Chapter 1 :Introduction to Biology

Learning objectives:1. Understanding the study of Biology2. Applying scientific investigation

1.1 Understanding the study of Biology

Learning Outcomes:1. State what the study of Biology is2. Explain the importance of Biology3. List the different fields of study Biology4. List the careers related to Biology

Definition of Biology

• Comes from the Greek Words

BIOLOGY

BIOS=LIFE

LOGOS=STUDY

What is Biology?

• The study of life and living things, their environment and interactions between organisms and with the environment.

Importance of Biology

1. Enables us to have better understanding about life on Earth

2. To study how our bodies work and other organisms function.

3. to make new discoveries about organisms

• Scientists' best guess is that all species discovered since 1758 represent less than 20 percent of the plants and animals living on Earth, said Quentin Wheeler, an entomologist who directs the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University.

New species in 2011!

Darwin's Bark SpiderThe bark spider spins the largest webs in the world

• Mycena luxaeternaOne of only 71 known species of bioluminescent fungi,

Glomeremus orchidophilusFound on Southwestern Indian Ocean, this cricket is the only pollinator of a rare orchid also found on the island.

Psathyrella aquaticathese fungi are the only known species of mushrooms that fruit underwater.

4. To identify and control diseases by discovering new medicine and treatment

Ex: Polio, H1N1

5 to improve agricultural method by combining technology and biology

Ex: GMF( Genetically modified food

6. better management of problems related to the environment

Ex: how to deal with global warming, or oil spillage

Soy beans been genetically modified to become natural insecticides

bioluminescent jellyfish DNA added to its DNA

Different fields of study and careers related Biology

1. Cytology- study of structure and function of cell

2. Anatomy- study of internal structure of living cells

3. Ecology- study of ecosystem4. Zoology- study of animals5. Biochemistry- study of chemical composition

in organisms6. Botany- study of plants

7. Genetics- study of genes and inheritance8. Veterinary- study of maintenance of health in

animals9.Medicine-study of maintenance of health in

humans10.Microbiology- study in microorganisms11.Bioinformatics- applies computer technology

to the management of biological information12.Taxonomy- study of the classification of plants

and animals

13. Embryology- study of embryonic development

14. mycology- study of fungi15. Entomology- study of insects16. Virology – study of viruses

What is the scientific investigations??

• When scientist carry out their work, they begin by observing natural phenomena , a process or an event around them.

• Then, they follow a series of step called scientific methods/ scientific investigation

• In order to find possible answer

1.2 Applying scientific investigation

Scientific skills:• Consists of 1.science process skills 2. manipulative skills

Science process skills Manipulative skills

Involves Critical, analytical and creative thinking skills

Involves Psychomotor skills to carry out successful scientific investigations

Which enable a scientists to find out an explanation systematically

•Able to use and handle apparatus correctly•Handle specimens correctly and carefully•Draw specimens, apparatus accurately and etc

Ex: observing, classifying, predicting, communicatiing, hypothesising , experimenting

Steps of scientific method1. Identifying a problem An observation of a specific

phenomenon by using the five senses

2. Forming a hypothesis A general statement about an observed event. not valid yet, if valid will become theory

3.Planning the experiment Determine apparatus and materials neededPlanning procedures of the experiment

4. Identifying and controlling variables

Determine: manipulated variables, responding variables and constant variables

2. Identifying and controlling variables

-consist of manipulated variable/independent variable( what experimenter change during exp)

-responding variable/dependent variable(what experimenter measures )

-fix variable/standard variable (things that are kept constant)

-control group(when independent variable eliminated)

Ex-You water 3 sunflower with salt water. Each plant receives a different concentration of salt solutions. A fourth plants receives pure water. After a two week periods, the height is measured.

Can you give me….

Manipulated variable(MV)=Responsive Variable(RV)=Fix Variable(FV)=Control Group(CG)=

5.Conducting the experiment Handle science apparatus in lab

6. Collecting data Data obtained by means of observation and measurementPresented in the form of graph, table or diagrams

7. Analysing and interpreting data

Relationship between manipulated and responding variable is determined

8. Drawing conclusions9. Write a report

Title: Effect of the load of school bag on the rate of heartbeat of studentsObjective: To study the effect of the load of school bags on the rate of

heartbeat of students

Problem Statement:

What is the effect of the load of school bags on the rate of heartbeat of students?

Hypothesis: The heavier the load of school bags, the faster the rate of heartbeat of students

Variables MV: Load of school bagsRV: rate of heartbeatFV: distance of movement

Materials and apparatus:

Material: Books, School bagsApparatus: Weighing scale and stopwatch

Technique: Calculating the rate of heartbeat

Procedure: The students are divided into 4 groups etcGroup 1: -control= (no books in the bag)Group 2: carried 2 kg of books in the bagGroup 3: carried 4 kg of books in the bagGroup 4: carried 6 kg of books in the bag

Result :

Bar graph will be coded

Discussion The heavier the school bag , the faster the heartbeat

Conclusion When the load of the school bag increases, the rate of heartbeat also increases, Hypothesis accepted

group Rate of heartbeat/ minute before carrying the books

Rate of heartbeat/ minute aftercarrying the books

Group 1

Lets do simple experiment!

Thumb wrestling

Question: Which trait is best to help someone win a thumb war tournament?

Hypothesis: …………………………………...…………………………………..

Materials:………………………………….

Procedure: 1. To play the game, a player hooks the four finger of the

other player right hand and clasps firmly.2. To start the game both student say “ one, two, three

four, I declare a thumb war.”3. Both students try to trap or capture the opponent’s

thumb for 3 seconds to win.4. Females play females. Males play males.5.Students can conduct only one thumb war per round.

No cheating!!6. Twisting the opponent’s arm, use the opposite hand or

use another finger is not allowed7. Students should not hurt the other student.

Experiment data:Your measurement:

Your measurement Thumb length:

Male winner Thumb length:

Female winner Thumb length:

Analysis: create a bar graph with thumb length and of male winner, female winner.

Conclusion: What trait was the most important for winning?.....................................................

What were the experimental errors in this experiment?…………………………………………………

• Pass up your assignments on next week at the same period we were doing the experiment.

End of the chapter 1!!