Concepts in Biology

BIOLOGY The Study of Life

BIO = (Greek for) life -LOGY= Greek (logos-word, speech) study Studying Biology can help you deepen your perspective of life We see lifes unity through DNA

What is Life?
PROPERTIES OF LIFE: Cellular organization Metabolism- capturing and using energy and raw materials. Two types:
Anabolism- building up Catabolism- breaking down

Homeostasis- balance Reproduction- DNA passed on Heredity- DNA traits

HOMEOSTASIS
Homeo = same Stasis = State Maintaining homeostasis is health Imbalance in homeostasis is dis-ease Failed homeostasis is death

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Living or Non-Living?

Organization of LIFE
CELLS (Simplest)

TISSUES

ORGANS

SYSTEMS

ORGANISM (Most Complex)

The Scientific Process

How Scientists Work: Inductive Reasoning
They look at the world to understand how it works They carefully exam each specific case with Inductive reasoning as Galileo did Deductive reasoning draws a conclusion by reason as philosophers did

The Scientific Process

OBSERVATION HYPOTHESIS (PREDICTION) EXPERIMENT (TEST)

Do this process many times and you get a:

THEORY

Theory Vs. Law

Law can not be changed
Law of Gravity on Earth

Theory is often changed

Blood letting for Ill-humor

Book Experiment
Possibilities of error:
Sampling error Bias by experimenter Observation Experimental design flaw
Control group- a standard for comparison Experimental group

Not Blinded

Science Seeks What Is NOT Known

Limitations of Science
Based on observations
Optical illusions

Based on the theory of the Reproducibility of the Universe

Quantum mechanics

Popular Belief
Cholesterol and heart disease The external world, not internal convictions, must be the testing ground for scientific beliefs