1. Biology: Exploring Life
Chapter 1
Biology: Exploring Life
Biology - study of life
Lecture by Richard L. Myers

2. With addition of
each new level,
novel properties
emerge
called emergent
properties

3. Biosphere Ecosystem Florida coast Community All organisms on
the Florida coast
Figure 1.1 Life’s hierarchy of organization.
Population
Group of brown
pelicans
Organism
Brown pelican

4. 1.1 In life’s hierarchy of organization, new properties emerge at each level
Biosphere—all the environments on Earth that support life
Ecosystem—all the organisms living in a particular area
Community - organisms living in a particular ecosystem
Population—all the individuals of a species within a specific area
Student Misconceptions and Concerns
1. 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 as well as the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth.
2. 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 physical scale of our lives. 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
1. 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 could have each student a Web address of a recent biology-related news event to you. You might even have them relevant articles to you for each of the main topics you address throughout the semester.
2. 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. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to
3. 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 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.
4. 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 approximately 305 million (2009). It is currently estimated that about one 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 one out of every 305 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.
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.

5. Organism Brown pelican Spinal cord Organ system Nervous system Brain
Nerve
Tissue
Nervous tissue
Atom
Figure 1.1 Life’s hierarchy of organization.
Cell
Nerve cell
Nucleus
Organelle
Nucleus
Molecule
DNA

6. 1.1 In life’s hierarchy of organization, new properties emerge at each level
Organ systems—have specific functions; are composed of organs
Organs—provide specific functions for the organism
Tissues—made of groups of similar cells
Molecules—clusters of atoms
Organelles—membrane-bound structures with specific functions
Cells—living entities distinguished from their environment by a membrane
Many organisms, such as protists, algae, and bacteria, are composed of microscopic individuals that exist as single cells.
Student Misconceptions and Concerns
1. 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 as well as the unifying aspects of life is necessary for a greater understanding of the rich evolutionary history of life on Earth.
2. 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 physical scale of our lives. 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
1. 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 could have each student a Web address of a recent biology-related news event to you. You might even have them relevant articles to you for each of the main topics you address throughout the semester.
2. 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. Typically, 5–10 articles are cited in each . To sign up for this free service, go to
3. 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 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.
4. 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 approximately 305 million (2009). It is currently estimated that about one 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 one out of every 305 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.
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSgBVX_vTMI&feature=relmfu (1) Order
(2) Regulation
(3) Growth and development
(4) Energy processing
Figure 1.4B Some important properties of life.
(5) Response to the environment
(6) Reproduction
(7) Evolutionary adaptation

8. 1.4 The unity of life: All forms of life have common features
Order - complex organization of living things
Regulation - ability to maintain an internal environment
Growth and development - consistent growth and development controlled by DNA
Energy processing—acquiring energy and transforming it to a form useful for the organism
Response to the environment - ability to respond to environmental stimuli
Reproduction - ability to perpetuate the species
Evolutionary adaptation - acquisition of traits that best suit the organism to its environment
Teaching Tips
1. 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 caboose). Imagine how many different types of trains one could make using just 100 rail cars of four different types. (The answer is 4100.)
2. The seven characteristics of life described in Module 1.4 can easily become another list to memorize. Exercises that require reflection and analysis of these significant traits can help to make this list more meaningful. Consider creating examples of each of these properties for students to analyze and identify.
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.

9. Biology and Society
Even a glance at the news media reveals that scientific progress is an essential part of modern society. Still, many people are very skeptical of science. Do you think that an informed citizen needs a firm foundation of understanding of science to effectively participate in a representative society? Why?
Disagree Agree
Strongly A B C D E Strongly

10. Biology and Society
Even a glance at the news media reveals that scientific progress is an essential part of modern society. Still, many people are very skeptical of science. Do you think that scientists should take a more active role in helping society to understand and apply their findings? Why?
Disagree Agree
Strongly A B C D E Strongly

11. Biology and Society
For some, religion and science seem to be at odds. Others feel that religion and science are two powerful but separate ways of human understanding. Most importantly these people do not feel that science and religion are in conflict.
Do you think that an individual can hold devout religious beliefs, while at the same time support scientific understanding? Why?
Disagree Agree
Strongly A B C D E Strongly