Introduction to SBI4U

Units of StudyHierarchy of OrganizationProperties of Living Organisms

Biochemistry Metabolic Processes Molecular Genetics Homeostasis Population Dynamics

Major subtopics: Cell biology Macromolecules Enzymes Membrane biology

Major subtopics: Thermodynamics Cellular respiration Photosynthesis

Major subtopics: DNA replication Transcription Translation Biotechnology

Major subtopics: Endocrine system Excretory system Nervous system

Major subtopics: Interaction Population Energy transfer

Biological organization is built on 12 levels Each level builds on the one below it

Activity: Brainstorm in your group the 12 levels of biological organization

Hint: one of the levels is the cell

Ecosystem

Community

Population

Organism

Organ system

Organ

Tissue

Cell

Organelle

Molecule

Atom

Subatomic

Atom

Subatomic

Molecule

Organelle

Cell

Tissue

Organ

Organ system

Organism

Ecosystem

Community

Population

Ecosystem

Community

Population

Organism

Organ system

Organ

Tissue

Cell

Organelle

Molecule

Atom

Subatomic

Population Dynamics

Biochemistry,

Molecular Genetics

Endocrine, Nervous,

Excretory Systems

Incre

asin

g C

om

ple

xity

Metabolic Processes

Growth & Development Metabolism Reproduction Homeostasis Response to Environment Evolutionary Adaptation Order

DNA direct the pattern of growth and development

Organisms take in energy and transform it to do work

Organisms reproduce their own kind Life comes from life

Ability to maintain an organism’s internal environment even though the external environment may fluctuate

An individual’s ability to change as a response to environmental stimuli

This differs from evolution in which a species changes over a long period of time

Life evolves as a result of the interaction between organisms and their environment

Consequence of evolution is adaptation of the organism to their environment

All other characteristics of life emerge from an organism’s highly ordered structure