Introduction to Bio 111: Chapter 1 Overview

Introduction to Bio 111

• The course covers evolution, biological themes, and scientific inquiry
• The course is taught by Professor Julia E. Porado MS CT(ASCP)

Agenda for Chapter 1

• Cell Theory
• Requirements of Life
• Levels of Biological Organization
• Principles of Evolution
• Scientific Method

Properties of Life

• Biology is the scientific study of life
• Properties of life include:
  • Order (structure)
  • Evolutionary adaptation
  • Regulation
  • Energy processing
  • Growth and development
  • Response to the environment
  • Reproduction

Order: Structure

• Focused on the ordered structure of organisms, like a sunflower

Evolutionary Adaptation

• Focuses on the adaptations of organisms, like the example of a squid

Regulation

• Covers the circulatory systems and their regulation, via images of arteries and veins

Energy Processing

• Includes images of a baby eating to illustrate this function

Growth and Development

• Shows images of a plant's growth from seedling to ripening stage

Response to the Environment

• Illustrates a plant responding to its environment, via a Venus flytrap

Reproduction

• Shows an example of a mother cat and kitten to illustrate reproduction

Exploring Levels of Biological Organization

• Discusses the biosphere, ecosystems, communities, populations, organisms, organs, tissues, and cells, and organelles

The Biosphere

• All life on Earth and where life exists

Ecosystems

• All living things in a specific area, plus the non-living components

Communities

• The array of species in a particular ecosystem

Populations

• All individuals of a species living in a specific area able to interbreed

Organism

• An individual living thing

Organs

• A body part made up of multiple tissues with a specific function

Tissues

• A group of cells working together for a specific function

Cells

• Life's fundamental unit, containing organelles, and either single-celled organisms or part of a larger multicellular organism

Organelles

• The various functional components of a cell, like the nucleus and mitochondria

Molecules

• Chemical structures of two or more atoms
• Building blocks of life

Systems Biology

• Analyzing a biological system by examining interactions between its parts

Structure and Function

• A fundamental principle of biology

Cell Theory

• Living organisms are made of cells, the basic unit of life
• Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus
• Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
• Diagram of both a eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell are shown

DNA: The Genetic Material

• Genes are the units of inheritance, located on chromosomes
• Transcription: DNA to RNA to protein
• DNA is a double helix of nucleotide chains   - Base pairs: A-T, C-G

Genomics

• Large-scale analysis of the DNA sequences in an organism's genome
• Includes genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics tools

Life's Needs

• Transfer and transformation of matter and energy
• Producers (photosynthesizers)
• Consumers

Energy Transformation Concepts

• Metabolism: chemical changes in a cell/organism enabling growth, reproduction and health
• Homeostasis: tendency towards equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially in physiology

Molecules: Interactions Within Organisms

• Feedback regulation: output regulates the process
• Example: blood glucose level regulates insulin secretion

Evolution: Unity and Diversity

• Biological change accumulating differences from ancestors

3 Domains of Life

• Bacteria and Archaea (prokaryotic)
• Eukarya (eukaryotic, including kingdoms Plantae, Fungi, Animalia, and Protists)

Charles Darwin

• Natural selection: higher proportion of favorable traits in a population over generations
• Organisms with traits that enhance survival are more likely to reproduce

Scientific Study

• Inquiry: search for information on natural phenomena
• Exploration and observation
• Data collection and analysis   - Qualitative (descriptions)   - Quantitative (measurements)
• Inductive reasoning: general conclusions from specific observations

Forming and Testing Hypotheses

• Hypothesis: testable explanation
• Deductive reasoning: specific results expected from general premises
• Experiment: a controlled scientific test

Variables and Controls

• Controlled experiments: compare an experimental group to a control group
• Variables: factors measured   - Independent variable: manipulated factor   - Dependent variable: measured factor affected by the independent variable   - Example: radiation therapy study

Theory

• A comprehensive explanation with enough boardness to create hypotheses

Scientific Method

• A step-by-step process of scientific investigation starting by defining a question to investigate and ending with drawing conclusions