Chapter 1 The Study of Life
Section 1: Introduction to Biology
Section 2: The Nature of Science
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Intro to Biology and
Nature of Science
Chapter 1.1: Intro to Biology
Learning Objectives
• What is studied in Biology?
• What do biologists do?
• What are the levels of organization for all
living things?
Biology = the science of life
(bio = life -logy = study of)
Biology
Study the origins and history of life and
once-living things
Biology
• Study the structure of living things (looking at
the parts that make up organisms)
– Example: anatomy of a goldfish
Biology
• Study how living things interact with one
another
Biology
• Study how living things function
– Example: How does a Venus Fly Trap work?
What Do Biologists Do?
Chapter 1
The Study of Life
What do biologists do?
 Study the diversity of life
 Research diseases
What do biologists do?
 Develop technologies
What do biologists do?
Preserve the environment
Organization of Life
• How do biologists organize all living things
and their relationships?
– Biologists have observed levels of organization of
all living things that can be studied
– The “big picture” of life starts with the simplest
level of organization to the most complex
Chapter 2
Principles of Ecology
1.1 Organization of Life
Levels of Organization
 Levels increase in complexity as the numbers
and interactions between organisms increase.
 atoms
 molecules
 organism
 organelles
 population
 cells
 biological community
 tissues
 ecosystem
 organs
 biome
 organ
 biosphere
systems
Chapter 1.2: The Nature of Science
Learning Objectives
• 1. What is the main characteristic of all
sciences?
• 2. What is a theory?
• 3. How is scientific knowledge increased?
Chapter 1
The Study of Life
1.2 The Nature of Science
What is science?
 Science is a body of knowledge based on the
study of nature. (ex. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Ecology etc.)
 The main characteristic of science is
scientific inquiry.
 Scientific inquiry is both a creative process and
a process rooted in unbiased observations and
experimentation.
Scientific Inquiry = asking questions and
developing explanations
Chapter 1
The Study of Life
1.2 The Nature of Science
Uses Scientific Theory
 A theory is an explanation of a natural
phenomenon supported by MANY
observations and experiments OVER TIME.
 The results are always the same.
The Results of Experimentation
• 1. Theories
– Hypotheses that have withstood the test of time
and have been tested over and over again
– Ex: Theory of Evolution, Theory of Relativity
2. Laws
-Events that always occur in nature
-Ex. Law of gravity (also considered a theory)
Law of conservation of energy
Chapter 1
The Study of Life
1.2 The Nature of Science
Expands Scientific Knowledge
 Most scientific fields are guided by research
that results in a constant reevaluation of what
is known.
 This reevaluation often leads to new
knowledge that scientists then evaluate.
Example: New information changes scientific
knowledge. Pluto you are no longer a planet!
Nature of Science
• Sometimes people get frustrated with
scientists - they think when they hear
reports of conflicting studies that scientists
keep changing their minds
Nature of Science
• Example: What is healthiest to eat?
Nature of Science
• Actually this is a normal part of science, a
constant cycle of :
reevaluate -> research -> new knowledge->
* Scientific facts do not change but
hypotheses and theories do as more and
more research is done