1. College Prep Biology Mr. Martino
Key Chapters Chapter 1 – Exploring Life: Introduction to biology Chapter 2– The Science of Biology
College Prep Biology
Mr. Martino

2. 1.1 Life’s Organization
Interactions occur at and across all levels of life
Biosphere ecosystem community
population (species) organism organ systems organs tissues cells molecules atoms
The full spectrum of these interactions encompasses the scope of biology (study of life)
Organisms are highly interdependent - energy flow begins with producers: plants and other organisms that make their own food
Consumers: animals that directly or indirectly rely upon
Decomposers: break down organic material and cycle it back to the producers

3. Life’s Organization con’t..
Biosphere – all the parts of the Earth that are inhabited by living things
Includes land, water, air.
Ecosystems – a community of living things in an area which feature living and nonliving components of the biosphere
Biotic factors = living components
Abiotic factors = nonliving components
Organisms – made up of cells that contain a unique genetic code found in DNA
Cells – basic unit of life
DNA – genetic code responsible for the inheritance of genes
Genes – units of inherited information found on chromosomes

4. Life’s Organization con’t..

5. 1.2 - Biology Explores life in its divers forms
Species – discrete unit in nature that entitles organisms to reproduce with one another.
Classification: is a means of grouping organisms
Kingdom: the 6 broadest categories
Archaebacteria – simple, no true nucleus – inhabit extreme environments
Eubacteria – simple, no true nucleus – all other forms of modern bacteria
Protista – includes algae and protozoa – unicellular or multicellular; plants or animals
Fungi – molds, yeasts and mushrooms – mostly decomposers
Plantae – multicellular, photosynthetic organisms
Animalia – multicellular, heterotrophic organisms

6. Kingdoms con’t..

7. Kingdoms con’t..

8. 1.3 Ten themes that unify the study of life
1. Biological system a complex organization that allows its components to work freely but cohesively
2. Cells specialized units that allow the biological system to work efficiently
3. Reproduction: transmission of DNA from parent to offspring
3. Growth and Development: DNA guides the increase in size and changes that occur over a life time
4. Metabolism: obtain and convert energy to power all life processes
5. Response: sense and react to various stimuli
6. Homeostasis: internal balance is maintained regardless of environment
7. Evolution: changes that occur as result of repro.

9. Biological Themes con’t..
1859 – Charles Darwin’s book: Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection explained his ideas on evolution.
Immediate best-seller…Darwin became known as Father of Modern Evolutionary Theory
Explained the common threads underlying life’s diversity
Members of the same family are similar because of common ancestry
Main concept is Natural Selection: the process of nature selecting the successful traits in a species
Heritable variation must be present
Heritable characteristics are exposed to environmental factors
Overproduction of offspring

10. Themes - Continued
Theory: a comprehensive idea based upon facts, which has been tested over and over again
Evolution is a theory that explains diversity
Evolution is chronicled in the fossil record, embryology, anatomy, and molecular biology
Adaptations: features evolved through natural selection - aid an organism’s survival
Mutation: molecular change in DNA
Original source of variations in inherited traits

11. 2.1 Biological Inquiry – Scientific Method
“Science” from Latin derivative meaning “to know”
There is NO single formula or rigid sequence that scientists use for problem solving, just key elements
Key elements:
Observations/Data
Questions
Hypotheses
Predictions
Tests
Conclusion
Science involves critical thinking and problem solving
Scientific process can falsify or support hypotheses
In biology, we pose and tests hypotheses about nature

12. Scientific Method - continued
Controlled experiment: an experiment in which there are two parallel groups….
Control group: “normal” conditions
Used for comparison
Experimental group: has a single, unique factor
Variable: the unique factor within an experiment

13. Scientific Method - continued
There are two types of variables:
INDEPENDENT: what the experimenter changes
DEPENDENT: the change that occurs a result of the independent variable.
Science is adaptable
Science is self-correcting
Science is a means of gaining and understanding info.

14. 2.2 – Hypothesis-Based Science
Methods of Hypothesis-Based Science

15. Hypothesis-Based Science…
Forming and Testing a Hypothesis
Observation = derived from personal experiences
Question = a problem that needs to be answered
Hypothesis = suggested answer to a well-defined scientific question
Prediction = a testable statement written using “If…then…” logic
Test = experimental procedure designed to test the hypothesis