Sunday, September 13, 2009

Chpter One: Intronduction: Themes in the study of life

Q1: why is evolution the core theme of biology?
A1: Because evolution is the change of early life to the living things today. We can learn a lot about diversity of organisms from evolution.
Q2: what are the themes of biology?
A2: 1.properties emerge 2.organisms interact with their environments, exchanging matter and energy 3.structure and function are correlated 4. cells are basic units 5. information DNA 6.feedback
Q3: what is the main way to study biology?
A3: Inquiry is the heart of science. Discovery science and hypothesis-based science are two main types.

Five Facts:
1.properties emerge;organisms interact with their environments, exchanging matter and energy;structure and function are correlated;cells are basic units;information DNA;feedback are the themes connect the concepts of biology.

2. evolution accounts for the unity and diversity of life, and also for the match of organisms to their environments
3.contemporary living things are all evolve from their ancetors
4.organisms evolve to adapt to environment
5. dicovery science and hypothesis-based science are the main forms of inquiry



Figure


The tree interact with its environment. It uses energy from sunlight and chemical energy; it produces heat and chemical nutrients to the environment.



Summary:
The evolution is the overarching theme of biology. The level in biological hierarchy is biosphere-ecosystem-community-population-organism-organ system-organ-tissue-cell-organelle-molecule-atom. Reductionism is reduction of complex systems to simpler components that are more manageable to study. In system biology, models are uesed for the dunamic behavior of whole biological systems. Cycling of nutrient and one-way flow of energy from sunlight are two major processes.Eukaryotic cell has nucleus, while prokarytic cell does not. High-throughout, bioibformatics, and development are key research. In negative feedback, accumlation of an end product slows the process that makes that product, on the contract the positive feedback.
Domain bacteria and domain archaea consist of prokaryotes. Domain eukarya includes kingdoms plantae, fungi, and animalia.Charles Darwin found the theory of natural selection. Organisms evolve to adapt to environment. Hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable. Controlled experiment is to keep all constant except one being teated.

key terms:


  1. biology-The scientific study of life.

  2. controlled experimet-An experiment in which an experimental group is compared with a control group that varies only in the factor being tested.

  3. deductive reasoning-A type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise.

  4. emergent properties-New properties that arise with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases.

  5. genome-The genetic material of an organism or virus; the complete complement of an organism’s or virus’s genes along with its noncoding nucleic acid sequences.

  6. inductive reasoning-A type of logic in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations.

  7. inquiry-The search for information and explanation, often focused by specific questions.

  8. negative feedback-A primary mechanism of homeostasis, whereby a change in a physiological variable triggers a response that counteracts the initial change.

  9. positive feedback-A physiological control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers mechanisms that amplify the change.

  10. system bioligy-An approach to studying biology that aims to model the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems.

Video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfQcOZXBBb8


about natural selection

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