Themes in Biology Themes in Biology Evolution The
Themes in Biology
Themes in Biology • Evolution – The Overeaching Theme in Biology • Hierarchy of Organization • Cellular Basis of Life • Interactions of Organisms with their Environment • Inheritance of Biological Information • Structure and Function • Homeostasis
Biology = study of life • Occurs on various levels: outdoors (field studies) or indoors (lab)
Biology = study of life • Occurs on various levels: outdoors (field studies) or indoors (lab) • microscopic to macroscopic
Biology = study of life • Occurs on various levels: outdoors (field studies) or indoors (lab) • microscopic to macroscopic • past to present Geologic Time Scale
Biology = study of life • Information explosion: 400, 000+ new research articles/year recognize unifying themes of biology. • Science is based on research
Macroscopic: Humongous Fungus • Armillaria mushrooms is a fungus spreading through the roots of trees now covers 2, 200 acres, making it the largest living organism ever found. • Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon
Smallest Living Organism: Nano-sized hyperthermophilic archaeon • Captured in scalding-hot water jetting up through the sea floor near Iceland • At a mere 400 millionths of a millimeter across • More than 6 million would fit on the head of a pin
1. Evolution v. THE CHANGING OF SPECIES OVER TIME DUE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF FAVORABLE TRAITS
Evolution • PHYLOGENY - THE PRESUMED EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF GROUPS OF ORGANISMS
2. Hierarchy of Organization v. Hierarchy-A group organized into successive ranks or grades with each level subordinate to the one above.
Hierarchy of Organization of Life v. Basic characteristic of life is order v. Much of an organism's efforts are geared toward maintaining this order
Hierarchy of Organization of Life v v v ATOMS MOLECULES ORGANELLES CELLS TISSUE ORGAN SYSTEM ORGANISM POPULATION COMMUNITY ECOSYSTEM BIOSPHERE
Classification of Organisms v Domain v Kingdom v Phylum/Division v Class v Order v Family v Genus v Species (Scientific name)
Characteristics of Living Organisms v 1. Made of one or more cells v 2. Display organization v 3. Grow and develop v 4. Reproduce v 5. Response to stimuli v 6. Requires energy v 7. Maintain homeostasis v 8. Have adaptations and evolve over time
Day and night of the biosphere
3. Cellular Basis of Life v. Cell: lowest hierarchical level capable of performing all the activities of life v. Basic unit of structure and function v. All things are made of cells
Major kinds of cells veukaryotic: contains membrane-bound nucleus and membranous organelles
Major kinds of cells veukaryotic: contains membrane-bound nucleus and membranous organelles vprokaryotic: no nucleus (naked DNA) and lacks membranous organelles
4. Interactions of Organisms With Their Environment: Ecology v Life (biotic) doesn't exist in a vacuum, organisms interact continuously with other organisms and non-living (abiotic) factors
Interactions of Organisms With Their Environment: Ecology v. ECOLOGY THE STUDY OF THE INTERACTIONS OF ORGANISMS WITH EACH OTHER AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
Interactions of Organisms With Their Environment Ecosystem functions via two processes:
Interactions of Organisms With Their Environment Ecosystem functions via two processes: v(1) cycling of nutrients: soil -> plant -> animal -> soil and
Interactions of Organisms With Their Environment Ecosystem functions via two processes: v(1) cycling of nutrients: soil -> plant -> animal -> soil and v(2) one-way flow of energy: sun -> plant -> environment
Interactions of Organisms With Their Environment Response to environment v VITAL TO ANY ORGANISM v. ESCAPE PREDATORS v. FIND FOOD v. MOVE TO LIGHT v. MOVE AWAY FROM TOXINS v. FIND MATES v SENSORY RECEPTORS v HOMEOSTASIS
5. Inheritance of Biological Information: Reproduction v. To maintain order instructions are required, biological instructions are passed on using DNA
Inheritance of Biological Information: Reproduction v. To maintain order instructions are required, biological instructions are passed on using DNA v. All forms of life employ the same genetic code (DNA)
6. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION v"FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION" v. HOW ITS BUILT IS RELATED TO HOW IT WORKS
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION v"FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION" STRUCTURE IS RELATED TO HOW IT WORKS v. MORPHOLOGY = THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL APPEARANCE OF AN ORGANISM
7. Homeostasis v MOST ORGANISMS MAINTAIN THEIR INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT DESPITE CHANGES IN THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
Homeostasis v MOST ORGANISMS MAINTAIN THEIR INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT DESPITE CHANGES IN THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT – EXAMPLE: BODY TEMPERATURE REGULATION IN HUMANS • TOO HOT --- SWEATING • TOO COLD --- SHIVERING
Homeostasis – EXAMPLE: MAINTAINING BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS • CONTROLLED BY 2 HORMONES SECRETED BY PANCREAS • TOO HIGH (EATING) ---- INSULIN RELEASED • TOO LOW (NOT EATING) ----GLUCAGON RELEASED
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY v. IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE BY APPLYING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
SCIENCE AND SOCIETY v. IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE BY APPLYING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE v. BIOETHICS = WHAT SOCIETY DETERMINES TO BE RIGHT AND WRONG AS IT RELATES TO BIOLOGY
Here are just a few areas in life science that involve ethics: Human life – abortion and euthanasia Heredity - parents and offspring Genetics - genetic engineering manipulating genes cloning stem cells Agricultural Biotechnology - improved crops and foods Human rights - for the group or the individual Animal rights - animal rights vs. human rights Drug use - unlimited implications Use of the environment - at what financial cost
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