Science
Unit 1: Unit & diversity among living things
Biology: From Bios meaning life and Logos meaning reasoning or study of
2. Definition of life
A. Highly Ordered:
In biology we talk about levels of organization which describes how smaller make up bigger
parts which make up bigger structure etc…parts this proves how the structure of every living
thing is so highly organized
B . A cellular Basis
C. Requires Energy:
Q: How does the sun give us Energy?
A: In an indirect way. Green plants also known as PRODUCERS are able to use the suns energy
and through a process called Photosynthesis. They can produce food chemicals w/ stored
energy (glucose, meaning sugar)
Process of Photosynthesis:
Carbon Dioxide + Water, Sunlight = Glucose + Oxygene
Since only green plants can produce their own food, all the organisms depend on green plants,
directlt or indirectly, for their food (energy needs) so all organisms other than green plants are
called CONSUMERS.
The fact that green plants can undergo photosynthesis (producers) is also why they are always
the first step in food chain.
D. Response to Stimulus:
Stimulus
Bright light
High temperature
Low temperature
Fright/Danger
Dortors hammer test
Response
Pupils constrict
Sweating
Goosebumps
Adrenaline
Lower Leg extends
We talk about stimulus and response. Where stimulus is some sort of environment change and
response is how the organism reacts w/ that change.
E. Grow and Develop:
F. Reproduction
Sexual
Asexual
2 Parents, male and female
1 Parent produces offspring
Who produce offspring that
genetically identical to itself:
Have a new unique genetic make
CLONE (Very few animals, some
Up (mammals, most animals,
plants, some fungi, bacteria.
Some plants and some fungi
G. Transferring information (heredity)
-In every species every generation transfers information through DNA, genetic material, This is
the concept of Heredity*, where you inherit traits from your parents
*Some traits that we inherit are common to all healthy humans. Other traits that we inherit
make us unique, and similar to our parents.
The 7 Characteristic of life:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Highly ordered (complex and precise)
A cellular basis
Requires energy, the ultimate source which is the sun
Responds to stimuli*
Grow and develop
Reproduce
Have a way of transferring information from one generation to the next
*Stimuli is the plural of stimulus which is defined as an environmental change that directly
influences the activity of living protoplasm.
3) The Life Function:
A. Nutrition:
-Includes the activities by which an organism obtains materials from its environment and
prepares them for use. In the case of animals, nutrition includes Ingestion (the taking in of
food)
Often we divide nutrients into 6 Categories:
1) Carbohydrates
2) Protein
3) Fat
4) Vitamins
5) Minerals
6) Water
*These nutrients have calories = Provide Energy
B. Transport:
Includes absorption of materials into the organism and distribution of materials within the
organism
C. Respiration:
All Organisms need to be able to transform food energy into energy molecules that can be used
by the organisms. This special energy molecule is called ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) and it is
produced through a process called respiration.
AEROBic (Cellular) Respiration, Or ANAROBIC Respiration
Aerobic Respiration:
-Uses oxygene
-Produces more ATP for every glucose molecule. Therefore it is more efficient
-Done by many organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, many bacteria
Glucose + Oxygen = Carbon Dioxide + Water (+ATP)
C 12 H 12 0 6 + 02 -------------- CO2 (+ATP)
Note*: That respiration is exactly the REVERSE process as photostnthesis (Reactants & Products
are switched)
-Plants can do photosynthesis and respiration
-All other organisms (consumers) can do respiration
Anareobic Entertainment
-Glucose is Not Broken down as efficiently and not as much ATP is produced
-Oxygen is not a reactant
-There are different types
-Sometimes Lactic acid is produced
Some types of bacteria only do anerobic respiration. Other organisms such as mammals switch to
anarobic respiration under extreme circumstamnces when the 02 supply is not suficien (ex: Vigorous
exercise)
In humans, one of the products of this fermentation is lactic acid and when we have a build up of lactic
acid in one muscle tissue we get muscle cramps.
D. Excretion:
Organs of the excretory system (Urinary System) include organs of our urinary tract (kidney,
blatter, etc…). Doctors who specialize in problems of this system may be urologists,
nephrologists.
E. Synthesis:
In living things, substances are constantly undergoing chemical changes. Synthesis (“building
up”) describes those chemical changes in which in organism uses smaller simple chemicals to
build large more complex structures such as building muscle tissue, strong bones, complex
molecules etc…
F. Regulation:
Is the control and coordination of the various activities of an organism, including response to
stimulus.
G. Growth:
Note that as we grow we also develop new structures are formed as certain body tissues
become specialized for new structures and functions. More often growth occurs when cells
multiply (example Skin Cells).
H. Reproduction:
Is the production of new individuals. Since individual organisms have a limited life span.
Reproduction is necessary for the survival of the type of organism, or species.
4) Metabolism:
Chemical changes are constantly occurring in all living things. These changes require the help of
special proteins called ENXYMES that are biological CATALYSTS (any substance that speeds up
the rate of a chemical reaction, w/out getting used up itself.
5) Homeostasis:
6) Main Branches in Biology:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
Botany – Study of plants
Zoology – Study of animals
Anatomy - Study of structure of organisms
Cytology - Study of cells
Embryology - Study of early growth and development of organisms
Genetics - Study of heredity and variation
Histology - Study of microscopic structure of plant and animal tissue
Pathology - Study of essential nature of disease
Biochemistry – Study of the chemical compounds and processes which are found in
organisms (chemistry of the body)
j) Physiology – Study of the functions and functioning of living matter and organisms
7) Levels of Organizations:
A. Atoms:
-The smallest part of an element that still has the characteristics of that element.
-All atoms of the same element are the same but, different from atoms of other elements
B. Molecules:
Sometimes atoms (same type or different) chemically combined and stay tightly bonded
together.
Ex: Oxygen gas (02)
One 02 Molecule
Oxygen is a diatomic gas. Oxygen atoms bind together in pairs. Each particle is called a
molecule.
These molecules are ELEMENTS, because the atoms are all the same as each other.
Ex:
One H20 molecule
These are also molecules (here we see 1 water molecule)
These are molecules of a compound because each molecule is composed
C. Complex Molecules:
-Sometimes molecules are composed of MANY atoms of different elements. These Molecules
are more Complex. More than 20 atoms.
In Biology this year, we will look at 4 major MACROMOLECULES (huge molecules):
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbohydrates (includes sugar)
Proteins
Lipids (includes fats)
Nucleic Acids (DNA, RNA)
Macromolecules: Are complex molecules in biology. Each type of macromolecule is composed
of special units, called MONOMERS.
So carbohydrates are composed of 1 type of monomer, while proteins are composed of
different type of monomer (is a basic unit or building piece that make up a macromolecule).
D. Organelles:
Tiny “organs” inside cells, each type of structure is responsible for a particular function.
Ex:
Organelle
Chloroplast
Mitochondria
Vacuole
Cell (plasma) membrane
Function
Photosynthesis (in green plants)
Respiration
Storage, excretion
Regulates which Materials enter and leave the
cell.
E. Cells:
-A cell is the unit of STRUCTURE and FUNCTIONS of all living things
-Some organisms are tiny and consist of only 1 cell (bacteria cell, Unicellular)
-Other organisms are made up of many cells
-Some multi-cellular (many cells) or organisms are so complex that different cells become
differentiated (specialized) to have unique structures and functions
Ex: In humans:
Bone cells (osteocytes) are specialized to allow for movement, mineral storage, upright posture
etc…
F. Tissue:
Many cells of the same type that together have a certain function.
4 main categories:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Muscle a) Smooth, Involuntary b) Striated, voluntary, Skeletal c) Cardiac
Connective Tissue (Bone blood)
Nerve Tissue (In brain, spinal chord, sensory organs, also associated with muscle)
Epithelial Tissue (found in coverings used to protect) Ex: Skin, Around certain organs
G. Organ:
-Different tissues that work together to perform a certain function. EX:
Organ
Heart
Tissue
-Nerve
-Connective Tissue (blood...)
-Epithelial tissue (Pericardial sack)
-Muscle Tissue
Stomach
-Muscle Tissue that helps stomach churn
-Epithelial Tissue
-Blood Vessels, Blood
-Nerve Tissue
H. Organ Systems:
Many organisms that work together to perform a function.
Ex:
Organ System
1) Respiratory system
2)Nervous System
Organs Inside
-Lungs, Mouth, Nose, Trachea
-Brain, Spinal cord, Sense Organs
1. Organism:
-One complete, independent living things. \
Ex:
- A bacterial Cell
- A human
- A golden retriever
- A Venus flytrap plant
J. Population:
-A group of all of the same type of organism in a particular area
Ex:
-
All the spiders in the class
All the evergreens on mount tremblant
K. Community:
- All of the different populations in an area, and all the interactions that exists between them.
Ex:
All the humans and spiders in this room, spiders bite and scare humans. Humans step on the
spiders.
L. Ecosystem:
-The community along with all the abiotic factors (non living things) that affect the community
-usually defined by an area
Ex: A puddle on Kellert
-Earth Worms
-Ants
Populations interacting
-Bacteria
= Community
-Gasoline
-Cold Temp
Abiotic Factors
-Sun light
-Ecosystems can be any size
Ex: Puddle, City, Park, A log etc…..
Ecosystem
M. Biome:
-A very large ecosystem
Ex: A tropical rain forest
N. Biosphere:
-All the area’s on earth that contain living things as well as the abiotic factors that affect them
-The sum of all the ecosystems on earth (all other planets
1-4 Chemistry of life (diff handout)
A) Chemical Elements:
1) Element:
-Pure substances that cannot be broken down into simple substances, not even by chemical
change
-All known elements are organized on the periodic table abbreviated w/ symbols
Ex:
Symbol
H
NA
SB
Element
Hydrogen
Sodium
Antimony
-Interestingly, even though there are more than 100 elements, in living things most organic
compounds contain only 4 elements (or less)
5) Ions:
-Atoms are by definition neutral because they have the same number of protons as electrons
If, by a chemical change, can atom gains or loses electrons. The atom acquires a change (+ or -)
and becomes an ION.
The characteristics of ions are very different from the characteristics of the same element
Atom - Sodium
Na0
Ion  Sodium
Na+1
Explosive when wet, extremely reactive metal
Seen in table salt, our bodies
Dissolves well in H20
Atom  Iron
Fe0
Atom  Iron
Fe +2
Fe +3
-Silver/ Grey metal
-Rusts in air
-Attracted to magnet
Atom  Chlorine
Ce 0
-Component of red blood cells
-Important nutrient (mineral)
-Poisonous Gas
-In table salt
-Pool compounds, bleach
-In our Bodies
Ion  Chlorine
Ce -1
C,H,O,N
-Other elements are also seen in living things things
B. Chemical Compounds:
1) Compounds:
Are chemical combinations of two or more elements
2. Formulas:
The compositions of a compound can be shown by a formula which uses the symbols of the
elements and shows how many of each are present using subscripts.
Ex:
Compound Name
Methane
Formula
CH4
Water
Hydrogen Peroxide
Sodium Chloride
H20
H202
NaCl
Glucose
C6H1206
Atoms Inside
1 C Atom
4 H Atoms
Per molecule
2 Hydrogen and 1 oxygen atom per molecule
2 H and 2 0 atoms per molecule
1 sodium atom and 1 chlorine atom per
molecule
6 C atoms
12 H atoms
6 0 Atoms
Per molecule
3. Inorganic Compounds:
-Are compounds NOT containing the elements carbon and Hydrogen.
-They have simple compositions
-Inorganic compounds found in living things include water, salts (minerals), inorganic acids, and
bases
4) Organic Compounds:
-Are compounds containing the elements carbon and hydrogen
-They are formed in nature by the activities o living organisms
-They are very complex because of the special properties of carbon
COMPARISONS
Inorganic
1) Found in living things and in non-living
things
Not unique to living things
2) May have Carbon or Hydrogen but
never both
3) Usually fairly simple
Organic
1) Unique to living things, made by living
things (or in labs)
2) Must have at least 2 elements:
CARBON and HYDROGEN
3) Usually Complex-compound of many
atoms
4) EX: Hydrogen Peroxide, H202
Water, H20
Carbon Dioxide, C02
Sodium Chloride, NaCl
5) Importance of Water:
4) EX: Glucose, C6H1206
Benzene, C6H6
Lactose, C12H12011
-Of all the substances in living cells, water is by far the most abundant. In some cells the
cytoplasm is over 90% water.
- Water is essential for life functions of cells, because it is a substance which many substances
will dissolve.
-Most chemical reactions occur only in water solutions.
Kinds of Organic Compounds:
1) Carbohydrates:
Elements: C, H, and 0
-Usually 2 times more Hydrogen atoms than 0 atoms
Ex:
1) C6 H12 06
2) C12 H22 011
a) Monosaccharide’s (part of Carbohydrates)
-The simple type of Carbohydrates, also known as simple sugars
-It is these monosaccharide’s that are the building blocks, monomers that build up large, more
complex Carbohydrates.
3 Examples:
Glucose
Fructose
Galactose
All are C6 H12 06 but are each different in the
way the atoms are connected
b) Disaccharides (Part of Carbohydrates)
-Also sugars
-These are composed of 2 monosaccharide’s that have chemically combined (came together as
a chemical change
Ex:
Lactose (Glucose + Galactose)
Maltose (Glucose + Glucose)
Sucrose (Glucose + Fructose)
d) Hydrolysis:
Recall that during dehydration synthesis, monomers are chemically connected and in the process
1 h20 molecule is released.
Sometimes in living things, the opposite process, called hydrolysis, occurs.
A single monomer is separated from a “Chain” (polymer or dimer) in order to do this, one H20
molecule is needed as a reactant.
Ex: Hydrolysis of a disaccharide
C12 H22 011 (1 Disaccharide) + H20 (water) ------ C6 h12 06 + C6 H12 06 (2
monosaccharide’s)
Notes:
1) The H20 is required to ‘smooth out” the sticky ends so that in the end you have 2 complete
monosaccharides
2) This process is exactly opposite to dehydration synthesis since reactants and products are
switched
3) This process is not unique for carbohydrates. It is the way all monomers of the 4 different
macromolecules get separated from large polymers.
E) Uses Carbohydrates:
- Source of energy for immediate use (sugars) of storage (complex carbohydrates)
- Also Contributes to certain structures in cells