Dual Credit: Introduction to Biology

BIOLOGY: : BIOLOGY: Introduction to Biology Slide 2: Is it Alive? courtesy WGBH as funded by the National Science Foundation Is it Alive? How is life defined? : There are 7 identifiable traits that help us define something as having life. How is life defined? Organization Acquires Energy Homeostasis Responsiveness Reproduce Grow Adaptation 1. Living things are organized. : 1. Living things are organized. Each level has emergent properties that are due to interaction between parts. 2. Living things acquire nutrient materials and energy. : 2. Living things acquire nutrient materials and energy. 3. Living things maintain homeostasis. : 3. Living things maintain homeostasis. Many organisms use behavior to regulate their internal environment. What is the behavior that helps the Jackrabbit in this photo? 4. Living things respond to their environment. : 4. Living things respond to their environment. Behavior - Organisms move toward or away from a stimulus such as light to ensure survival. How are both the dragonfly and the Venus flytrap responding to their environment in this photo? Slide 13: Why do whales breach? 6. Living things reproduce : 6. Living things reproduce Instructions for offspring are encoded in an organisms genes for the next generation. Slide 15: Why are new generations important? 5. Living Things Grow : 5. Living Things Grow Organisms grow in size by increasing the amount of living substance in the organism. Slide 17: How can we measure growth? 7. Living things have adaptations through natural selection. : 7. Living things have adaptations through natural selection. Adaptations are modifications that make an organism suited to its way of life. How is this bird adapted to survive in this photo? Slide 19: What are some adaptations that seagulls have for better survival? NATURAL SELECTION : NATURAL SELECTION The theme around which all of modern biology revolves is evolution. Nature selects organisms with the best adaptations to survive. Biodiversity : Biodiversity This is the total number of species, the variability of their genes, and the ecosystems in which they live. Only 2 million of approximately 15 million have been found and named. Classification : Classification Presently a category, called a domain, is recognized as a level above that of a kingdom. After domain comes Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and species. Scientific Names : Scientific Names Each living thing has a two-part, Latin-based name called a binomial name (binomial nomenclature). Examples: Peas—Pisum sativum Fruit flies—Drosophila melanogaster Humans—Homo sapiens This poison frog's scientific name, Dendrobates azureus, means blue tree-walker! The Eight Major Themes in DC Biology: : The Eight Major Themes in DC Biology: 1. Evolution 2. Science as a Process 3. Energy Transfer 4. Continuity and Change 5. Relationship of Structure to Function 6. Regulation 7. Interdependence in Nature 8. Science, Technology, and Society Figure 1.x1 David Reznick conducting field experiments on guppy evolution in Trinidad : Figure 1.x1 David Reznick conducting field experiments on guppy evolution in Trinidad