BIOLOGY 11
Unit 1 ~ Learning Guide
Name:________________
INSTRUCTIONS
Complete the following notes and questions as you work through the related lessons.
You are required to have this package completed BEFORE you write your unit test. Do
your best and ask questions about anything that you don't understand BEFORE you
write the unit test.
1.1 Introduction to Biology
Science is a special way of ____________________________________________________.
a. Looks into _____________________________________________.
b. Tries to _______________ those relationships by collecting information.
c. _________ the explanation to see if it holds up under _________________________.
Biology is a branch of science that deals with
____________________________________
(bio- means _____, -ology means ________)
For example, Biologists attempt to explain
how living things;
•
•
•
•
________
_____________
________________
___________________________
Important concepts in Biology
1. Unity and Diversity
There is a wide variety of living things (_____________). All living things have certain things
in common (________) such as:
o
o
o
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_____________
___________________
___________________
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2. Interactions
All living things are ___________________________________. They _____________with
members of the same ________________________________________________________.
3. Structure and Function
Organisms have ________________ depending on their ______________________________.
Examples:
o
o
Eagles ---- _____________________________
Ducks ---- _____________________________
_________________________ will a structure have _____________________. The organism
__________________________________________________. This is called ______________
and is the basis for the ___________________________.
4. Continuity
All living things _____, but if the organism is successful, __________ will be passed on to the
______________________.
5. Homeostasis
_____________________________ allows an organism to ____________________________
in its environment. Without homeostasis, periods of dry weather or drastic temperature
changes would cause _________________________________.
Example: The human body is maintained at ______ degrees Celsius for optimal operation
regardless of the outside temperature.
6. Change Through Time
____________________________________. A species must be able to __________________
______________________________________. If not, the species _____________________.
Living Things
Biology is the study of life. But what is life?
In general, biologists agree that all living things have ___ main characteristics. Of course, some
non-living things can have these traits. But ____________________________________.
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1. Feeding/Energy
 All living organisms need to take substances from their environment to
_____________________________________. _____________ produce
_____________________ by ________________________________ to
combine raw materials to make sugar. This process is called __________.
 Animals and other organisms that do not contain chlorophyll, such as
mushrooms, ______________________________. They rely on plants or
other organisms for _________________.
2. Movement
 All living organisms ________________________ of one kind or another.
All living organisms have internal movement, which means that they have
the ability of moving substances from one part of their body to another.
Some living organisms show external movement as well - they can move
from place to place by walking, flying or swimming. Examples of
movement in plants are the ____________________________________,
and the growth of roots toward water. Movement of animals from one
place to another is called ________________.
3. Breathing or Respiration
 All living things _______________ with their environment. Animals take
in ____________________________________________.
4. Excretion
 Excretion is the ___________________________________. If this waste
was allowed to remain in the body it could be _______________. Humans
produce liquid waste called __________. We also excrete waste when we
breathe out. All living things need to remove waste from their bodies.
Organs, such as the kidneys, lungs, large intestine, and the skin are
responsible for _______________________________________________.
5. Growth
 When living things feed they ________________. Some of this energy is
used for ______________. Living things become ___________ and more
_________________ as they grow.
6. Sensitivity
 All living things have the ability to _______________________________
________________. These changes in the environment are called ______.
Examples of stimuli include changes in ___________________________.
7. Reproduction
 All living things _______________. Humans make babies, cats produce
kittens and pigeons lay eggs. Plants also reproduce. Many plants make
__________ which can germinate and grow into new plants. This is not
necessary for the survival of an individual organism, but it is necessary for
the ________________________________.
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
Note: This does not mean that all organisms reproduce sexually, some
organisms have methods of reproduction that only involve one parent.
1.1 Questions:
1. Define biology? In your opinion, why is it important? (1 mark)
2. Biologists study living things and their surroundings. Identify at least 3 careers for a
biologist. (3 marks)
3. There is said to be unity and diversity amongst all living things. Explain what is meant
by this phrase. (2 marks)
1.2 The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method is an organized way of figuring something out. There are usually six parts
to it and they are completed in this order:
1. Observation: ______________________? From your observations and experiences you
______________________________. An example would be, "What doorknob in the mall
has the most germs?" or "Do girls have faster reflexes than boys?" or "Does the color of a
light bulb affect the growth of grass seeds?"
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2. Research: ________________________. Look for information in books, on the internet,
and by talking with experts to get the most information you can before you start
____________________________.
3. Hypothesis: After doing your research, ___________________________. Another term
for ______________________________________. This is usually stated like " ___...(do
something) ________...(this will occur)"
An example would be, "If grass seeds are grown under green light bulbs, then they will
grow faster than plants growing under red light bulbs."
4. Experiment: ______________________________________________. In our example,
you would set up grass seeds under a green light bulb and another set of grass seeds
under a red light bulb observing each for a set
time period. You would also set up grass
seeds under regular white light so that you
can compare it with the others (your _______
group). Remember, all other factors (constant
factors) must be controlled. Examples of
constant factors for the seed experiment
would include the amount of light exposure,
water, fertilizer, etc. Each step of the
experiment must be recorded so that others
may perform the ___________experiment.
____________________________________.
5. Analysis: _____________________________________________. Also known as 'data'.
6. Conclusion: Review the data and check to see if _______________________________.
If the grass under the green light bulb grew faster, then you have proved your hypothesis,
if not, your hypothesis is wrong. It is not "bad" if your hypothesis is wrong, because you
still discovered something!
Characteristics of a Valid Scientific Experiment
Part of the Scientific Method involves ______________________________________________.
These experiments are based on the ________________. Although the design of the experiments
varies considerably, most include the following characteristics:
1. An experimental variable: This can also be referred to as the _____________________
_______________________. It is the factor being tested and there should only be ______
experimental variable in an experiment.
2. A dependent variable: Also called the _________________, it is the factor that is being
_______________ as it responds to the experimental variable.
3. One or more experimental groups: Groups within the experiment in which the
experimental variable is varied.
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4. A control group: ___________________________ with the experimental group. Every
experiment must have a control group.
5. Constant factors: These are factors that are ___________________________________.
These include ___________________________________________.
6. Large sample size: This ensures that results _____________. ________________ could
be done if sample size is not sufficient.
7. Repeatable: An experiment _______________________________. If it is not repeatable
then the results would be _____________ as there would be no way to check them.
There are two important variables in any scientific experiment.
Independent Variable (x)
This is the variable _______________________________________________ to test the
effects on the dependent variable. The value of the independent variable does not depend
on another variable.
Hint: This can be remembered if you think that independent means not depending on
something else.
Dependent Variable (y)
This variable is the variable ________________________________________________.
The dependent variable is "__________________" on the independent variable.
Hint: This can be remembered if you think that dependent means it relies on something
else.
For example:
If we are doing an experiment where we are controlling the amount of sleep a person has
and measuring how tired they are.
Independent variable - the amount of sleep. We (as experimenters) are controlling how
much sleep they get.
Dependent variable - level of tiredness. The amount of tiredness this person feels is
dependent on how much sleep they get (Independent variable).
What is a Theory?
Most explanations for biological processes are in the form of Theories. Theories are __________
_______________________________________________, but __________________________
as new information is gathered. You can never say that a theory is correct. You can say a theory
is ___________________.
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Fact Vs Data
Fact - _____________________________________________
Data – ___________________________________________________________ (hypothesis)
1.2 Questions:
1. Why is the scientific method used and why is it important? (1 mark)
2. Johnny has handed you a lab report. How can you determine if Johnny’s experiment is
valid? (7 marks)
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3. Name and describe the main 2 types of variables. (2 marks)
4. You observe that grass seems to grow better in soil than it does in gravel. Design a
scientific experiment to test this. What is the independent variable? What is the
dependent? (4 marks; 2 for experiment design, 2 for identifying variables)
5. Compare and contrast a fact and a theory. Give an example of each (4 marks)
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1.3 What Is A Cell?
Cells are _________________________________________.
Almost everything around you is made of cells, YOU are made of cells!
A cell ______________________________________________________. This means that a cell
is able to perform functions such as the breakdown of nutrients and making proteins.
Types of Cells
There are two classifications of cells based on their complexity.
All cells are classified as either _________________________________ and there are some key
differences that you should be able to recall and identify.
1. Prokaryotic
Known as Prokaryotes. _____________________________ are both examples of prokaryotic
cells. These are the ______________________________________________.
The only organelle found in Prokaryotes is the ________________. There is _____________
or other __________________________ present.
They do have _____________ that it is found in the _________________________ in an area
called the nucleoid region.
2. Eukaryotic
Known as Eukaryotes. _________________________________ and any other organisms have
eukaryotic cells. These cells are __________________________________________________
____________________________________________.
A _________________________________________________________________________.
*You will learn more about these types of cells in Unit 2
Multi-cellular Organisms
Multi-cellular organisms are living things _________________________________. Humans are
an example of a multi-cellular organism.
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Multi-cellular organisms are important because they show that ___________________________
_____________________________________.
Levels Of Organization
Cells are the __________________
_____________________.
When cells work together, they are
called a _______________.
____________________________
make up an organ.
Organs working together make up
an ___________________.
Organ systems work together and
make up an organism.
Many organisms ______________
____________________________.
Multiple different populations ____
____________________________
______________ .
A look at a community that also includes the _________________________________________.
A biome is a type ___________________________________________________. eg. rainforest.
The biosphere refers to ____________________________________________ and is the total of
all of the biomes on earth.
1.3 Questions
1. Identify the characteristics of a Prokaryote. (2 marks)
2. Identify the characteristics of a Eukaryote. (2 marks)
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3. Fill in the blanks. (3 marks)
Cell ____________ _____________ Organ System ______________
_______________ ______________ Ecosystem _______________
Biosphere
4. Fill out the Venn diagram below to compare and contrast a prokaryotic cell and a
eukaryotic cell. (6 marks)
1.4 Introduction to Evolution
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was an ________________________________. He is famous for
his ________________________, which is still supported to this day.
Darwin was the naturalist on a boat called the ______________ which stopped at the _________
______________off of the west coast of South America. He took detailed notes and drew many
pictures. After he returned home, he continued to study his notes and eventually published The
_____________________________________________________________________________.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is __________________________________________________________.
The way that it occurs is by ___________________________.
Natural selection means that the organisms _________________________________________
_____________________________________________. ______________________________
________________________________________________________________.
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For example, there are two different types of deer in a population where one has inherited a
multicolored coat that allows it to ________________ than other deer in the same population.
The deer with better camouflage has an ______________________ because it is better able to
_____________________ and thus will be more likely to ____________________________.
The deer ____________________________ has a ___________________________________
and so is _____________________________________________________.
So, what would the next generation look like if all the deer without camouflage coats were not
able to mate?
The next generation of deer would have multicolored coats!
This method of survival of the fittest is ______________, it happens over ________________
and so cannot be observed very easily.
So why is evolution important?
The theory of evolution does not include __________________________________. Instead, it
details ______________________________________________________.
This theory _________________________________________ where organisms are observed
to have ______________________________________________.
A large portion of our understanding of biology is based on this theory.
Influences on Darwin
Ideas that shaped Darwin's theory of Evolution:
1. __________________ (geologist) - the earth was _______________________________.
This was important to Darwin's theory as it would have taken ______________________
_______________________________________________________________________.
2. Farmers - Darwin learned that farmers ________________________________________
through __________________________. Farmers noted the _______________________
traits in the populations of organisms they raised. For example some cows produced lots
of milk while others only produced a little. Farmers could _______________________ to
their advantage ___________________________________________________.
3. _____________________ (economist) - babies were born at a _____________________
__________________ which he surmised would eventually result in ________________
_____________________. Darwin realized that this also held true for all other organisms
and the end result would be ________________________________________________.
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Jean Baptiste Lamarck
________________________ (1744-1829) was among the ___________________ to recognize
that ___________________________. He also realized that organisms were somehow adapted to
their environments. Lamarck put forth two "laws".
1. The structure of an organism can change depending on the organism's needs in the
environment
2. All changes in an organism could be inherited
The problem with Lamarck's theory of evolution was the ________________________________
________________________________ (imagine that a bodybuilder's child would be born with a
lot of muscles). Today we know that only ______________________________.
Another problem with his theory was his belief that an organism could ___________________
_____________________________. For example, a giraffe may have started its life with a short
neck and it grew longer after a lifetime of stretching to reach high-up leaves in the trees.
According to Lamarck _______________________________________________________.
1.4 Questions
1. Who is Charles Darwin and what influenced his theory? (5 marks)
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2. Compare and contrast Dawins’ theory of evolution to that of Lamark. (6 marks)
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3. Activity! You will need a coin to flip to complete this question. (10 marks)
Say you are observing a population of a special kind of mouse that can only
reproduce once in its lifetime. There are both white and brown mice present. The
brown mice have an advantage in the environment, so white mice only have a 50%
chance of surviving long enough to reproduce. Any mouse that reproduces can have
one or two babies.
How the activity works: you will start with 2 white and 2 brown mice (W= white, and
B= brown). Flip a coin to see if each white mouse lives long enough to reproduce
(tails means yes, heads means no). If it does not survive, you can cross it out. Next,
go to every living mouse and flip a coin to decide if it will have 1 baby or 2. (tails
means 1, heads means 2).
Continue this for each new generation until there is only one colour of mouse left.
Which colour is left? Why is that? How many generations passed before there was
only one colour?
W
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B
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B