What is BIOLOGY?

1. What is BIOLOGY? What are its branches of study?

2. Biology • It is the study of living things

3. Biology • Characteristics of Life: • Livings things: • made up of basic units called (CELLS) • a universal genetic code (DNA) • Reproduce (BIRTH) • grow and develop (MATURATION)

4. Biology • Characteristics of Life: • Livings things: • Obtain and use materials and energy (FOOD) • respond to their environment (REACT) • maintain a stable internal environment (HOMEOSTASIS) • as a group they change over time. (EVOLVE)

5. Life Characteristics cont. Basic units (CELLS) • Cells are microscopic structures that are the smallest forms of life. • Kingdoms of life that have cells are: • Animals, Plants, Bacteria, Fungi, and Protists.

6. Life Characteristics cont. • Universal genetic code- (DNA) is a macromolecule that contains information for new life. • Molecular level information found in the cell of all life forms. • Genetic Blueprint for new life

7. Life Characteristics cont. Reproduce – Give birth to new life. In order for life to continue for all species they must create new life in their own image. • Sexual and Asexual reproduction is the process by which new life forms.

8. Life Characteristics MATURATION - Grow and Develop • Living things must go through stages. • Life is a series of stages until death. • Each stage of growth leads to new developments to recreate new life. • Even death makes room for new life to inhabit the Earth.

9. Life Characteristics cont. • Get FOOD - Obtain and use materials and energy • Living things need energy to grow, mature, and reproduce new living things. • They must be able to seek and find nutrition. • They must be able to create useful energy from the foods they obtain.

10. Life Characteristics cont. REACT- Respond to their environment • They must be able to recognize and react to external stimuli. • They must be able to adapt to dangers • They must be able to recognize opportunities to obtain nutrients.

11. Life Characteristics cont. • HOMEOSTASIS- maintain a stable internal environment • They must be able to keep their inside environment the same no matter what is happening outside. • Ex. Humans sweat when it is hot to keep cool.

12. Life Characteristics cont. • EVOLVE - as a group they change over time. • Species adapt to their environment • Dangers • Predators learn to hunt • Prey learn to hide • Physical appearances of genus groups change • Climate changes • Some migrate to survive • Some hibernate • Some grow more fur

13. Biology • Branches: • Molecular Biology – study of molecules • Cellular Biology – study of cells • Botany – study of plants • Zoology – study of animals • Paleontology – study of past life forms • Ecology – study of life interacting with the environment.

14. Levels of Organization • Biosphere - contains several ecosystems • Ecosystem - all organisms in an area, including the non-living parts of their environment • Community- groups of the same species • Population - groups of the same species living together • Molecules – a pieces that form cell life.

15. Levels of Organization cont. • Organism – living thing that is composed of organs. • Groups of cells – Groups of cells that work together • Cells – most basic life form; some species exist only at this level