Notes on Biological Principles
Biology - Science of life
Greek – “bios” = life
“logos” = study of
What makes something alive?
“old school” Biology
/
Botany
(study of plants)
\
Zoology
(study of animals)
More Divisions of Biology
Note: asterisks = divisions we will study in this class
Microbiology – study of
microorganisms
*Genetics – study of heredity
*Ecology – study of the interactions
of living organisms and
their environment
*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
• 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
• All life activities involve energy
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:
nervous
muscular
epithelial
connective
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
Individual
living
thing
Groups of
Cells
Bison
Tissues,
organs, and
organ systems
Nervous tissue
Brain
Nervous system
Smallest functional
Cells
unit of life
Nerve cell
Groups of atoms;
Molecules
smallest unit of
most chemical
(Smallest)
compounds
Water
DNA
Levels of Organization
(Largest)
*J.
Biomes &
Biosphere
The part of
Earth that
contains all
ecosystems
*I.
Ecosystem
Community
and its
nonliving
surroundings
Biosphere
Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass, stream, rocks, air
*H.
Community
*G.
Population
Populations
that live
together in a
defined area
Group of
organisms of
one type that
live in the same
area
Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass
Bison herd
Review of Measurement
Science uses metric measurement
Base units:
weight = gram
measurement of liquid = liter
measurement of length = meter
Abbreviations
k
h
da
Prefix
Kilo hecto deka
Meaning
1000
100
10
Practice Problems:
900
1) 90 cm= __________mm
6
2) 60 mL= __________ cL
.0122
3) 12.2mg= _________ g
602000
4) 602 m= __________mm
510
5) 0.51L= __________ mL
g,l,m
base
1
d
c
deci centi
.1
.01
m
milli
.001
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
Hmmm?
State the
Problem
State the Problem
What question will your experiment
answer?
2. Make an educated guess,
hypothesis, about the answer
based on what is known about
the problem
Known
Hypothesize
Hypothesis
It is written as an “if” “then”
statement
Ex: If we turn the heat up on the
stove, then the water will boil.
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
Analyze the data collected during
the experiment
What did the experiment show you?
5. State the conclusion
Ah Ha!
Come to a
Conclusion
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
*Scan
*Low
*High
*Oil
Immersion
Power of Ocular
objective
Total
Magnification
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
light
source
base
stage
diaphragm
stage
clips
low power
objective
high power
objective
Scan
objective
revolving
nosepiece