WHAT IS BIOLOGY?

Biology is the study of all living things.

From microscopic bacteria to the largest animal on Earth.

Living things are called organisms.

Living things are found everywhere in our biosphere.

• The biosphere is all organisms and the parts of the Earth where they are found.

Organisms can be found …in the air

…in the soil

…in boiling hot springs

bacteria

….in the deepest oceans

The variety of life is called biodiversity.

There are 1.6 million species described on Earth.

GROUP Described species Likely total

Insects 950,000 8,000,000

Fungi 70,000 1,000,000

Arachnids 75,000 750,000

Viruses 5,000 500,000

Nematodes 15,000 500,000

Bacteria 4,000 400,000

Vascular plants 250,000 300,000

Protozoans 40,000 200,000

Algae 40,000 200,000

Mollusks 70,000 200,000

Crustaceans 40,000 150,000

Vertebrates 45,000 50,000

But……the estimated amount is12,000,000 species.

NO WAY!!!!

A species is a particular type of organism that can reproduce by

interbreeding among themselves and produce fertile offspring.

What is a species?

+ =

infertile

Male donkey + female horse = mule

Different species