Biology intro

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Why a Study of Biology is Important?

Societal

Medicine Public Health Worldwide Water Crisis

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Why a Study of Biology is Important?

Philosophical

Evolution Genetics

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Why a Study of Biology is Important?

Personal To be informed Support your cause Make it your life work

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[bahy-ol-uh-jee]
Bio

= life
= the study of

...ology

Biology

is the science that studies

life

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The Scientific Method in Action

A systematic way of gaining information

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The Scientific Method: Observation

An observation is a thoughtful and careful recognition of an event or a fact.

The careful observation of a phenomenon leads to a question.

How does this happen? What causes it to occur?

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The Scientific Method: The Hypothesis

Hypothesizing

question an observation propose possible solutions to questions based on what is already understood about the phenomenon be logical account for all current information make the least possible assumptions be testable
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Hypotheses must:

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Testing Hypotheses

Hypotheses need to be tested to see if they are supported or disproved.

Disproved hypotheses are rejected Hypotheses can be supported but not proven

Ways to test a hypothesis:

Gathering relevant historical information

Retrospective Studies

Make additional observations from the natural world Experimentation

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The Scientific Method: Experimentation

Experiments

rigorous tests to determine if the solutions are supported

Experiments attempt to recreation an occurrence

tests whether or not the hypothesis can be supported or rejected

There are many types of experiments

laboratory, clinical trials, surveys, statistical analyses

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Experimental Design

All experiments have key elements in common:

Experiments must be controlled

this means that all aspects except for one variable must be kept constant usually include any two groups. Experimental group: variable is altered, independent variable Control group: variable is not altered, dependent variable

Experiments use models to recreate occurrences, but in a controlled setting

model organisms, ISS, cohorts

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Experimental Design

Experiments must:

use large numbers of subjects and/or must be repeated several times (replication) be independently reproducible

The validity of experimental results must:

be tested statistically

chi-squared test for statistical significance peer reviewed

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be scrutinized by other scientists

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Theory

If the hypothesis is supported by ample experimental data, it leads to a theory. A theory may be defined as a widely accepted, plausible general statement about a fundamental concept in science.

The germ theory states that infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms. Many diseases are not caused by microorganisms, so we must be careful not to generalize theories too broadly. Theories continue to be tested Exceptions identified Modifications made

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A Scientific Law

A scientific law is a uniform and constant fact of nature that describes what happens in nature.

An example: All living things come from pre-existing living things. Inductive reasoning Since every bird that has been studied lays eggs, we can generalize that all birds lay eggs.

Scientific laws promote the process of generalization.

Once a theory becomes established, it can be used to predict specific facts.

Deductive reasoning We can predict that a newly discovered bird species will lay eggs.
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Scientific Communication

Data is shared with the scientific community through research articles published in scientific journals. peer review Scientists present preliminary data at conferences. Scientists collaborate directly by phone and e-mail.

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A Sample Experiment
Scientific American August 2010

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A Sample Experiment

Article: Hardt, Marah J. and Safina, Carl. Threatening Ocean Life from the Inside Out. Scientific American August 2010: Vol. 303 2. What types of observations were being made? State a hypothesis that was tested. Describe an experiment that was conducted. Discuss a variable that was studied and describe how constants where maintained in the experiment. How was a model system was used to simulate the conditions being studied. How were the complex processes being studied reduced to their simplest parts? What was learned from the experiments?
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The Science of Biology

Chapter 1

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1.1 The Science of Life

Biology unifies much of natural life Biology attempts to define life

Biology Living reveals a hierarchical organization of living systems

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Properties of Life
Living organisms:
are composed of cells (Cellular Organization) are complex and ordered (Ordered Complexity) respond to their environment (Sensitivity) can Grow, Develop and Reproduce obtain and use energy (Energy Utilization) maintain internal balance (Homeostasis) allow for Evolutionary Adaptation

The definitions of life are adapting with the field - where do viruses fit in?
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Levels of Organization
1. Cellular Level
Atoms
Tissues Population
molecules
organs species

organelles
organ systems

cells

2. Organismal Level

3.Population Level
biological community

4. Ecosystem Level
Biological community + physical habitat (soil, water,
atmosphere)

5. The Biosphere
The entire planet thought of as an ecosystem 23
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Levels of Organization
Cellular Organization organelles molecules atoms The cell is the basic unit of life.
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cells

Fig. 1.1-1

Levels of Organization
Organismal Level organism organ systems organs tissues

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Fig. 1.1-2

Levels of Organization
Population Level ecosystem community species population

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Fig. 1.1-3

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Levels of Organization
Each level of organization builds on the
level below it but often demonstrates new features

Emergent properties: new properties

present at one level that are not seen in the previous level

New properties emerging may be greater

than the sum of the the parts
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1.2 The Nature of Science

Science aims to understand the natural
world through observation and reasoning

Science begins with observations,

therefore, much of science is purely descriptive

Science uses both deductive and

inductive reasoning
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The Nature of Science

Deductive reasoning uses general
principles to make specific predictions.

Inductive reasoning uses specific

observations to develop general conclusions.

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The Nature of Science

Scientists use a systematic approach to
gain understanding of the natural world:
Observation Hypothesis formation Prediction Experimentation Conclusion

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The Nature of Science

A hypothesis is a possible explanation for
an observation.

A hypothesis:
must be tested to determine its validity is often tested in many different ways allows for predictions to be made
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The Nature of Science

The experiment:
tests the hypothesis must be carefully designed to test only
one variable at a time consists of a test experiment and a control experiment

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The Nature of Science

If the hypothesis is valid, the scientist can
predict the result of the experiment

Conducting the experiment to determine if

it yields the predicted result is one way to test the validity of the experiment

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Think Like a Scientist

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The Nature of Science

Scientists may use:

reductionism - to break a complex process down to its simpler parts models to simulate phenomena that are difficult to study directly

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Test the early hypothesis of Spontaneous Generation

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Fig. 1.4

The Nature of Science

A scientific theory:

is a body of interconnected concepts is supported by much experimental evidence and scientific reasoning expresses ideas of which we are most certain

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1.3 An Example of Scientific Inquiry: Darwin and Evolution

Charles Darwin served as naturalist on
mapping expedition around coastal South America.

Used many observations to develop his

ideas

Proposed that evolution occurs by

natural selection
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Voyage of the Beagle

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Charles Darwin
Evolution: Modification of a species over
generations

descent with modification

Natural Selection: Individuals with

superior physical or behavioral characteristics are more likely to survive and reproduce than those without such characteristics
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Darwins Evidence
Similarity of related species

Darwin noticed variations in related species living in different locations

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Unnatural Selection

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Darwins Evidence
Thomas Malthus: Population growth vs. availability of resources

-population growth is geometric -increase in food supply is arithmetic

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Darwins Evidence
Population growth vs. availability of resources Darwin realized that not all members of a population survive and reproduce Deduced that the organisms best adapted to obtaining resources would survive to reproduce Darwin based these ideas on the writings 47 of Thomas Malthus

Post-Darwin Evolution Evidence

Fossil record
Intermediate Organisms

Mechanisms of heredity
- Early criticism of Darwins ideas were resolved by Mendels theories for genetic inheritance

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Post-Darwin Evolution Evidence

Comparative anatomy - Homologous structures have same evolutionary origin, but different structure and function. - Analogous structures have similar structure and function, but different evolutionary origin.
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Homologous Structures

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Post-Darwin Evolution Evidence

Molecular Evidence

- Our increased understanding of DNA and protein structures has led to the development of more accurate phylogenetic trees.
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1.4 Unifying Themes in Biology

Cell theory The cell theory describes the organization of living systems All living organisms are made of cells, and all living cells come from preexisting cells

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Single Celled Organisms

Fig. 1.11a

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Multi-Cellular Organisms

Fig. 1.11b

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1.4 Unifying Themes in Biology

Molecular basis of inheritance The molecular basis of inheritance explains the continuity of life DNA encodes genes which control living organisms and are passed from one generation to the next The DNA code is similar for all organisms (The Central Dogma)
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Fig. 1.12

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Unifying Themes in Biology

Structure and Function The proper function of a molecule is dependent on its structure The structure of a molecule can often tell us about its function Four major classes of Biomolecules
1. Nucleic Acids 2. Amino Acids 3. Lipids 4. Carbohydrates

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Unifying Themes in Biology

Evolutionary Change The diversity of life arises by evolutionary change leading to the present biodiversity we see Biology attempts to classify lifes great diversity based on these unifying themes Currently all living things are classified into 3 Domains subdivided into Kingdoms (more on taxonomy to come) 58 This process is always changing

The Diversity of Life

Three Domains: 1. Eukarya 2. Archaea 3. Bacteria

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Fig. 1.13

Domain Eukarya is Divided into four Kingdoms: 1. Plantae 2. Fungi 3. Animalia 4. Protista

Fig. 1.13-1

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Fig. 1.13-2

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Fig. 1.13-3

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Unifying Themes in Biology

Evolutionary Conservation Evolutionary conservation explains the unity of living systems The underlying unity of biochemistry and genetics argues that all life has evolved from the same origin event Critical characteristics of early organisms are conserved and passed on to future generations 63

Homeodomains

Fig. 1.14

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Unifying Themes in Biology

Cells are information-processing systems Every cell in an organism carries the same genetic information The control of gene expression allows cells to differentiate into different cell and tissue types Cells also process information received from the environment and respond to maintain homeostasis
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Unifying Themes in Biology

Emergent properties New properties are present at one level of organization that are not seen in the previous level The whole is greater than the sum of its parts

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