Chapter 1 Biology: The Study of Life

I. What is biology? A. The Science of Biology 1. Biology is the study of life

2. The key aspect of biology is learning about the different types of living things around you. 3. One of the most general principles in biology is that living things do not exist in isolation; they are functioning parts in the balance of nature.

B. Biologists Study the Diversity of Life

Biologists study the interactions of the environment

1. Because no species, including humans, can

exist in isolation, the study of biology must

include the investigation of interactions among

species.

Biologists study problems and purpose solutions

1. Biological research can lead to advances in

medical treatment and disease prevention in

humans and in other species.

C. Characteristics of Living Things

1. Living things are organized

a. To be organized is to show orderly structure

2. Living things make more living things a. Reproduction is the production of offspring b. Reproduction is essential for the continuation of the organism’s species c. A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring in nature 3. Living things change during their lives a. Growth results in the increase in the amount of living material and the formation of new structures b. All of the changes that take place during the life of an organism are know as its development

4. Living things adjust to their surroundings

a. Environment, which includes the air, water,

temperature, any other organisms in the area,

and many other factors

b. Any condition in the environment that

requires an organism to adjust is a stimulus

c. A reaction to a stimulus is a response

d. Regulation of an organism’s internal

environment to maintain conditions suitable

for its survival is called homeostasis

e. Energy is the ability to do work

5. Living things adapt & evolve

a. Any structure, behavior, or internal process

that enables an organism to respond to stimuli

and better survive in an environment is called

an adaptation

b. The gradual accumulation of adaptations over

time is evolution

II. The Methods of Biology

A. Observing and Hypothesizing

1. The methods biologists use to gather info and

answer questions are scientific methods

a. observation- observing and gathering info

b. hypothesis- educated guess c. experimenting- a procedure that tests a hypothesis by the process of collecting info under controlled conditions 1. Some experiments involve 2 groups: a. the control group- all conditions are kept the same b. the experimental group- all conditions are kept the same except for the single condition being tested 2. Controlled experiment has 2 types of variables: a. independent: variable you apply changes to b. dependent: depends on the independent variable

d. collect results 2. Maintaining Safety: A safety symbol is a symbol that warns you abut a danger that may exit from chemicals, electricity, or heat. 3. Data gathering is sometimes referred to as experimental results. See Table 1.1 page 15 4. A scientific theory is an explanation of things or events based on knowledge gained from observations and investigations. (explains how) 5. A scientific law is a statement about what happens in nature and that seems to be true all the time. (explains why)

III. The Nature of Biology

A. Kinds of Information

1. Two Types of Research:

a. Quantitative research involves numerical data

b. Qualitative research involves observational

data

2. Measuring in the International System (SI)

a. One advantage of SI is that there are only a

few basic units, and nearly all measurements

can be expressed in these units or

combinations of them

Metric SystemInternational System of Units (1960

devised); universally accepted

B. Science & Society

1. What is ethics?

2. Define the term

technology.

Table 1 SI Base Units

Quantity Measured Unit Symbol

Length meter m

Mass kilogram kg

Time second s

Electric current ampere A

Temperature kelvin K

Amount of substance mole mol

Intensity of light candela cd