Biology the study of life

EEES 2150- Biodiversity Biology: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology Biology: The study of life Some Properties of Life • • • • • • • Order Reproduction of Own Kind Growth and Development (Differentiation) Utilization of Energy Response to Environmental Stimuli Homeostasis (Internal Environment) Evolutionary Adaptation Some Properties of life: Order Reproduction Growth and Development Energy Utilization Ten Underlying Biological Themes Biological organization and its structural hierarchy: Atoms ↓ Molecules ↓ Organelles ↓ Cells (Single and as subunits) ↓ Multi-cellular Organisms (Specialization into tissues, organs, organ systems) ↓ Beyond Individual Cells (Groups of organisms in same species = population; of different species = communities; and when one adds the non-living, environmental components = ecosystem) ***Each level in the biological hierarchy has its own novel properties; these are called emergent properties Evolution is the core theme of biology Evolution with a universal genetic code provides link between unity and diversity Darwin (1859), Origin of Species Species arose from common ancestors = evolution Evolution is driven (mostly) by natural selection a Members of a population vary Variation is heritable b Struggle for existence due to a limitation in natural resources c Population members that succeed pass on their traits to offspring and change the make-up of the succeeding population Over time, these changes can lead to the creation of new species Evolutionary adaptation is a product of natural selection Seahorse Poorwill Galapagos Islands South America How to classify all this diversity? Science: a process of inquiry based on repeatable observation and testable hypotheses - Defined generally as an inquiry into life - With either of two methods: Discovery Hypothesis/Deductive experimentation a Discovery a Observation of natural processes b Identification of new species c Discovery of antibiotics - Discovered data can be used to make inductive conclusions (For example: all organisms are made of cells, all trees photosynthesize and are made of cells, thus all organisms photosynthesize.) that aren’t always correct b Hypothetico/Deductive a Scientific method: ask questions; form an answer (hypothesis); predict; experiment; review hypothesis and determine if the data support the hypothesis or if it is in need of revision CASE STUDY (p 18) - Hypothesis: Feeding preferences by two different predators cause life histories of guppy populations to change in contrasting ways - Can be generalized with enough observations to form a theory - Theory: Populations evolve by natural selection because of feeding preferences of predators 10 Science, Technology, Society Science and technology (often “applied” goal-oriented science) are products of society Science forms basis for new technologies to be developed These affect society positively and negatively New technologies often drive new science Examples? [...]... = all other forms of life 3 Continuity of life based on a heritable universal genetic code in the form of DNA - DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) molecule contains instructions for producing new organisms - Each DNA molecule consists of two long chains in a double helix Chains consist of four molecules called nucleotides: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine - Replication (exact) of DNA allows for life s.. .The hierarchy of biological organization Terrestrial Biomes Marine Biomes Climograph 2 .The cell is the basic unit of life (Robert Hooke, 1665, first described cells; Antoine von Leeuwenhoek studied pond water, etc.) In 1839, it was proposed that all life was composed of single cells Two main types of cells – all contain DNA (molecule that makes up chromosomes, which contain the genes that... mistakes are the driving force for evolution (mutations) - All the nucleotides are organized into genes -All genes together = genome 4 Structure and function are correlated If you know one, you can intuit the other For example, a bird’s bones are mostly hollow… Form fits function 5 Organisms interact with the environment They take in energy and resources from the environment, and often convert these to... Origin of Species 1 Species arose from common ancestors = evolution 2 Evolution is driven (mostly) by natural selection a Members of a population vary Variation is heritable b Struggle for existence due to a limitation in natural resources c Population members that succeed pass on their traits to offspring and change the make-up of the succeeding population Over time, these changes can lead to the creation... living organisms  the current classification system: Presently, there are 3 groups to which all organisms belong  domains: 1 Bacteria 2 Archae 3 Eukarya And 5 Kingdoms: 1 Monera (prokaryotes) 2 Protista (unicellular) 3 Plantae (multicellular, photosynthetic) 4 Fungi (multicellular, saprophytes) 5 Animalia (multicellular, ingest other organisms) 8 Evolution is the core theme of biology Evolution with... enhances the rate of an enzyme in the reaction sequence 7 Unity & Diversity are “hallmarks” and are linked Earth has approximately 1.5 million identified species with estimates of 5-10 million once all are known Two questions emerge: - How did we get all this diversity? - Is there an underlying unity to life? To answer these questions, organisms have been placed into groups that form a framework to study. .. these to different more-useful formats They exchange energy and materials with the environment These interactions mean organisms are open systems 6 Living Organisms Have Regulatory Systems E.g., If we take in food, its energy is given off via controlled (regulated) chemical reactions to produce life functions and some heat If we burn the food, energy is given off only as heat (unregulated chemical... resources c Population members that succeed pass on their traits to offspring and change the make-up of the succeeding population Over time, these changes can lead to the creation of new species Evolutionary adaptation is a product of natural selection Seahorse Poorwill Galapagos Islands South America How to classify all this diversity? .. .Biology: The study of life Some Properties of Life • • • • • • • Order Reproduction of Own Kind Growth and Development (Differentiation) Utilization of Energy Response to... pass on their traits to offspring and change the make-up of the succeeding population Over time, these changes can lead to the creation of new species Evolutionary adaptation is a product of natural... hypothesis and determine if the data support the hypothesis or if it is in need of revision CASE STUDY (p 18) - Hypothesis: Feeding preferences by two different predators cause life histories of