WHAT IS BIOLOGY?Lab Safety

What is biology?

Biology Methods

Nature of Biology

LAB SAFETYSafety:

What is safety?Why is safety important?Is it only in science classrooms that we have to be safe?

There will be a safety quiz. You need to know these safety rules

and symbols.

SAFETY RULESDress Code

Always wear safety goggles when performing or observing experiments.

Wear a lab apron when working with substances that could stain or burn clothing

Tie back long hair & secure long or dangling jewelry

Closed–toe shoes must be worn in lab. NO flip-flops or sandals are allowed.

SAFETY RULESGeneral Rules:

Read all directions for an experiment. Follow all directions exactly as they are written. If you have questions, ask your teacher for assistance.

Follow all VERBAL directions by teacher

NO FOOD OR DRINKS (unless authorized by the teacher).

Horseplay, practical jokes, and pranks are not allowed

SAFETY RULESGeneral Rules:

If an accident, spill, or injury occurs, inform the teacher immediately.

Do not perform any experiments or handle any equipment unless instructed so by the teacher.

Always clean up your lab area, turn off and put away all equipment in its proper place at the end of a lab. Wash your hands as well.

SAFETY RULESHeating and Fire Safety:

Objects can burn skin. Use tongs or clamps when handling hot containers or equipment.

Open flame may ignite flammable chemicals, loose clothing or hair. Never reach across an open flame.

SAFETY RULESChemical Safety:

Chemicals can react with and destroy tissue and other materials. Never mix chemicals unless instructed so by the teacher.

Substance may be poisonous if touched, inhaled, or swallowed. NEVER touch, taste, or smell a chemical. If you are instructed to smell it, gently waft or wave the fumes toward your nose.

Possible danger to respiratory tract from fumes. Do not inhale fumes and use under a vent hood.

SAFETY RULESChemical:

Substances that can irritate the skin or mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Immediately rinse with water any chemical that gets on your skin. Notify the teacher if this should happen.

Special disposal procedures need to be followed. Dispose of chemicals as instructed by the teacher. DO NOT pour in the sink unless instructed to do so.

SAFETY RULESGlassware Safety:

Use of tools or glassware that can easily puncture or slice skin. Scalpels, razor blades, and other sharp objects should be handled with care.

Never use broken or chipped glassware. Notify the teacher if it’s broken.

SAFETY RULESAnimal Safety:

The safety of animals and students must be ensured. Always wash your hands after handling animals.

Other symbols you need to know: Organisms or other biological materials that might be harmful to humans.

Possible danger from electrical shock or burn.

Radioactive materials are being used.

WHAT IS BIOLOGY? Bio = logy =

Biology = study of life Biologists study:

Interactions of the environment Problems and propose solutions

life study of

WHAT IS LIFE? How do you determine if

something is living?

7 Characteristics of Living Things Organization Reproduction Growth and Development Responsiveness Homeostasis Undergo metabolism Adaptation

Organism: anything that possesses all the characteristics of life

ORGANIZATION Composed of one or more

cells

cells>tissues>organs>organ systems>organism

Cells contain DNA

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Increase in size over time;

cells enlarge and divide Go through stages from

juvenile to adulthood

REPRODUCTION The production of offspring

Essential for continuation of species

HOMEOSTASIS maintaining stable internal

conditions Ex. Body temperature, pH, etc.

RESPONSIVENESS Ability to adjust to

environment Stimulus: anything that

causes the organism to react Response: reaction to a

stimulus Detect and respond to changes

in light, heat, touch, chemical, etc.

ADAPTATION favorable characteristic that is

selected for and passed on to offspring

Ex. Camouflage

Leads to evolution: the gradual change of a species over time

sum of all chemical reactions

Uses energy

Have to have energy to grow, reproduce, respond, etc.

FOOD

METHODS OF BIOLOGY

Biologists study problems and propose solutions using

steps and processes used to gather information and answer questions

No fixed steps, but generally involve the following:

scientificmethods

OBSERVE Using your five senses to

perceive objects or events

Based on observations, one or more questions are generated

Ex. Sunflowers in the shade are dying.

Does the amount of sunlight affect plant growth?

MAKE A HYPOTHESIS explanation for a question or

problem that can be formally tested

Usually written in if…then statement

If the plant receives more sunlight, then it will grow taller.

EXPERIMENT procedure that tests a

hypothesis by collecting information under controlled conditions

Controlled experiment Control group: standard against

which results are compared Experimental group: receives

experimental treatment

#1Control Group

#2Experimental

Group

#3 Experimental

Group

Flower Type Sunflower Sunflower Sunflower

Soil Type Same Same Same

Water(mL/day)

25 mL 25 mL 25 mL

Sun Exposure(hours/day)

No Exposure 6 hours 12 hours

•All groups identical except for one factor•Independent variable: condition in an experiment that is tested

•Observations and measurements taken for a particular factor in all groups•Dependent variable: condition that results from change in independent variable

(ex. sun exposure)

(ex. plant height)

RECORD DATA information obtained from

investigations 2 categories

Quantitative data: numerical; obtained by counting or measuring

Qualitative data: observational; using words to describe observations

Data should be collected in form of data table or sketch

Sun Exposure (hours/day)

No Exposure 6 hours 12 hours

Trial 1 0 cm 25 cm 63 cm

Trial 2 0 cm 30 cm 74 cm

Trial 3 0 cm 28 cm 69 cm

Total 0 cm 83 cm 206

Average 0 cm 27.7 cm 68.7 cm

•Results should then be organized into graphs, charts, tables, or maps

•Data should be analyzed and conclusions drawn

PUBLISH RESULTS In scientific journals Allows other scientists to try to

verify the results May lead to a theory

an explanation supported by enough scientific evidence to be considered true; different from scientific law

Law statement of fact that is accepted

as true; ex. Law of Gravity

NATURE OF BIOLOGY Scientific Information

Quantitative Qualitative

International System of Measurement (SI)

always used when reporting quantitative data

only a few basic units based on the number 10 easily convert by moving decimals

numerical

observational

Main Units of MeasurementLength Volume Mass Time Temperatur

e

Meter ------------

m

Liter------------

l

Gram------------

g

Second-------------

s

Celsius----------------

°C

Using the above values as the base, their value can be increased or decreased by moving the decimal point to the left (lowers the value) or to the right (raises the value).Metric Conversion Table

Kilo------------

k

Hecto------------

h

Deka------------

da

Base Unit

-----------m, l, g, s

Deci------------

d

Centi------------

c

Milli------------

m

1000 100 10 1 .1 .01 .001

King Hector Died Monday Drinking Chocolate Milk

Metric Conversion Table

Kilo------------

k

Hecto------------

h

Deka------------

da

Base Unit

-----------m, l, g, s

Deci------------

d

Centi------------

c

Milli------------

m

x 1000 x 100 x 10 1 ÷ 10 ÷ 100 ÷ 1000

1000 100 10 1 .1 .01 .001

69.8 centimeters (cm) = ____________ meters(m)Move decimal 2

places to left 69.8 .698

.698

42.67 kilograms (kg) = ___________ grams (g)Move decimal 3

places to right 42.67 42,670

42,670

0