Introductory Biology
Welcome to Introductory Biology
Bio 160 1024.4
Lecture: M,W,F Room104 (2-3)
Lab: T – Th Room 306 (2-4)
Anna Davis, Ph.D., RYT
What is Biology? bios = life (Greek)
What fundamental characteristics are used to
distinguish whether something is living or
non-living?
ology = branch of science, knowledge
Unifying themes
1.
Levels of organization are used to understand biology
a. Structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological organization
b. At each level, new properties emerge
2.
Cells are the basic building blocks of all organisms
3.
The continuity of life is based on the transfer of heritable information in the form of
DNA from one generation to the next
4.
Living organisms are different (diverse) and similar (unity)
5.
Evolution accounts for the diversity and unity of life
6.
Organisms are interdependent with their environments exchanging matter and
energy
Levels of Organization
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organism
Organ System
Organ
Tissue
Cell
Molecule
Atom
Levels of Organization: Novel properties emerge at each level
Ecosystem: all the living and non-living components of particular area. living organisms: people, trees, moss, fish, grass, bacteria, fungus, etc.
non-living: soil, sunlight, wind, rain, water, etc.
Community: all the living components of a particular area; all the different species
Population: interacting group of individuals of the same species
Organism: an individual living thing
Organ Systems: group of organs that function together to perform a vital bodily function
Organ: a structure consisting of several tissues adapted as a group to perform a specific function
Tissue: a cooperative unit of many similar cells that perform a specific function (within a multicellular organism)
Cell: the fundamental structural unit of Life; a basic unit of living matter separated from its environment by a plasma membrane
Molecule: two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
Atom: the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element
The biosphere
Cells
10 µm
Organs and
organ systems
Cell
Ecosystems
Organelles
Communities
1 µm
Atoms
Tissues
50 µm
Molecules
Populations
Organisms
Levels of Organization: Structure and function are correlated
Novel properties emerge at each level of organization: Cells
Cells are the building blocks of life:
There are two types of cells
Membrane
DNA
(no nucleus)
Membrane
Cytoplasm
Cytoplasm
Organelles
Nucleus (contains DNA)
1 µm
8
The continuity of life is based on the transfer of DNA from one generation to the next
DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid.
Sperm cell
Nuclei
containing
DNA
Egg cell
Fertilized egg
with DNA from
both parents
Embryo’s cells with
copies of inherited DNA
Living organisms are different (diverse) and similar (unity)
Images not to scale
SIMILAR
Species:
EX: Homo sapiens
DIVERSE
•
Approximately 1.8 million species have been identified and
thousands more are identified each year
•
The total number of species that actually exist on earth range
are likely to be much larger (10 - 100 million)
•
Scientists organize the diversity of life into 3 large groups
based on similarities and differences, These groups are
called DOMAINS
1.
2.
3.
Bacteria
Archaea
Eukarya
1. Planta
2. Fungi
3. Animalia
Living organisms are different (diverse) and similar (unity)
SIMILAR
• The instructions used to build and maintain
life are contained in DNA. These instructions
are similar in all living organisms.
Examples:
Cilia of
windpipe
cells
Cilia of
Paramecium
• Unity is evident in many features of cell
structure (anatomy) and function (physiology)
References
• http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/education/ed
ucation.shtml
• http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/resources/sequenced_genome
s/genome_guide_p1.shtml
• http://www.sciencemag.org/content/291/5507/1219.full
• http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/history_26
Cross section of a cilium, as viewed
with an electron microscope
Scientific Method
1. Observe some aspect of nature
2. Frame a question about your
observation
3. Propose a hypothesis (a testable
explanation of the observation)
4. Make a prediction – a statement
based on a hypothesis, about
some condition that should exist if
the hypothesis is not wrong
5. Test the accuracy of the prediction
by experiments or gathering
information (tests may be
performed on a model)
6. Assess the results of the tests
(data) to see if they support or
disprove the hypothesis
7. Conclusions: Report all steps of
your work and conclusions to the
scientific community
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution accounts for the diversity and unity of life
Species show evidence of “descent with modification” from common ancestors.
Observations:
1.
Individuals in a population have traits that vary, some traits are advantageous
2.
Many of these traits are heritable (passed from parents to offspring in DNA)
3.
More offspring are produced than survive because resources are limited
4.
Competition for limited resources is inevitable
5.
Species generally suit their environment (are well adapted)
Darwin inferred that:
–
Individuals that are best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce
–
Over time, more individuals in a population will have the advantageous traits
In other words, the natural environment “selects” for beneficial traits.
Natural selection is the mechanism behind “descent with modification”. Natural selection
does not create variation but screens for variations.
Watch video: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/evolution-action-salamanders.html
Berkely: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_02
History of Life
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/evo_13
Geologic time: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/search/lessonsummary.php?audience_level%5B2%5D=68&topic_id=&keywords=&type_id=&sort_by=audience_rank&Submit=Search&thisaudience=6-8&resource_id=26
Origin of solar system
and Earth
4
1
Proterozoic
2
Archaean
3
16
Tree of Life: How are living organisms related to each other?
Organisms are interdependent with their environments (ecosystem)
Organisms are interdependent with their environments exchanging matter and energy
Energy flows through ecosystems
Nutrients cycle among organisms to sustain life.
DEFINITONS
–
–
–
–
Energy
•
The capacity to do work
•
Example: heat, light, chemical, kinetic, thermal
Nutrient
•
Substance that is necessary for survival, but that an
organism can’t make for itself
•
Example: minerals like iodine
Producers
•
Organisms that make their own food using energy and
simple raw materials from the environment
•
Example: plants
Consumers
•
Organisms that get energy and carbon by feeding on
tissues, wastes, or remains of other organisms
•
Example: animals, bacteria
Details
Instructor
Office Hours
Office Location
Phone
E-mail (preferred)
Web Sites
Lecture: MWF
Lab: T Th
Anna Davis, Ph.D., RYT
MWF 1:30-2 PM and by appointment
SAM 415
The best way to reach me is via email
[email protected]
http://www.seattlecentral.edu/faculty/adavis/
ANGEL: http://angel.seattlecentral.edu
SAM 104; 2-2:50 PM
SAM 305; 2 – 3:50 PM
Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology, 3rd or 4th editions
Starr/Evers/Starr. Used textbooks are fine too.
Please note ISBN below includes CourseMate and e-book access which is
optional.
4th edition: ISBN - 10 1133365361 ISBN-13: 9781133365365
3rd edition: ISBN-10: 0-495-95949-9, ISBN-13: 978-0-495-95949-6 © 2010
Textbook
General Course Goals
Learn Actively:
•
Ask “How do we know this?” and “Why does it matter?”
•
Think Critically and Reflect
•
Interpret, Present and Apply Your Knowledge
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
•Identify the major themes of biology and list characteristics of living things.
•Identify and distinguish the major characteristics of the domains and kingdoms of life
•Demonstrate the methodology of scientific inquiry by observation, experimentation, data collection and data interpretation in problem solving and the generation of new
knowledge.
•Recognize that science is the study of the natural (physical) world and that science is based on common laws or principles and methods.
•Describe the properties of carbon that make it the central component of organic compounds.
•Compare the functions and chemical functional groups of the major groups of organic compounds: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
•Demonstrate the special properties of water that support life.
•Explain why the cell is the basic unit of life.
•Compare and contrast properties of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
•Describe the structure and function of eukaryotic cell organelles.
•Describe the fluid mosaic model of cell membrane structure in relationship to membrane function.
•Describe how the first and second laws of thermodynamics relate to living systems.
•Explain the chemical structure of ATP and its central role in metabolism.
•Describe the relationship between enzyme properties and types and rates of chemical reactions.
•Describe the processes of photosynthesis and how it is essential to all life
•Describe aerobic cellular respiration and fermentation.
•Describe the cell cycle and the process of mitosis.
•Describe the process of meiosis.
•Relate the contributions of Mendel to inheritance and solve inheritance problems using Mendel’s principles.
•Describe the chemical and physical features of DNA and the major scientific discoveries that led to this understanding.
•Discuss the significance of chromosomes in inheritance and the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation.
•Outline the flow of genetic information in cells, from DNA to RNA to protein and how this process may be controlled.
•Explain the scientific origins of biotechnological developments and evaluate the implications of those developments.
•Summarize evidence supporting the theory of evolution.
•Explain why evolution is the central theme of all biology.
•Explain how genetic variation and selection are the basis for evolution in a given environment.
•Use various laboratory techniques and equipment to observe specimens and perform experiments.
•Develop the general skills (e.g., observation, problem solving, hypothesis generation and testing) used in science
.
Evaluations
Assessment Method
Point Value
%
Points
3 Exams
100 pts
37.5%
300
1 Cumulative Final Exam
200 pts
25%
200
4 Quizzes
30 pts
15%
120
8 - 12 Graded Homework
Assignments (e.g. study
questions, presentations,
labs, etc. details will be
provided)
10 - 30 pts
15%
120
Participation
60 pts
7.5%
60
TOTAL = 800
Test Reflections: As part of this course you will be required to submit corrected responses to any
missed exam/quiz questions and a brief reflection on why you missed the question (rubric will be
provided). These are due in writing 2 days after assessments are returned to you. You may earn
“recapture” points on the first 2 quiz reflections and for Exam 1, and 1 additional quiz. To recapture
points, you must defend your corrected test answers in-person with Dr. Davis It is highly encouraged
that you recapture points. Up to 1/3 of missed points can be recaptured.