Notes on Biological Principles

Biology - Science of life

Greek – “bios” = life

“logos” = study of

What makes something alive?

“old school” Biology

/ \

Botany Zoology

(study of plants) (study of animals)

Microbiology – study of microorganisms

*Genetics – study of heredity

*Ecology – study of the interactions of living organisms and their environment

More Divisions of BiologyNote: asterisks = divisions we will study in this class

*Evolution – study of change in populations over multiple generations

*Taxonomy – study & organization of biodiversity

*Cytology – study of cells

Nine Life Activities that occur in all living things:

1. Nutrition – getting food

2. Digestion – chemical changing of food into a form that is useable

3. Absorption – getting water, ions, and/or food from the environment

4. Biosynthesis (assimilation) – using food and absorbed materials to make new life substances

Living things grow and develop

5. Respiration – process by which food is oxidized to release and repackage energy

6. Excretion – separation of waste products (from metabolism) from the organism

7. Secretion – manufacturing of special chemicals (hormones and vitamins) which affect other cells

8. Response – change due to stimuli from environment (ex: heat, light, or pressure)

• another term for response - irritability

• example of irritability - locomotion

9. Reproduction – cells dividing to produce new cells/ individuals

Can be asexual or sexual

Governed by a universal genetic code

Levels of organization in living organisms:

A. Protoplasm:

The organized chemicals and chemical activity in any living thing(s) that make life possible

Metabolism – the sum total of all chemical reactions which build up and tear down complex molecules

Protoplasm is where metabolism happens!

Protoplasm is life

Only living organisms organize protoplasm – “stuff of life”

• Life activities occur in protoplasm

• All life activities involve energy

• Homeostasis is maintained by and for the protoplasm

• Dogs pant• We produce insulin to lower blood sugar

• We breathe out CO2 and take in O2

B. Cells

nucleus

cytoplasm

cell membrane

Organisms can be unicellular or multicellular.

C. Tissues – cells that are alike in structure and function

4 types of human tissues:

nervousmuscularepithelialconnective

Add their functions to your notes

D. Organs – several tissues working together as a unit

E. Organ Systems – 11 Human Body

Systems & their basic functions

1. Digestive - nutrition

2. Reproductive – production of a new individual

3. Excretory – filters blood, removes wastes

4. Endocrine – regulates body, functions by hormones

5. Skeletal – body support & protection of organs

6. Muscular - movement

7. Circulatory – transportation of food, wastes & other solutes

8. Nervous – sends and receives messages to control and coordinate the body

9. Respiratory – takes in O2 and removes CO2

10. Integumentary – protection (example – skin)

11. Immune – protects against and fights disease

F. Organism

Levels of Organization

Organism

Groups of

Cells

Cells

Molecules

Individual living

thing

Tissues, organs, and

organ systems

Smallest functional

unit of life

Groups of atoms;

smallest unit of

most chemical

compounds Water DNA

Nerve cell

Nervous tissue Brain Nervous system

Bison

(Smallest)

Levels of Organization

*G. Population

*H. Community

*I. Ecosystem

*J. Biomes & Biosphere

Group of organisms of one type that

live in the same area

Populations that live

together in a defined area

Community and its

nonliving surroundings

The part of Earth that

contains all ecosystems

Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass, stream, rocks, air

Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass

Bison herd

Biosphere(Largest)

Review of MeasurementReview of Measurement

Science uses metric measurementScience uses metric measurement

Base units:Base units:

weight = gram

measurement of liquid =

measurement of length =

liter

meter

AbbreviationsAbbreviations kk hh dada g,l,mg,l,m dd cc mmPrefixPrefix KiloKilo hecthect

oodekdekaa

basebase decideci centicenti millimilli

Meaning Meaning 10010000

100100 1010 11 .1.1 .01.01 .001.001

Practice Problems:Practice Problems:

1)1)90 cm= __________mm90 cm= __________mm

2)2) 60 mL= __________ cL60 mL= __________ cL

3)3) 12.2mg= _________ g12.2mg= _________ g

4)4) 602 m= __________mm602 m= __________mm

5)5) 0.51L= __________ mL0.51L= __________ mL

900900

66

.0122.0122

602000602000

510510

A correct measurement will have exact numbers and one final estimated digit;

The number of digits in a correct measurement depends on the tool being used.

Answer:

41.63 cm 416.3 mm 0.4163 m

Answer:

373.32 g

Answer:

52.7 mL

Notes on Scientific Method

Goal of Science – investigate and understand nature

• Science is an organized use of evidence to learn about the natural world

• Science starts with observations – information gathered using the senses (data)

2 forms for gathering information

1. Quantitative – uses numbers (counting and measuring)

2. Qualitative – uses the senses

inferences – interpretation based on what you already know

Scientific Method – a logical, organized method of study (used to establish scientific principles)

5 Steps to the Scientific Method

1. State the problem

State the Problem

Hmmm?

What question will your experimentWhat question will your experimentanswer?answer?

State the Problem

2. Make an educated guess, hypothesis, about the answer based on what is known about the problem

Known Hypothesize

HypothesisHypothesis

Ex: If we turn the heat up on the Ex: If we turn the heat up on the stove, then the water will boil.stove, then the water will boil.

It is written as an “if” “then” It is written as an “if” “then” statementstatement

3. Design and conduct an experiment to test the hypothesis

Experiment

Controlled Experiments – must have 2 groups

a. control – under normal conditions, key factor is not allowed to change

b. Experimental – exposed to a variable

4. Analyze the data collected during the experiment

Collect and Record Data

What did the experiment show you?experiment show you?

Analyze the data collected during the experiment

5. State the conclusion

Come to a Conclusion

Ah Ha!

After much testing if the hypothesis explains how – it becomes a scientific principle

When a hypothesis explains why – it becomes a theory

Notes on the Microscope

Magnification – the power to increase an object’s apparent size

Resolution – the power to show detail clearly

Light microscope – uses light

Specimen – is the object being viewed

Must be thin enough to let light through

Magnifying glass – simple microscope

Compound light microscope – 2 kinds of lenses

1. Ocular – (eyepiece 10x)

2. Objective lens – (near the specimen)

Degree of magnification – determined by the lenses

x – stands for times

Total magnification – multiply the power of the objective by the power of the ocular

x

Objective Power of objective

Ocular Total Magnification

*Scan

*Low

*High

*Oil Immersion

4 10 40

10 10 100

40 10 400

100 10 1000

* objectives used in this class

How do you increase magnification?

Use a 20x ocular

• 2000x is usually as high a magnification as can be obtained with a compound microscope

Why is 2000x the limit for a compound microscope?

Above 2000x – decreased resolution

• magnification is no good if clarity (resolution) is lost

Above 2000x - you must have an electron microscope

Dissecting Microscope

ocular

arm

coarse adjustment

fine adjustment

base

light source

diaphragm

stage

stage clips

low power objective

high power objective

Scan objective

revolving nosepiece