Unit 1
The Nature of Biology
Flashcard Warm-up
Infer
To use evidence
and
reason/logic to
come up with a
conclusion
Draw a picture or use the word
in a sentence for every
vocabulary flashcard warmup.
Independent variable
Vs.
Dependent Variable
Independent variable is
the one changing
factor in an
experiment.
The dependent variable
is the measureable
results of the change
(IV)
Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Problem/Purpose- The question the lab will answer, must be
testable, identifies variables
a. Independent variable – factor the scientist changes
from group to group
b. Dependent variable – factor the scientist measures to
see the effect of the independent variable
Variables and Controls Videoclip
2.
3.
4.
Research: learn about the problem
Hypothesis: educated prediction
Procedure: the steps in the experiment to test the
hypothesis
A. Control - normal conditions or absence of independent
variable, used for comparison
B. Experimental group(s) have only one changing variable
5. Observations/Data: Don’t use opinion; Use factual
descriptions or measurements
6. Analysis/Conclusion: Answers the purpose; accepts or rejects
hypothesis
Science is Tentative
THEORY: the most logical explanation based on
current evidence; becomes stronger as more
evidence is gathered
LAW: universal generalization that is virtually
unchanging; gravity
*
Scientific knowledge must be shared, which
allows other scientists to repeat and verify
the work of others.
Good Experiments Begin with
Good questions
•
Does exposure to ultraviolet radiation cause increased risk of
skin cancer?

•
Was Lee Harvey Oswald possessed by demons?

•
� Good question, but not necessarily easy to answer, though finding
correlations may be relatively easy.
� Bad question. Why? Well, first you must start with a definition of
demon, and then come up with some objective means of measuring
possessed-by-demons-ness.
“Testing the Greenhouse Effect”
Discovery Education
 Watch







the Mythbusters video:
Watch for the parts of the scientific method
we discussed as you watch the video see if
you can identify the following:
Independent variable?
Dependent variable?
Control?
Experimental groups?
Constants?
Good or bad experimental design?
Ticket out the Door
 1.
Write down the 6 steps of the scientific
method.
 2. A controlled experiment will only have
____ changing variable.
 3. Maria tested the effect of different
fertilizer on the growth of her grass.



Independent variable?
Dependent variable?
Control?
Flashcard Warm-up
Control Group Homeostasis
The group of test
The regulation of
subjects in an
internal conditions
experiment that are
(such as temperature,
either given the
oxygen levels, blood
“normal”
sugar levels) that
conditions/dose or are
allow an organism to
not given the
survive.
independent variable
at all. This group is
used for comparison.
What is biology?
Biology: the study of (-ology) all life (bio)
Includes many branches:
1. Microbiology:
2. Ecology:
3.
4.
5.
6.
Cytology:
Genetics:
Oncology:
Botany:
The study of microorganisms
The study of living things and
their environment
The study of cells
The study of heredity
The study of cancer
The study of plants
Characteristics of Life
Organization: All life is made up of cells; all life
needs six essential elements (CHNOPS)
Organism
Organ System
Organs
Tissues
Cells
Molecules
Atoms / Elements
Characteristics of Life
Alive! Videoclip
Energy Use :organisms must
make energy to construct
building blocks in the body
 Metabolism – all chemical
reactions in an organism
 Examples:




Synthesis – to build molecules
Break down molecules
(nutrition)
Transport nutrients
Cellular respiration – produce
energy
Characteristics of Life
3. Reproduction – making
more organisms, for growth or
repair; sexual or asexual
4. Growth and Development
• Growth – to increase in
size (# of cells)
• Development – change in
structure and function


5. Respond to Stimuli - A
reaction towards or away
from a stimulus in the
environment;
6. Adjust to Environment
• Homeostasis - the
regulation of an
organism’s internal
environment
• Adaptation - an inherited
structure, behavior, or
internal process that
enables organisms to
better survive an
environment.
Technology
Compound Light Microscope:
•
Has two lenses – ocular
(eyepiece) and objective
to view thin specimens
•
Ocular x Objective = Magnification
Electron microscope:
•
Scanning electron
microscope: SEM – 3D
image
•
Transmission electron
microscope: TEM –
greatest magnification
Ocular
Objective
Ticket out the door
 1.
List and describe three
characteristics all living
things have in common.
Flashcard Warm-up
 STERNGRR
is
 Metabolism
life!


Write down the life
process
represented by
each letter in
STERNGRR
All chemical
reactions
occurring in an
organism
Life Processes: STERNGRR

Synthesis – making materials


Transport – moving chemicals from location to
location within cell or organism.


Example: our circulatory system transports oxygen
and nutrients to all cells in our body
Excretion – getting rid of wastes


Example: plants make sugar during photosynthesis
Example: urinating, sweating, exhaling carbon dioxide
Respiration – gas exchange AND production of
energy (ATP)

Example: gas exchange; make energy from sugar
Life Processes (STERNGRR)
 Nutrition
– gaining energy from food
source

Example: eating food!
and Development – getting bigger
and/or changing (puberty)
 Regulation – controlling internal processes
 Growth

Pancreas produces insulin to lower blood
sugar levels in blood
– producing new cells or
new organisms
 Reproduction
STERNGRR Project
 Each
group of 3 will be assigned an
animal or plant
 You will need to research how that
organism carries out each life process
(STERNGRR)
 Create a powerpoint presentation with
pictures and slides-follow the rubric
 Present Monday – short 4 to 5 min.
presentation
STERNGRR Presentations
 Take
notes for each presentation, you
should have a few words to describe how
each animal presented carries out the
essential life processes.
 Make a Venn diagram to compare any two
organisms presented, you may not use
the organism your group presented
 Don’t forget to write your individual
summary paragraph about your groups
organism!
Ticket Out the Door
 The
life processes that take place in all
living organisms can be remembered as
STERNGRR. What do the letters stand
for?
 Explain or define two
Flashcard Warm-up
 Characteristics
of ALL living
organisms:
 Use
your notes and write down the six
characteristics of life and a brief
explanation for each.
Unit 1 Work
 Scientific
Method Lab- Questions 1-5 from
Blue sheet, 1J, data tables (article and
questions on back)
 1C,D, E
 STERNGRR Summary and Venn Diagram
 Characteristics of Life Chart
 Problem Solving pgs. 9-12