Introduction to Biology

What is Biology?

The study of living things and their interactions with each other and

their environment.

“Stand By Me”

Biology doesn’t stand alone

GeologyAstronomy

Chemistry

PhysicsMeteorology

Main Topics of Study

EcologyBiochemistryCellsDNAGeneticsEvolutionDiversity of LifeHuman Systems

How does Biology affect you? How the human

body works

Humans and the environment

Medical Science

Several themes run through the topics of Biology

Energy the ability to do work and carry out life processes

Organization

Cellsmake

Tissues

Organs make Organisms

make

Systems and Interactions

Systems interact to perform complex

functions

Homeostasis

Maintain a consistent

internal environment

Evolution

Change in a species over time

Unity within Diversity

A variety of organisms live

together to form a stable environment

Characteristics of Living Things

All living things have 7 traits in

common

Made up of Cells

Unicellular or multicellular

Need EnergyFor cellular respiration

(eat) or photosynthesis (make own energy from the

sun)

Homeostasis

Maintain their internal

environment

Adapt and Respond

Adapt – population changes to fit the environment

Respond – organism reacts to what’s currently happening in the environment

Grow and DevelopGrow – get

bigger (baby to adult)

Develop – mature/become more complex (zygote to baby)

ReproduceSexually Asexually

Have DNA or RNA

Universal genetic code