General

Biology 1 - Introduction 1. Atom

• The smallest particle of an
What is Biology? element that retains the
properties of that element.
2. Molecule
BIOLOGY • A combination of atoms.
3. Cell
• The smallest unit of life.
'bios' (life)
'logos' (to • Basic structural and
study) functional unit of living
things.
• The study of living things • All living things are made
• The science of life up of cells.
4. Tissue
Characteristics of Living Things • A group of similar cells that
• With definite organization perform a specific function.
• Irritability/Responsiveness 5. Organ
• Reproduction • A structure usually
• Growth composed of several tissue
• Metabolism types that form a functional
• Adaptation unit.
• Maintain homeostasis 6. Organ system
• Two or more organs
1. With definite organization working together in the
execution of a specific
bodily function.
Compared with non-living matter of similar 7. Organism
size, living things are highly complex and • Any living thing considered
organized. as a whole, whether
composed of one cell, such
Parts of living things are arranged in a
as bacterium, or trillions of
particular way.
cells, such as a human.


Levels of Organization (in an organism)


Atom



Molecule



Cell



Tissue



Organ



Organ System



Organism

2. Irritability/Responsiveness 5. Metabolism

Refers to the ability to react to any Refers to sum total of all the chemical
environmental change or stimulus that reactions needed to sustain an organism‟s
often results in movement. life.

Organisms perceive and RESPOND TO Could be:
STIMULI in their internal and external − Anabolism- building up process
environments. − Catabolism- breaking down process

The ability to respond helps ensure the 6. Adaptation
survival of the organisms.
Refers to modifications that promote the
3. Reproduction likelihood of survival.

Formation of new cells or new organisms Living things not suited to new conditions
either moves to a better environment or
In order for life to continue, living things change (evolution).
must be able to produce other living things
of their kind (Reproduction). Results into unity and diversity of life.

Without reproduction of cells, growth and 7. Maintain homeostasis
tissue repair are impossible.
Homeostasis – the existence and
Reproduction can be sexual or asexual. maintenance of a relatively constant
environment within the body.
4. Growth

Refers to an increase in size.

It can result from an increase in cell
number, cell size, or the amount of
substance surrounding the cells.

Involves the conversion of materials
acquired from the environment into the
specific molecules of the organism’s body.

Development – includes the changes an
organism undergoes through time.








The Science of Botany 4. Autotroph

Botany ü Can produce their own food
• The scientific study of plants through photosynthesis
• Also called ‘Plant Biology’ ü Photosynthesis - the process by
which plants capture light energy of
Characteristics of Plants sunlight and use carbon dioxide and
• Eukaryote water to make their own food
• Multicellular (glucose).
• Cellulosic cell wall
• Autotroph (undergo photosynthesis) 5. With large central vacuole
• With large central vacuole ü Vacuoles – Fluid-filled sacs for
• With plastids storage of water and nutrients
needed by the cell; also help
• Sedentary
support the shape of the cell
1. Eukaryote ü Plants have large central vacuole
ü With true nucleus and membrane- o Small or absent in animal
bound organelles. cells
o Bacterial cells do not have
vacuoles








2. Multicellular

ü Composed of more than one cell.


6. With plastids
3. Cellulosic cell wall
ü Chloroplast - Contains chlorophyll a
ü Cell walls of plants contain the
and b as well as carotenoids.
polysaccharide cellulose.
ü Amyloplast

ü Chromoplast



7. Sedentary

ü Generally non-motile

ü Not exactly immobile

ü They also exhibit some form of

limited movement

o Unidirectional movement

of plant parts in response

to light, or phototropism

o The folding of the leaves of

Mimosa in response to

touch.
Subdisciplines of Botany What is a Science?
• Plant Molecular Biology • A systematized and organized body
• Plant Cell Biology of knowledge based on facts and
• Plant Physiology experimentations
• Plant Genetics • Derived from a Latin verb meaning
• Plant Ecology “to know”
• Plant Pathology • The study of nature and the natural
• Plant Systematics phenomena; an observable fact or
event
1. Plant Molecular Biology • A branch of knowledge that
ü Structures and functions of examines the natural world with a
important biological molecules body of facts arranged through
(proteins, nucleic acids) in plants laws, theories, and hypotheses.
2. Plant Cell Biology • Science is an attempt to discover
ü Structures, functions, and life how nature works and to use that
processes of plant cells knowledge to make predictions
3. Plant Physiology about what is likely to happen in
ü Deals with how plants function nature.
(photosynthesis, mineral nutrition)
4. Plant Genetics
ü Deals with plant heredity and “The whole science is nothing more than a
variation refinement of everyday thinking”—Albert
o Heredity- transmission of Einstein
traits from parents to
offspring The Scientific Method
o Variation- differences in • A logical process of learning facts
traits among biological through observation and
organisms experimentation from which,
5. Plant Ecology certain conclusions or theories are
ü Interrelationships among plants, drawn.
and between plants ands their
environment Steps of the Scientific Method
6. Plant Pathology 1. Identification of the problem through
ü Deals with diseases in plants observation
7. Plant Systematics 2. Formulation of hypotheses
ü Deals with plant taxonomy and 3. Experimentation or testing of
phylogeny hypotheses
o Taxonomy- the description, 4. Analysis and interpretation of data and
identification, results
nomenclature, and 5. Generalization or formulation of
classification of organisms conclusion
o Phylogeny- evolutionary 6. Communication of the findings
history and relationships
among individuals or
groups of organisms


1. Identification of a problem through test the effects on the
observation dependent variable.
• Any scientific process starts with − Dependent variable is the
observation using all the senses. variable being tested and
• From observation a problem may measured in a scientific
be identified. experiment.
2. Formulation of a hypotheses • Whatever event you are expecting
• Hypothesis is a preliminary to change is always the dependent
conclusion or an educated guess variable.
about a scientific problem; • Independent variable causes a
• It is a supposition, based on the change in Dependent Variable and
previous observations, that is it is not possible that the
offered as an explanation for the Dependent Variable could cause a
observed phenomenon change in Independent Variable.
• Format: “If……then…..because…..” 4. Analysis and interpretation of data and
• To be useful, the hypothesis must results
lead to predictions that can be • Data/results must be gathered
tested by additional controlled during and after experimentation
observations, or experiments • Data include records collected while
3. Experimentation or testing of making observations during an
hypotheses experiment
• Experiment is a special procedure • One way to analyze and interpret
used to test hypotheses records of observation is by using
• There must be two sets of tables and graphs
experiments 5. Generalization or formulation of
ü Control group- test subjects conclusion
randomly assigned to not • Based from the analyzed data, the
receive the experimental hypothesis can either be supported
treatment. or rejected by the experimental
ü Experimental group- test evidence
subjects randomly assigned to 6. Communication of the findings
receive the experimental • No matter how well designed an
treatment. experiment is, it is useless it is not
• Experimental set-up is similar to the communicated thoroughly and
control in every aspect except the accurately.
presence of the variable • If experiments are not
• The variable is the factor or communicated to other scientists in
parameter to be tested enough detail to be repeated, their
• Variable conclusions cannot be verified.
ü What we change and then • Without verification, scientific
measure the effects of the findings cannot be safely used as
factor or parameter to be the basis for new hypotheses and
tested further experiments.
ü Two types:
− Independent variable is the
variable that is manipulated
in a scientific experiment to













How Science Works
• A law (or rule or principle) is a
statement that summarizes an
observed regularity or pattern in
nature (Eastwell, 2014).
ü Ex.: Law of Universal
Gravitation
• A scientific theory is a set of
statements that, when taken
together, attempt to explain a
broad class of related phenomena.
Theories are far more general and
reliable than a hypothesis; general
explanation of important natural
phenomena, developed through
extensive and reproducible
observations.
ü Ex. Gravitational Theory