Lecture 1Introduction to Biology

The Diversity of Life

Biology is the study of living things

Living things can be divided into six kingdoms

Archaea Bacteria Protista

Fungi Plantae Animalia

What is Life?

Biology is the study of life - but what does it mean to be alive? Ludwig von Bertalanffy – life is a system where the whole is greater than the

sum of the parts

Living organisms and many non-living things share three properties1. Complexity2. Movement3. Response to stimulation

Properties of Life

All living organisms share five basic properties1. Cellular Organization

All living organisms are composed of at least one cell

2. Metabolism All living organisms use energy

3. Homeostasis All living organisms maintain stable internal conditions

4. Growth and reproduction All living organisms grow and reproduce

5. Heredity All living organisms possess a genetic system that is based on DNA

(Deoxyribonucleic acid)

The Organization of Life

Living organisms function and interact with each other at many levels

These levels are organized in a hierarchy of increasing complexity:1. Cellular Level2. Organismal Level3. Population Level

1.

2. 3.

Life is an Emergent Property

Each higher level of organization contains novel properties not present at the simpler level of organization Birth rate & death rate – populations NOT individuals Evolution – populations evolve biologically NOT individuals

These properties are termed emergent properties They are a consequence of the structural organization that is the hallmark of

life They characterize many aspects of the living world

Five Themes That Unify Biology1. Evolution

The gene frequencies change in a species over time Causes include:

Genetic drift Natural & artificial selection Founder effects

2. The Flow of Energy All living organisms require energy The sun is the source of energy for most ecosystems Plants capture energy via photosynthesis

They then act as an energy source for other organisms

3. Interaction Interaction between organisms is critical for evolution

Social behavior occurs when organisms of the same species live in direct contact Community dynamics occur when organisms of different species live in direct contact

(Competition, Predation, Symbiosis)

4. Structure Determines Function Biological structures are well suited to their function

This is true at every level of organization

5. Homeostasis All living organisms act to maintain a relatively stable internal environment Maintaining homeostasis requires energy and a lot of signaling back-and-forth between

cells

How We Learn & Think

Our brains consist of billions of interconnected neurons

Our senses stimulate specific neuron pathways Pathway residual sensitivity

Short term memory Pathway physical changes

Long term memory Caused by:

repeated stimulation intense emotion

Sensory input & memory storage share the same circuits This causes associations

How We Know Things

Our brains are great at two things Recognizing patterns Filling in sensory gaps (story telling)

Both of these can get us into trouble Pattern Matching

Recognizing patterns that are not real Not recognizing patterns that are real

Story Telling Not checking to see that our stories are true 80% of personal disagreements between people begin as wrong

stories each has told himself about the other’s motivations

Science: Testing Our Patterns & Stories

The Classic Scientific Method Observation Hypothesis Test Analysis (observation) Modify hypothesis if necessary

The Null-Hypothesis No hypothesis is valid if it cannot be tested No test is valid if its results cannot disprove the hypothesis The null-hypothesis is the formal statement of the hypothesis not

being true and the test results that will support the null-hypothesis

Minimizing Results Based on Chance Control groups: checking to make sure the same results would not

occur without the test intervention Statistical analysis: checking to see if the same result could be

caused by chance (e.g. how likely is it to get 4 heads in a row when flipping coins randomly versus always starting with the coin on tails?)

How Scientists Think

Inductive Reasoning Recognizing patterns Is used by scientists to develop

hypotheses about how the world works

Deductive Reasoning Telling stories based on patterns Uses accepted general principles

as a “guide” to explain specific observations

Inference vs. Observation

An observation is limited to a description of actions or events without interpretation

An inference is a conclusion we draw based on what we observe

Inference or observation? Example 1 (The cat is happy) Example 2 (The cat is chewing on the plant leaves) Example 3 (The cat is sleeping) Example 4 (The cat is a female)

Theory and Certainty in Science

A theory is a set of hypotheses that have been tested many times and not rejected

It indicates a high degree of certainty

However, there is no absolute truth in science Everything is open to more testing and reinterpretation Acceptance of a theory is always provisional

Note: To the general public, the word theory is often used to mean what a

scientist would call a hypothesis, a lack of knowledge or a guess

To scientists, a theory represents that of which they are most certain, explanations supported by a wealth of evidence and experimental data

The Limitations of Science

Science is limited to organisms and processes that can be observed and measured Many spiritual and religious explanations are beyond the scope of science Most religious explanations do not allow formation of a realistic null

hypothesis However, the physiological and evolutionary basis of spiritual and religious

experience is a current hot research topic in both neurophysiology & evolutionary biology

There are also practical limits Science can provide options and understanding Science cannot be relied upon to solve all problems For example, what constitutes “acceptable risk” cannot be answered by

science!

Four Theories Unify Biology & This Class

1. The Gene Theory The information that determines what an organism is like is encoded in its genes Genes are located along DNA molecules The entire set of DNA instructions that specifies a cell is termed its genome

2. The Cell Theory All living organisms are composed of cells Cells are the basic units of life All cells come from other cells

3. The Theory of Heredity Genes represent traits of an organism and are inherited as discrete units Chromosomal theory of inheritance: Genes are physically located on chromosomes

4. The Theory of Evolution All living organisms are related to one another in a common tree of life Diversity of the living world is the result of natural selection

The Brain & Study Implications

3 hours of study at one time is not effective for long term memory formation

Studying the same thing 20 minutes, 3 times a day for three days is more effective for long term memory formation

Using your brain to rephrase or rework the material is more effective for long term memory formation than repetitive reading or listening