BIOL 103
Module 1
Biology
&
Science
1
Western Sciences: Life and
Non-Life
• In Western Sciences, studies of life are separated from
non-life:
• Life Sciences
• Biologies (zoology, medicine,
forensics, microbiology, ecology)
• Physical Sciences
• Astronomy, chemistry, physics,
earth sciences
• Note: this separation does not
occur in Indigenous Sciences
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Biology is the Study of
Life
• Bio-logy
• Biology is the scientific study of life
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Question: What is “Life”?
• What are the characteristics that make something
“alive”?
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1. Life is Cellular (Has
Order)
• All living organisms are composed of cells
• Organisms may be unicellular, colonial, or
multicellular
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2. Life Responds to
Stimuli
• Stimulus is any physical or chemical change
• Can be light, heat, chemicals, sounds, pressure, etc.
• Response is a change in the processes and patterns
of an organism
• Can be movement, metabolic, chemical, etc.
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3. Life Reproduces
• Life passes on its genetic information (DNA) to
future offspring
• Requires cellular division (mitosis or meiosis)
• Can be asexual (one parent, clonal offspring)
or sexual (two parents, genetically unique
offspring)
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4. Life Adapts
• Due to genetic differences (mutations) and
reproduction, individuals are variable
• Individuals that are better suited to
their environment will reproduce in higher
numbers than others
• Over many generations, populations
adapt to their environment (natural selection)
• NOTE: individuals DO NOT "adapt" by this
definition
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5. Life Grows and
Develops
• Life can increase in size and change form over time
• Genetic information (stored as DNA) codes for
specific developmental processes as a life form ages
• Life is not static
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6. Life Regulates
(Homeostasis)
• All life has a limited range of environmental
conditions in which it can survive
• Homeostasis is the ability for an organism to
maintain constant internal conditions required for
life (e.g. blood sugar, temperature, pH)
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7. Life Metabolizes
Energy
• All life requires energy to allow for cellular
processes to take place
• Autotrophs collect inorganic forms of energy
• Heterotrophs collect organic forms of energy
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Life is Organized
• The scientific study of biology encompasses the
very small (atoms) and the very large (Earth itself)
• Biology is organized at each level (there is order)
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Smallest Organization of Life:
Atoms
• Atoms are the basic unit of matter
• E.g. carbon atoms, oxygen atoms, hydrogen atoms
• Atoms are made of subatomic particles (protons,
neutrons, and electrons)
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Molecules are Made of Atoms
• Molecules are more than one atom bonded
together, changing their chemical properties
• E.g. Water, amino acid, carbon dioxide
• Macromolecules are large molecules (polymers)
made of many smaller molecules (monomers)
• E.g. Protein, DNA, starch
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Organelles and Cells are Made of
Molecules
• Organelles are sub-cellular
structures made of
macromolecules with a
specific function
• E.g. Nucleus, ribosome
• Cells are the smallest unit of
life, and can be simple
(prokaryotic) or complex
(eukaryotic)
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Tissues are Made of Cells, Organs
of Tissues
• Tissues are groups of similar cells that perform a
specific function in a multicellular organism
• Organs are structures composed of different tissue
types that perform specific functions in a
multicellular organism
• E.g. Stomach, heart
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Organisms Have Multiple
Systems
• Organ systems are composed of different organs
working together for a particular function within a
multicellular organism
• E.g. Respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system
• Multicellular organisms are complex lifeforms
made up of various tissues, organs, and/or organ
systems
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Science:
Study of Natural World
• Science is the process by which we
learn about the natural world
through observation and
experimentation
• Depending on culture, the concept
of ‘natural world’ varies
• In Indigenous worldviews, includes
spiritual and emotional world
• In Western worldviews, refers to the
tangible, measurable, physical world
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Observations at the Core of
Science
• Observations can be quantitative (measurements)
or qualitative (senses)
• In Indigenous Sciences, observations include
subjectivity (personal connections), more
qualitative
• “Ways of living in nature”, connections with nature
guide us
• In Western Sciences, observations strive to be
objective (impersonal) and more quantitative
• “Scientific knowledge” is a series of truths about the
world, should be repeatable, confirmable truths
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Scientific Experiments use
Deduction
• In scientific experiments, tentative principles
(hypotheses) are used to predict experimental
results
• Experimentation is hypothesis-based science
• We are testing the predictive validity of the hypothesis
• If the predictions are accurate, the principle (hypothesis)
is supported
• Hypotheses therefore must be testable and falsifiable
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Hypotheses Lead to
Predictions
• Hypothesis-based science is deductive: a general
principle (hypothesis) is used to predict specific
experimental results
• E.g., Water absorbs heat. Therefore, putting water
in a water balloon will make it less likely to pop
when put over a flame.
• E.g., The enzyme catalase breaks down H2O2 into O2
and H2O. Therefore, if we add catalase to H2O2, we
will observe an increase of O2.
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Experiments Need
Variables
• Experiments test specific predictions made from
hypotheses
• Typically, one variable is manipulated and another is
measured to see if it changes
• Often testing a predicted relationship between the two
• The variable that is manipulated is called the
independent variable
• The variable that is measured is called the dependent
variable
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Example of Variables #1
• Hypothesis: Water absorbs heat.
• Prediction: Putting water in a water balloon will
make it less likely to pop when put over a flame.
• What is the independent variable?
• Water in the balloon (what we’re manipulating)
• What is the dependent variable?
• Whether it pops or not (what we’re measuring)
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Experiments Often Have
Groups
• Typically, when conducting an experiment,
scientists use different groups for variable
manipulation
• Experimental groups will have independent
variable manipulated
• Control groups are typically unmanipulated
• In previous hypothesis, what could be an
experimental group and a control group?
• Water in balloon and only air in balloon
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Other Variables Must Be
Controlled
• Controlled variables are variables that must be
kept the same across all groups, as they may
disrupt the data if they are different
• In previous example, what could be some
controlled variables?
• Hold over flame for same length of time
• Same size of flame
• Same type of balloon
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Example of Variables #2
• Hypothesis: The enzyme catalase breaks down H2O2
into O2 and H2O.
• Prediction: If we add catalase to H2O2, we will
observe an increase of O2.
• What is/are the...
• Independent variable?
• Dependent variable?
• Experimental group?
• Control group?
• Controlled variables?
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Scientific Method is
"Linear"
1. Observations are made
2. A question is asked
3. A hypothesis is proposed
4. An experiment and its predictions are designed
5. Results are analyzed; hypothesis is supported or
refuted
6. Results are communicated through peer-
reviewed scientific journals
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Scientists Evaluate Each
Other
• When scientists have completed their research, they will often
publish their findings as primary literature in peer-reviewed
scientific journals
• Primary literature are articles written by the researchers
themselves about their own study
• Peer-review is when other scientists analyze and evaluate the
findings, checking for inconsistencies and errors before
publication
• Once published, other scientists often attempt to reproduce the
findings to confirm their validity
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Scientific Theories are
Accepted
• Scientific theories are explanations of natural
phenomena that are accepted and supported by
the scientific community
• Scientific theories are formed by accumulating data
from various fields by multiple scientists over time
and across the globe
• Examples?
• Atomic Theory, Cell Theory, Theory of Gravity
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