an opportunity to reflect on the nature of science, as new information is used to revise our understandings. Teaching Tips • An excellent introduction to the domains and kingdoms of life is presented at © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 26

Protists (multiple kingdoms) Kingdom Plantae Domain Archaea
Figure 1.6-0 Domain Bacteria Domain Eukarya Bacteria Protists (multiple kingdoms) Kingdom Plantae Domain Archaea Figure The three domains of life Archaea Kingdom Fungi Kingdom Animalia

1.7 Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life
Evolution can be defined as the process of change that has transformed life on Earth from its earliest beginnings to the diversity of organisms living today. The fossil record documents that life has been evolving on Earth for billions of years and the pattern of ancestry. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Students often misunderstand the basic process of evolution and instead express a Lamarckian point of view. Organisms do not evolve structures deliberately or out of want or need, and individuals do not evolve. Evolution is a passive process in which the environment favors one or more variations of a trait that naturally exist within a population. • Students often believe that Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that life evolves; the early contributions by Greek philosophers and the work of Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck and others may be unappreciated. Consider emphasizing this earlier work in your introduction to Darwin’s contributions. Teaching Tips • Many resources related to Charles Darwin are available on the Internet. a. General evolution resources: b. An outstanding source for Darwin’s writings and other resources can be found at c. The complete works of Charles Darwin can be found at d. Details about Charles Darwin’s home are located at e. An extensive Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical origins is at • Many games model aspects of natural selection. Here is one that is appropriate for a laboratory exercise. Purchase several bags of dried grocery store beans of diverse sizes and colors. Large lima beans, small white beans, red beans, and black beans are all good options. Consider the beans food for the “predatory” students. To begin, randomly distribute (throw) 100 beans of each of four colors onto a green lawn. Allow individual students to collect beans over a set period, perhaps 2 minutes. Then count the total number of each color of bean collected. Assume that the beans remaining undetected (still in the lawn) reproduce by doubling in number. Calculate the number of beans of each color remaining in the field. For the next round, count out the number of each color to add to the lawn such that the new totals on the lawn will double the number of beans that students did not find in the first “generation.” Before each predatory episode, record the total number of each color of beans that have “survived” in the field. Then toss out the new beans and let your student predators search for another round (generation). Repeat the process for at least three or four generations. Note what colors of beans have been favored by the environment. Apply Darwin’s observations and inferences to this exercise. Ask students to speculate which colors might have been favored during another season of the year, perhaps after a deep snowfall, or in another location, such as a parking lot. Active Lecture Tips • See the Activity What is That Adapted For? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. • See the Activity What Do My Classmates Think About Evolution? What Do Scientists Believe About Religion? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 28

Figure 1.7a Figure 1.7a Excavation of fossilized mammoth bones

In 1859, Charles Darwin published the book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, which articulated two main points. Species living today descended from ancestral species in what Darwin called “descent with modification.” Natural selection is a mechanism for evolution. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Students often misunderstand the basic process of evolution and instead express a Lamarckian point of view. Organisms do not evolve structures deliberately or out of want or need, and individuals do not evolve. Evolution is a passive process in which the environment favors one or more variations of a trait that naturally exist within a population. • Students often believe that Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that life evolves; the early contributions by Greek philosophers and the work of Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck and others may be unappreciated. Consider emphasizing this earlier work in your introduction to Darwin’s contributions. Teaching Tips • Many resources related to Charles Darwin are available on the Internet. a. General evolution resources: b. An outstanding source for Darwin’s writings and other resources can be found at c. The complete works of Charles Darwin can be found at d. Details about Charles Darwin’s home are located at e. An extensive Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical origins is at • Many games model aspects of natural selection. Here is one that is appropriate for a laboratory exercise. Purchase several bags of dried grocery store beans of diverse sizes and colors. Large lima beans, small white beans, red beans, and black beans are all good options. Consider the beans food for the “predatory” students. To begin, randomly distribute (throw) 100 beans of each of four colors onto a green lawn. Allow individual students to collect beans over a set period, perhaps 2 minutes. Then count the total number of each color of bean collected. Assume that the beans remaining undetected (still in the lawn) reproduce by doubling in number. Calculate the number of beans of each color remaining in the field. For the next round, count out the number of each color to add to the lawn such that the new totals on the lawn will double the number of beans that students did not find in the first “generation.” Before each predatory episode, record the total number of each color of beans that have “survived” in the field. Then toss out the new beans and let your student predators search for another round (generation). Repeat the process for at least three or four generations. Note what colors of beans have been favored by the environment. Apply Darwin’s observations and inferences to this exercise. Ask students to speculate which colors might have been favored during another season of the year, perhaps after a deep snowfall, or in another location, such as a parking lot. Active Lecture Tips • See the Activity What is That Adapted For? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. • See the Activity What Do My Classmates Think About Evolution? What Do Scientists Believe About Religion? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 30

Figure 1.7b Figure 1.7b Charles Darwin in 1859

Figure 1.7c-0 Figure 1.7c-0 Unity and diversity among birds

Natural selection was inferred by connecting two observations. Individual variation: Individuals in a population vary in their traits, many of which are passed on from parents to offspring. Overproduction of offspring: A population can produce far more offspring than the environment can support. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Students often misunderstand the basic process of evolution and instead express a Lamarckian point of view. Organisms do not evolve structures deliberately or out of want or need, and individuals do not evolve. Evolution is a passive process in which the environment favors one or more variations of a trait that naturally exist within a population. • Students often believe that Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that life evolves; the early contributions by Greek philosophers and the work of Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck and others may be unappreciated. Consider emphasizing this earlier work in your introduction to Darwin’s contributions. Teaching Tips • Many resources related to Charles Darwin are available on the Internet. a. General evolution resources: b. An outstanding source for Darwin’s writings and other resources can be found at c. The complete works of Charles Darwin can be found at d. Details about Charles Darwin’s home are located at e. An extensive Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical origins is at • Many games model aspects of natural selection. Here is one that is appropriate for a laboratory exercise. Purchase several bags of dried grocery store beans of diverse sizes and colors. Large lima beans, small white beans, red beans, and black beans are all good options. Consider the beans food for the “predatory” students. To begin, randomly distribute (throw) 100 beans of each of four colors onto a green lawn. Allow individual students to collect beans over a set period, perhaps 2 minutes. Then count the total number of each color of bean collected. Assume that the beans remaining undetected (still in the lawn) reproduce by doubling in number. Calculate the number of beans of each color remaining in the field. For the next round, count out the number of each color to add to the lawn such that the new totals on the lawn will double the number of beans that students did not find in the first “generation.” Before each predatory episode, record the total number of each color of beans that have “survived” in the field. Then toss out the new beans and let your student predators search for another round (generation). Repeat the process for at least three or four generations. Note what colors of beans have been favored by the environment. Apply Darwin’s observations and inferences to this exercise. Ask students to speculate which colors might have been favored during another season of the year, perhaps after a deep snowfall, or in another location, such as a parking lot. Active Lecture Tips • See the Activity What is That Adapted For? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. • See the Activity What Do My Classmates Think About Evolution? What Do Scientists Believe About Religion? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 33

From these observations, Darwin drew two inferences. Unequal reproductive success: Individuals with heritable traits best suited to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than less well-suited individuals. Accumulation of favorable traits over time: As a result of this unequal reproductive success over many generations, an increasing proportion of individuals in a population will have the advantageous traits. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Students often misunderstand the basic process of evolution and instead express a Lamarckian point of view. Organisms do not evolve structures deliberately or out of want or need, and individuals do not evolve. Evolution is a passive process in which the environment favors one or more variations of a trait that naturally exist within a population. • Students often believe that Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that life evolves; the early contributions by Greek philosophers and the work of Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck and others may be unappreciated. Consider emphasizing this earlier work in your introduction to Darwin’s contributions. Teaching Tips • Many resources related to Charles Darwin are available on the Internet. a. General evolution resources: b. An outstanding source for Darwin’s writings and other resources can be found at c. The complete works of Charles Darwin can be found at d. Details about Charles Darwin’s home are located at e. An extensive Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical origins is at • Many games model aspects of natural selection. Here is one that is appropriate for a laboratory exercise. Purchase several bags of dried grocery store beans of diverse sizes and colors. Large lima beans, small white beans, red beans, and black beans are all good options. Consider the beans food for the “predatory” students. To begin, randomly distribute (throw) 100 beans of each of four colors onto a green lawn. Allow individual students to collect beans over a set period, perhaps 2 minutes. Then count the total number of each color of bean collected. Assume that the beans remaining undetected (still in the lawn) reproduce by doubling in number. Calculate the number of beans of each color remaining in the field. For the next round, count out the number of each color to add to the lawn such that the new totals on the lawn will double the number of beans that students did not find in the first “generation.” Before each predatory episode, record the total number of each color of beans that have “survived” in the field. Then toss out the new beans and let your student predators search for another round (generation). Repeat the process for at least three or four generations. Note what colors of beans have been favored by the environment. Apply Darwin’s observations and inferences to this exercise. Ask students to speculate which colors might have been favored during another season of the year, perhaps after a deep snowfall, or in another location, such as a parking lot. Active Lecture Tips • See the Activity What is That Adapted For? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. • See the Activity What Do My Classmates Think About Evolution? What Do Scientists Believe About Religion? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 34

Population with varied inherited traits.
Figure 1.7d-3 1 Population with varied inherited traits. 2 Elimination of individuals with certain traits and reproduction of survivors. 3 Increasing frequency of traits that enhance survival and reproductive success. Figure 1.7d-3 An example of natural selection in action (step 3)

Darwin realized that numerous small changes in populations as a result of natural selection could eventually lead to major alterations of species. The fossil record provides evidence of such diversification of species from ancestral species. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Students often misunderstand the basic process of evolution and instead express a Lamarckian point of view. Organisms do not evolve structures deliberately or out of want or need, and individuals do not evolve. Evolution is a passive process in which the environment favors one or more variations of a trait that naturally exist within a population. • Students often believe that Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that life evolves; the early contributions by Greek philosophers and the work of Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck and others may be unappreciated. Consider emphasizing this earlier work in your introduction to Darwin’s contributions. Teaching Tips • Many resources related to Charles Darwin are available on the Internet. a. General evolution resources: b. An outstanding source for Darwin’s writings and other resources can be found at c. The complete works of Charles Darwin can be found at d. Details about Charles Darwin’s home are located at e. An extensive Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical origins is at • Many games model aspects of natural selection. Here is one that is appropriate for a laboratory exercise. Purchase several bags of dried grocery store beans of diverse sizes and colors. Large lima beans, small white beans, red beans, and black beans are all good options. Consider the beans food for the “predatory” students. To begin, randomly distribute (throw) 100 beans of each of four colors onto a green lawn. Allow individual students to collect beans over a set period, perhaps 2 minutes. Then count the total number of each color of bean collected. Assume that the beans remaining undetected (still in the lawn) reproduce by doubling in number. Calculate the number of beans of each color remaining in the field. For the next round, count out the number of each color to add to the lawn such that the new totals on the lawn will double the number of beans that students did not find in the first “generation.” Before each predatory episode, record the total number of each color of beans that have “survived” in the field. Then toss out the new beans and let your student predators search for another round (generation). Repeat the process for at least three or four generations. Note what colors of beans have been favored by the environment. Apply Darwin’s observations and inferences to this exercise. Ask students to speculate which colors might have been favored during another season of the year, perhaps after a deep snowfall, or in another location, such as a parking lot. Active Lecture Tips • See the Activity What is That Adapted For? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. • See the Activity What Do My Classmates Think About Evolution? What Do Scientists Believe About Religion? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 36

Millions of years ago Years ago
Figure 1.7e-0 Deinotherium Mammut Platybelodon Stegodon Mammuthus Elephas maximus (Asia) Figure 1.7e-0 An evolutionary tree of elephants Loxodonta africana (Africa) Loxodonta cyclotis (Africa) 34 24 5.5 2 104 Millions of years ago Years ago

1.8 In studying nature, scientists make observations and form and test hypotheses
Science is a way of knowing that stems from our curiosity about ourselves and the world around us. Science is based upon inquiry, the search for information and explanations of natural phenomena. Scientists typically make observations, form hypotheses, proposed explanations for a set of observations, and test them. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • The common use of the terms law and theory by the public often blur the stricter definitions of these terms in science. In general, laws describe and theories explain. Both are typically well-established concepts in science. A free online publication by the National Academy of Sciences helps to define these and related terms more carefully. See Chapter 1 of Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science at Teaching Tips • Consider using a laboratory exercise to have your students plan and perhaps conduct a scientific investigation. Emphasize the processes and not the significance of the questions. Students can conduct descriptive surveys of student behavior (use of pens or pencils for taking notes, use of backpacks) or test hypotheses using controlled trials. Students will need some supervision and advice while planning and conducting their experiments. Active Lecture Tips • Have your students turn to a few other students seated nearby to explain why a coordinated conspiracy promoting a specific idea in science is unlikely to succeed. Have your students describe aspects of science that would check fraudulent or erroneous claims and/or political efforts. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 39

Two types of data are frequently collected in scientific investigations. Qualitative data is descriptive. Quantitative data includes numerical measurements. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • The common use of the terms law and theory by the public often blur the stricter definitions of these terms in science. In general, laws describe and theories explain. Both are typically well-established concepts in science. A free online publication by the National Academy of Sciences helps to define these and related terms more carefully. See Chapter 1 of Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science at Teaching Tips • Consider using a laboratory exercise to have your students plan and perhaps conduct a scientific investigation. Emphasize the processes and not the significance of the questions. Students can conduct descriptive surveys of student behavior (use of pens or pencils for taking notes, use of backpacks) or test hypotheses using controlled trials. Students will need some supervision and advice while planning and conducting their experiments. Active Lecture Tips • Have your students turn to a few other students seated nearby to explain why a coordinated conspiracy promoting a specific idea in science is unlikely to succeed. Have your students describe aspects of science that would check fraudulent or erroneous claims and/or political efforts. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 40

Scientists use two types of reasoning. Inductive reasoning makes generalizations based on collecting and analyzing a large number of specific observations. Deductive reasoning flows from general premises to predicted and specific results. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • The common use of the terms law and theory by the public often blur the stricter definitions of these terms in science. In general, laws describe and theories explain. Both are typically well-established concepts in science. A free online publication by the National Academy of Sciences helps to define these and related terms more carefully. See Chapter 1 of Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science at Teaching Tips • Consider using a laboratory exercise to have your students plan and perhaps conduct a scientific investigation. Emphasize the processes and not the significance of the questions. Students can conduct descriptive surveys of student behavior (use of pens or pencils for taking notes, use of backpacks) or test hypotheses using controlled trials. Students will need some supervision and advice while planning and conducting their experiments. Active Lecture Tips • Have your students turn to a few other students seated nearby to explain why a coordinated conspiracy promoting a specific idea in science is unlikely to succeed. Have your students describe aspects of science that would check fraudulent or erroneous claims and/or political efforts. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 41

We solve everyday problems by using hypotheses. A common example would be the reasoning we use to answer the question, “Why doesn’t a flashlight work?” Two reasonable hypotheses are that the batteries are dead or the bulb is burned out. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • The common use of the terms law and theory by the public often blur the stricter definitions of these terms in science. In general, laws describe and theories explain. Both are typically well-established concepts in science. A free online publication by the National Academy of Sciences helps to define these and related terms more carefully. See Chapter 1 of Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science at Teaching Tips • Consider using a laboratory exercise to have your students plan and perhaps conduct a scientific investigation. Emphasize the processes and not the significance of the questions. Students can conduct descriptive surveys of student behavior (use of pens or pencils for taking notes, use of backpacks) or test hypotheses using controlled trials. Students will need some supervision and advice while planning and conducting their experiments. Active Lecture Tips • Have your students turn to a few other students seated nearby to explain why a coordinated conspiracy promoting a specific idea in science is unlikely to succeed. Have your students describe aspects of science that would check fraudulent or erroneous claims and/or political efforts. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 42

Observation: Flashlight doesn’t work.
Figure 1.8-1 Observation: Flashlight doesn’t work. Question: Why doesn’t the flashlight work? Hypothesis #1: Batteries are dead. Hypothesis #2: Bulb is burned out. Figure An everyday example of forming and testing hypotheses (step 1)

Figure 1.8-2 Observation: Flashlight doesn’t work. Question: Why doesn’t the flashlight work? Hypothesis #1: Batteries are dead. Hypothesis #2: Bulb is burned out. Prediction: Replacing batteries will fix problem. Prediction: Replacing bulb will fix problem. Test of prediction: Replace batteries. Test of prediction: Replace bulb. Figure An everyday example of forming and testing hypotheses (step 2)

Figure 1.8-3 Observation: Flashlight doesn’t work. Question: Why doesn’t the flashlight work? Hypothesis #1: Batteries are dead. Hypothesis #2: Bulb is burned out. Prediction: Replacing batteries will fix problem. Prediction: Replacing bulb will fix problem. Test of prediction: Replace batteries. Test of prediction: Replace bulb. Figure An everyday example of forming and testing hypotheses (step 3) Results: Flashlight doesn’t work. Hypothesis is contradicted. Results: Flashlight works. Hypothesis is supported.

A scientific theory is much broader in scope than a hypothesis and supported by a large and usually growing body of evidence. Science is a social activity in which scientists work in teams, share information through peer-reviewed publications, meetings, and personal communication, and build on and confirm each other’s work. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • The common use of the terms law and theory by the public often blur the stricter definitions of these terms in science. In general, laws describe and theories explain. Both are typically well-established concepts in science. A free online publication by the National Academy of Sciences helps to define these and related terms more carefully. See Chapter 1 of Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science at Teaching Tips • Consider using a laboratory exercise to have your students plan and perhaps conduct a scientific investigation. Emphasize the processes and not the significance of the questions. Students can conduct descriptive surveys of student behavior (use of pens or pencils for taking notes, use of backpacks) or test hypotheses using controlled trials. Students will need some supervision and advice while planning and conducting their experiments. Active Lecture Tips • Have your students turn to a few other students seated nearby to explain why a coordinated conspiracy promoting a specific idea in science is unlikely to succeed. Have your students describe aspects of science that would check fraudulent or erroneous claims and/or political efforts. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 46

1.9 SCIENTIFIC THINKING: Hypotheses can be tested using controlled field studies
Scientists conducted a controlled experiment to test the hypothesis that color patterns have evolved as adaptations that protect animals from predation. The experiment compared an experimental group consisting of noncamouflaged mice models and a control group consisting of camouflaged models that matched the mice native to each area. The groups differed by only one factor, the coloration of the mouse models. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Contrasting the concept of faith with the tentative nature of science can help to define and distinguish science from other ways of knowing. Students sometimes enter science classes expecting absolutes of facts and rigid dogma. Instead, scientific knowledge reflects tentative knowledge with degrees of confidence closely correlated to the related evidence. Teaching Tips • Consider presenting your class with descriptions of several scientific investigations that you have written or found described in the media. Edit or include numerous examples of improper methodology (small sample size, several variables existing between the control and experimental groups, failure to specifically test the hypothesis, etc.). Let small groups or individuals analyze the experiments in class to identify the flaws. This critical analysis allows students the opportunity to suggest the characteristics of good investigations in class. Active Lecture Tips • Have your students turn to a few other students seated nearby to explain why a coordinated conspiracy promoting a specific idea in science is unlikely to succeed. Have your students describe aspects of science that would check fraudulent or erroneous claims and/or political efforts. • See the Activity Practicing the Scientific Method: Are Girls Better Than Boys at Some Tasks? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 47

Beach population Inland population Figure 1.9-0
Figure Beach mouse and inland mouse with their native habitat

1.9 SCIENTIFIC THINKING: Hypotheses can be tested using controlled field studies
As presented in Table 1.9, the noncamouflaged models had a much higher percentage of attacks in the beach and inland habitats and these data fit the key prediction of the camouflage hypothesis. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Contrasting the concept of faith with the tentative nature of science can help to define and distinguish science from other ways of knowing. Students sometimes enter science classes expecting absolutes of facts and rigid dogma. Instead, scientific knowledge reflects tentative knowledge with degrees of confidence closely correlated to the related evidence. Teaching Tips • Consider presenting your class with descriptions of several scientific investigations that you have written or found described in the media. Edit or include numerous examples of improper methodology (small sample size, several variables existing between the control and experimental groups, failure to specifically test the hypothesis, etc.). Let small groups or individuals analyze the experiments in class to identify the flaws. This critical analysis allows students the opportunity to suggest the characteristics of good investigations in class. Active Lecture Tips • Have your students turn to a few other students seated nearby to explain why a coordinated conspiracy promoting a specific idea in science is unlikely to succeed. Have your students describe aspects of science that would check fraudulent or erroneous claims and/or political efforts. • See the Activity Practicing the Scientific Method: Are Girls Better Than Boys at Some Tasks? on the Instructor Exchange. Visit the Instructor Exchange in the MasteringBiology instructor resource area for a description of this activity. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 49

Table 1.9 Table 1.9 Results from camouflage experiment

Biology and Everyday Life

1.10 EVOLUTION CONNECTION: Evolution is connected to our everyday lives
Evolution is a core theme of biology. Humans selectively breed plants and animals in the process of artificial selection to produce move productive crops, better livestock, and a great variety of pets that bear little resemblance to their wild ancestors. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Few students are likely to understand the tremendous benefits that result from an understanding of evolution. For some, evolution may seem like an abstract concept that is still up for debate. Yet evolution, like gravity, is a daily part of our lives, recognized or not. Teaching Tips • Module 1.10 lists some of the biggest human challenges impacted by evolution. Our ability to feed ourselves, respond to infectious disease, and understand the interrelationships of our crops, agricultural animals, pets, and each other are all enriched by an appreciation of evolution. Understanding evolution allows us to work more deliberately in our evolving world. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 52

1.10 EVOLUTION CONNECTION: Evolution is connected to our everyday lives
Humans also unintentionally cause the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the evolution of pesticide-resistant pests, and the loss of species through habitat loss and global climate change. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Few students are likely to understand the tremendous benefits that result from an understanding of evolution. For some, evolution may seem like an abstract concept that is still up for debate. Yet evolution, like gravity, is a daily part of our lives, recognized or not. Teaching Tips • Module 1.10 lists some of the biggest human challenges impacted by evolution. Our ability to feed ourselves, respond to infectious disease, and understand the interrelationships of our crops, agricultural animals, pets, and each other are all enriched by an appreciation of evolution. Understanding evolution allows us to work more deliberately in our evolving world. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 53

Figure 1.10 Figure 1.10 Researcher working with transgenic rice

1.11 CONNECTION: Biology, technology, and society are connected in important ways
Many issues facing society are related to biology and often involve our expanding technology. The basic goals of science and technology differ. The goal of science is to understand natural phenomena. The goal of technology is to apply scientific knowledge for some specific purpose. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students will be unable to distinguish between science and technology before reading through this textbook chapter. The discussion in Module 1.11 makes several distinctions worth emphasizing that may promote interest in your course. Teaching Tips • Look around your classroom to identify examples of technology. Perhaps a video projector, a telephone, a wall clock, or other devices are available for quick reference (or perhaps your students are distracted by technology they brought with them). Then challenge your students to suggest examples of science in their immediate world, which is important to them. (These might include dietary guidelines, other suggestions to improve health and fitness, and medications.) © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 55

1.11 CONNECTION: Biology, technology, and society are connected in important ways
Although their goals differ, science and technology are interdependent. Research benefits from new technologies. Technological advances stem from scientific research. Technologies of DNA manipulation are the results of scientific discovery of the structure of DNA. Student Misconceptions and Concerns • Many students will be unable to distinguish between science and technology before reading through this textbook chapter. The discussion in Module 1.11 makes several distinctions worth emphasizing that may promote interest in your course. Teaching Tips • Look around your classroom to identify examples of technology. Perhaps a video projector, a telephone, a wall clock, or other devices are available for quick reference (or perhaps your students are distracted by technology they brought with them). Then challenge your students to suggest examples of science in their immediate world, which is important to them. (These might include dietary guidelines, other suggestions to improve health and fitness, and medications.) © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 56

You should now be able to
Describe seven properties common to all life. Describe the levels of biological organization from molecules to the biosphere, noting the interrelationships between levels. Define the concept of emergent properties and describe an example of it. Explain why cells are a special level in biological organization. Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Compare the dynamics of nutrients and energy in an ecosystem. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 57

Explain how DNA encodes a cell’s information. Compare the three domains of life. Describe the process and products of natural selection. Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative data. Compare the definitions and use of inductive and deductive reasoning in scientific investigations. Distinguish between a scientific theory and a hypothesis. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 58

Describe the structure of a controlled experiment and give an example. Explain how evolution impacts the lives of all humans. Compare the goals of science and technology. Explain why an understanding of science is essential to our lives. © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. 59

THEMES IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "THEMES IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

THEMES IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "THEMES IN THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback