CHAPTER 1 NOTESCHAPTER 1 NOTES

““BIOLOGY AND YOU”BIOLOGY AND YOU”

I. Biology – I. Biology – study of life.study of life.

II. Organism – II. Organism – any living any living thing.thing.

III. CHARACTERISTICS OF III. CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFELIFE

1.1. All living things are made of All living things are made of cellscells2. All living things 2. All living things growgrow and and developdevelop..3. All living things obtain and use 3. All living things obtain and use

energyenergy to run life to run life processesprocesses. . (metabolism)(metabolism)

4. All living things 4. All living things respondrespond to changes in to changes in their external environment.their external environment.

a. a. HomeostasisHomeostasis – maintenance of – maintenance of stable internal environment by the cells.stable internal environment by the cells.

5. All living things can 5. All living things can reproducereproduce..

IV. BIOLOGY IN IV. BIOLOGY IN YOUR WORLDYOUR WORLD

1. Scientists are using 1. Scientists are using biologybiology to to help solve the problems of today.help solve the problems of today.

Preserving our Preserving our environment.environment.

Improving the food supply

Understanding the human genome

Fighting diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and genetic diseases.

V. SCIENTIFIC PROCESSESV. SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES

1.1. ObservationObservation is the basis for scientific is the basis for scientific research.research.

2. Stages of the scientific method:2. Stages of the scientific method:a. a. ObservingObserving the world around you the world around youb. Asking b. Asking questionsquestionsc. Propose a c. Propose a hypothesishypothesis – a possible – a possible explanation for a problem.explanation for a problem.d. Perform an d. Perform an experimentexperiment, a planned , a planned procedure to test a hypothesis.procedure to test a hypothesis.e. Draw a e. Draw a conclusionconclusion that supports or that supports or rejects the hypothesisrejects the hypothesis

3.3. Parts of an experiment: (Ex: see if plants grow Parts of an experiment: (Ex: see if plants grow better if they are given fertilizer)better if they are given fertilizer)

a. a. Control groupControl group – the group in the experiment – the group in the experiment that receives that receives nono experimental treatment. (one experimental treatment. (one plant that gets no fertilizer)plant that gets no fertilizer)

b. b. Experimental groupExperimental group – the group in the – the group in the experiment that receives some type of experiment that receives some type of experimental treatment. (one plant that gets the experimental treatment. (one plant that gets the fertilizer.)fertilizer.)

1. 1. independentindependent variable – factor that is variable – factor that is changed in an experiment. (fertilizer) changed in an experiment. (fertilizer)

2. 2. dependentdependent variable – variable that is variable – variable that is measured in an experiment. (height of the plant)measured in an experiment. (height of the plant)

4. 4. TheoryTheory – formed when repeated – formed when repeated experiments experiments confirmconfirm a hypothesis over a hypothesis over and over again.and over again.

A theory unites and explains a broad A theory unites and explains a broad range of observations.range of observations.