Biology: It Grows on You

What is Biology?

• Definition: Study of Life

Branches of Biology

• Ecology- Interactions between living organisms

• Genetics- Inheritance of traits• Biochemistry- the study of the chemical

reactions required for life• Botany- Study of Plants• Zoology- Study of Animals

What makes something living?7 characteristics of life?

?•Abiotic- Non Living things•Biotic- Of living things

Cells

• Living organisms are organized/comprised of cells– Unicellular-one cell– Multicellular- multiple cells

DNA

• Genetic material that can be passed on to offspring

Energy

• Require energy to survive.

Reproduction

• All living organisms reproduce– Asexual- one

individual from a species

– Sexual- two individuals from the SAME species

Growth and Development

• All living organisms grow and develop

Evolution and Adaptation

• Adaptation-Change to an organism to better fit their environment

• Homeostasis-Maintaining stable internal conditions- Balance

Stimulus and Response

• Stimulus- An action• Response- Result from a

stimulus

Are viruses living?

?

How we classify living things

• Aristotle- Descriptions– Not very clear, names became

too long• Carolus Linnaeus-

Relationships– Binomial Nomenclature- 2 part

naming system• Homo sapien• Genus species

Levels of classification

• Domain• Kingdom• Phylum• Class• Order• Family• Genus• Species

Come up with your own mnemonic!

• Dumb• Kids• Play• Chess• On• Fat• Guys• Stomachs

Bacteria- Not Viruses!• 2 Kingdoms:

Archaebacteria(old, near deep sea vents) and Eubacteria(common in the world)

• Primitive prokaryotic cells• Single Cellular• Heterotrophic- rely on

others for energy• Asexual reproduction• Streptacoccus

Protist• Kingdom Protista• Unicellular or Multicellular• Eukaryotic cells• Autotrophic(make their

own energy) or Heterotrophic

• Asexual or sexual reproduction

• Commonly cause disease• Algae, Dinoflagellates,

zooplankton

Fungi• Kingdom Fungi• Unicellular or Multicellular• Prokaryotic• Heterotrophic• Decomposer- breaks down

other organisms• Sexual or Asexual

reproduction• Athletes foot, molds,

mushrooms

Plants• Kingdom Plantae• Multicellular• Autotrophic- Have

chloroplasts• Sexual or Asexual

Reproduction• Moss, ferns, trees, flowers

Animals• Kingdom Animalia• Multicellular• Heterotrophic• Sexual Reproduction• Coral, birds, star fish,

etc.

Dichotomous Key• A tool used to Identify organisms in the field

Step 1If fish shape is long and skinny then go to step 2 If fish shape is not long and skinny, then go to step 3

Step 5If fish has spots, then go to step 6If fish does not have spots, then go to step 7

Step 2If fish has pointed fins, it is a trumpet fishIf fish has smooth fins, it is a spotted moray eel

Step 6If fish has chin "whiskers," it is a spotted goat fishIf fish does not have chin "whiskers," it is a band-tail puffer

Step 3If fish has both eyes on top of the head, then go to step 4If fish has one eye on each side of the head, then go to step 5

Step 7If fish has stripes, then go to step 8If fish does not have stripes, it is a glassy sweeper

Step 4If fish has long whip-like tail, it is a spotted eagle rayIf fish has short, blunt tail, it is a peacock flounder

Step 8If fish has a v-shaped tail, it is a squirrel fishIf fish has a blunt tail, it is a glass-eye snapper