Biology - the study of life
Scientific Method -
1.) Observation
2.) Asking Questions
3.) Collecting Data- Observing, Measuring, sampling and organizing data
4.) Hypothesizing: Forming hypothesis and Predicting
5.) Experimenting: Conducting Controlled Experiment & Analyzing Data
Independent Variable - the one factor that is manipulated between the control group and the experimental group
Dependent Variable - a factor that changes during the experiment as a result of the independent variable; needs to be measurable.
6.) Drawing Conclusion: Modeling, Inferring, Forming a theory
Theory - a broad and comprehensive statement of what is thought to be true.
Characteristics of Life : Metabolism, reproduction, growth and development, responsiveness, made of cells
Branches of Biology : Zoology - the study of animals
Botany - study of plants
Microbiology - bacteria and protists
Biochemistry - study of chemical nature of life
Ecology study of the interactions among organisms in ecosystems
Entomology - study of insects
Evolution - change over time
Natural Selection - a mechanism for how evolution occurs
1.
Survival of the fittest - survival of those offspring best adapted to the conditions in which they live. a.
There is genetic variation in every population. b.
Organisms compete for limited resources. c.
Organisms pass genetic traits on to their offspring. d.
Organisms with the most beneficial traits are more likely to survive to the age of reproduction and thus pass their genes on to the next generation.
Thus nature is selecting offspring and shaping the evolution of species.
2.
Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace - 19 th
century biologists; formulated the concept of natural selection independently of each other, with Darwin publishing his book first.
Artificial Selection - humans select traits in offspring of domesticated animals and/or farm crops.
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Speciation - the development of a new species from another species.
Phylogeny - the evolutionary history of a species or group of related species
Adaptation - inherited characteristics that enhance an organism’s survival & reproduction in specific environments.
Behavior - what an animal does and how it does it.
Homologous structures - animal structures with a common structural theme (forelegs, wings, flippers & arms in mammals).
Analogous structures - animals structures that are similar in structural due to common use
Molecular homologies - organism sharing molecular characteristics; DNA & RNA - the universal genetic code
Biochemistry
Organic molecules molecules, in living things, which contain carbon
A.
Polymerization - the use of repeating units to build molecules.
1.
Monome r - single repeating unit in a larger molecule(polymer)
2.
Polymer - large molecule made of monomer
Four Types:
1
2
Carbohydrates - used for energy storage (glucose, starch, cellulose)
Proteins - used for enzymes, hormones and structural molecules, made of chains of amino acids
[Enzymes - organic catalysis which speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy of the reaction, thus allowing organisms to survive at
3 lower body temperatures.]
Lipids - used as long term energy storage and as hormones. (fats, oils, waxes & steroids)
Nucleic Acids - the genetic material of the cell 4
(DNA & RNA)
Cytology The study of cells.
Cell Theory 1. All living things are composed of cells;
2. Cells are the basic unit of life;
3. All cells come from preexisting cells. small to maximize surface area to volume ratio for regulating Cell Size internal cell environment; as a cell’s volume increases the surface area decreases;
SA/V.
Prokaryotic - Simple cell-like bacteria with no nucleus, just a loop of DNA, and ribosomes, but no membrane-bound organelles
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Eukaryotic - Complex cells (animals, plants, protists, fungi) that contain a nucleus and many other membrane-bound organelles.
A= animal, P= plant and B = both
Cell (plasma) membrane (B) - composed of fluid-like phospholipids bi-layer, proteins and glycol-proteins. Controls what enters and leaves the cell, transports products into and out of cell.
Cell Wall (P) - outside of cell membrane in some organisms; composed of carbohydrates
(cellulose in plants, chitin in fungi, peptidoglycan in bacteria)
Cytoplasm (B) - material outside the nucleus
1.
Site for metabolic activity
2.
Cytosol – solution with dissolved substances such as glucose, CO
2
, O
2.
3.
Organelles - Membrane bound subunits of cells with specialized functions a.
Nucleus - contains DNA, chromosomes controls cellular activities via genes b.
Chloroplast - site of photosynthesis(light reaction and Calvin cycle) c.
Mitochondrion - site of respiration( ATP production: Krebs cycle and electron transport chain) d.
Vacuole – general storage e.
Ribososome - (no membrane) – site of protein synthesis f.
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum(ER) – free of ribosomes; synthesis of lipids, metabolism of carbohydrates and detoxification of drugs
(poisons) g.
Rough ER - covered with ribosomes, making secretory proteins
(glycoproteins) h.
Golgi body – modifies, stores and ships products of the ER to other areas of the cell. i.
Lysosome - vesicles of hydrolytic enzymes that the cell uses to digest macromolecules, dead organelles and dead cells.
Energy Sources:
Sun : organisms use solar energy directly or indirectly to become and remain in an organized state.
Metabolism - series of chemical reactions involved in storing (anabolism) or releasing
(catabolism) energy, much of this through the use of enzymes.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - a high-energy molecule that is used by cells; energy is released by the breaking of phosphate bonds in ATP.
Photosynthesis - sunlight or radiant energy is captured by chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments (found in cytoplasm in prokaryotes and chloroplasts in eukaryotes) and converted into sugars for example glucose.
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Formula : 6CO
2
+ 12 H
2
O

C
6
H
12
O
6
+ 6O
2
+ 6H
2
O
Light Reaction: 1. Carried out by molecules in the thylakoid membrane.
2. Convert light energy to the chemical energy of ATP & NADPH
3. Splits H
2
O for electrons & releases O
2
into atmosphere
Calvin Cycle : 1. Takes place in stroma.
2. Use ATP & NADPH to convert CO
2
to the sugar G3P
3. Returns ADP & NADP+ to light reaction
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