AP BiologyAP Biology
What is Biology?
How do we study it? What is Biology?
How do we study it?
Biology- the Science of Life
Name some ways that Biology is relevant to
society today.
What is living and what is not?
•Organisms are composed of cells
•Organisms grow and develop
What is living and what is not?
•Organisms regulate their metabolic processes
•Movement is a basic property of cells
What is living and what is not?
•Organisms respond to stimuli
•Organisms reproduce
•Populations evolve and become adapted to the environment
Genes
Proteins
Hormones
Neurotransmitters
Hierarchical
Reductionism
Levels of Organization
Chemical level- atoms and molecules
Cellular level- prokaryotic and eukaryotic
Levels of Organization
Tissues- organization of cells
Organs- organization of tissues
Levels of Organization
Organ Systems- organization of organs
Organism- organization of organ systems
Populations Biosphere
Community Ecology
Ecosystem
Systematics- studies the diversity of organisms and their evolutionary relationships
Taxonomy- the science of naming and classifying organisms
Taxonomy is hierarchical
Kingdoms are broken down into phyla, class, orders, families, genera, and species
Archaea
Eubacteria
Eukarya
Two domains are dedicated to prokaryotes (organisms whose cells lack nuclei and other membrane-bound organelles)
Archaea
Eubacteria
One domain is dedicated to eukaryotes (organisms whose cells have nuclei and other membrane-bound organelles)
Eukarya
Eubacteria Fungi
Archaea Plantae
Protista Animalia
Eubacteria consists of bacteria
Archaea- unique group of prokaryotic organisms that have been split off from the bacterial kingdom
Protista- protozoans and algae
Developed the binomial nomenclature used today to classify organisms
Fungi- mushrooms, molds, and yeasts
Plantae- plants (duh!)
Animalia- animals, of course!
For many, evolution is the primary unifying concept in the study of biology.
Species adapt in response to changes in the environment.
Natural selection is an important mechanism by which evolution proceeds
DarwinWallace
Populations can also evolve as a result of selective pressures from changes in the environment.
Biology is Studied Using the Scientific
Method
Science is based on systematic thought processes
Science includes both deductive and inductive reasoning
Experimental and control group
Ideally differs by only one variable- the variable being studied
Used in medical studies. Neither the patient nor the physician know who is getting the experimental treatment– use to prevent bias.
Scientists draw conclusions from the results of experiments.
Sampling error may lead to inaccuracy.
Hypothesis
Theory
A well-supported hypothesis may lead to a theory
A theory that is nearly universally
accepted
A statement about a relationship that never changes/varies
(ex. the law of gravity)
Energy flows through individual cells and organisms
Cellular respiration produces energy for most cells
Energy flows through ecosystems
Energy flows from producers to consumers and decomposers
Producers manufacture their own food
Producers (autotrophs) are typically photosynthetic
Consumers obtain energy by eating producers
Consumers (heterotrophs) depend on the producers
Decomposers obtain energy from wastes and dead organisms
Important decomposers include bacteria and fungi