Chapter 1

Biology and You

BiologyBiology – the study of LIFEBio = Life ology = the study of

Biologists are scientists that study the living things around them. Many try to solve biological problems

in our world using the scientific method.

The Scientific Method

Scientists observed cases of amphibians with extreme deformities all over North America.

What do you think caused these mutations?

Scientists predicted or made a hypothesis that pollution changed the frogs’ environment to the point that terrible mutations occurred.

How can scientists test their hypothesis?

Scientists carefully design experiments to test their predictions.

They need to have a control and a variable group. They must record their data and observations

and present the information in charts and graphs.

Can scientists come to a conclusion?

After careful data analysis, scientists can accept or reject their hypothesis and make a conclusion as to the cause of the problem.

After much retesting, this conclusion could become a theory.

Scientists now know that amphibians are very sensitive to environmental changes and pollutants and carcinogens can cause mutations.

So what? How does that affect ME?

Scientists use frogs as a “miner’s canary”“miner’s canary” to look out for chemicals that can cause harm to humans.

Many of these are carcinogens that can build up in humans and cause cancer.

Steps of the scientific method: Make an Observation Question Hypothesis Experiment Analysis/Conclusion Report the Results

What makes something ALIVE? All living things are

made up of

CELLS. Cells are the smallest

units of life. There are plant cells,

animal cells, bacterial cells…

Living things are made of cells, and…

All living things must carry out metabolism.

Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions in a living thing.

Anabolism – building new products.

Catabolism – breaking down materials.

Living things are made of cells, carry out metabolism, and… All living things must

maintain HOMEOSTASIS.

Homeostasis is the ability to keep a stable internal environment.

Maintaining proper temperature, water content, etc.

Living things are made of cells, carry out metabolism, maintain homeostasis, and… All living things must be able to

REPRODUCE, or to create new generations of its species.

Living things are made of cells, carry out metabolism, maintain homeostasis, reproduce, and… All living things must contain

some type of HEREDITARY material.

This material passes information on to future generations.

DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid RNA – ribonucleic acid

A Review.. Scientists use the scientific

method to solve problems. Biology is the study of life. Scientists must use the

scientific method to try to maintain life here on earth in the face of pollution, extinction, overpopulation of humans, and disease.