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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100

Biological Sciences Department

CHAPTER I

Biology, The Scientific Method & The Metric System

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this class you should be able to:


• Define biology
• List the characteristics of life and explain in what ways life is diverse
• Explain the different levels of biological organization
• Describe how organisms are classified and the types of organism found in the 3 domains of life
• Understand the process of scientific inquiry and the steps involved scientific method
• Explain the difference between control and experimental groups
• Differentiate between scientific journals and other sources of information
• Recognize the units used in the metric system

What is Biology?

Biology is the science that studies life. But then, what exactly is
life and what is considered alive? This may sound like a silly question with
an obvious answer as it is not always easy to define life. For example, a
branch of biology called virology studies viruses, which exhibit some of the
characteristics of living entities but lack others. It turns out that although
viruses can attack living organisms, cause diseases, and even reproduce,
they do not meet the criteria that biologists use to define life.

Characteristics and Properties of Life


Living things, or organisms, are very diverse but share some basic features
and functions: they are organized, respond to stimuli, maintain
themselves, acquire and use materials and energy, grow and reproduce
and can evolve.

(1) Organisms are Complex and Organized


Organisms are highly organized structures that consist of one or more
cells. All living things are made of cells; the cell itself is the smallest
fundamental unit of structure and function in living organisms. Even
very simple, single-celled (unicellular) organisms are remarkably
complex. Inside each cell, atoms make up molecules. These in turn
make up cell components or organelles. In most multicellular
organisms, cells combine to make tissues, which are groups of similar
cells carrying out the same function. Organs are collections of tissues
grouped together based on a common function. Organs are present
not only in animals but also in plants. An organ system is a higher
level of organization that consists of functionally related organs. For
example, vertebrate animals have many organ systems, such as the
circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body and to
and from the lungs; it includes organs such as the heart and blood
vessels. Organisms are individual living entities. For example, each Biological Levels of Organization. From atoms to
tree in a forest is an organism. Organisms that are unicellular are the entire biosphere, biology examines all aspects of
typically referred to as microorganisms. life. (credit: CNX OpenStax CC BY 4.0).

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

All the individuals of a species living within a specific area are collectively called a population. For example, a forest may
include many white pine trees. All of these pine trees represent the population of white pine trees in this forest. Different
populations may live in the same specific area. For example, the forest with the pine trees includes populations of flowering
plants and also insects and microbial populations. A community is the set of populations inhabiting a particular area. For
instance, all of the trees, flowers, insects, and other populations in a forest form the forest’s community. The forest itself
is an ecosystem. An ecosystem consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic, or non-living,
parts of that environment such as nitrogen in the soil or rainwater. At the highest level of organization, the biosphere is
the collection of all ecosystems, and it represents the zones of life on Earth. It includes land, water, and portions of the
atmosphere.

(2) Organisms Respond to Stimuli


Organisms perceive and respond to diverse stimuli. This is very obvious
in most animals that have evolved complex and highly specialized
sensory organs and have the ability to move. However, it is shared by all
living things: plants can bend toward a source of light or respond to touch,
microorganisms such as bacteria, can move toward or away from
chemicals or light. Such a property allows organisms to detect food or get
away from danger (external stimuli) but it also allows them to regulate
their body (internal stimuli). For example, you will choose different snacks
as a response to external stimuli because you feel hungry as a result of
internal stimuli such as low blow sugar and contractions of your empty
stomach. Organisms Respond to Stimuli. Lentils sprouts
reaching for sunlight. (credit: Russell Neches CC BY
2.0).
(3) Organisms Maintain Their Structure and Internal Environment
To function properly, cells require appropriate conditions such as proper
temperature, pH, and concentrations of diverse chemicals. These
conditions may, however, change from one moment to the next.
Organisms are able to maintain these internal conditions within a narrow
range almost constantly, despite environmental changes, through a
process called homeostasis or “steady state”— the ability of an
organism to maintain constant internal conditions. For example, many
Organisms Maintain Their Internal
organisms regulate their body temperature in a process known as
Environment. Goosebumps (left; credit: Physicsgirl,
thermoregulation. Organisms that live in cold climates, such as the polar Public Domain) and perspiration (right: credit:
bear have body structures that help them withstand low temperatures and Minghong, CC BY-SA 4.0) allow us to warm up and
conserve body heat. In hot climates, organisms have methods (such as cool down respectively as part of thermoregulation
perspiration in humans or panting in dogs) that help them to lose excess mechanisms.
body heat.

(4) Organisms Acquire and Use Materials and Energy


All organisms need material and energy to remain complex and
organized, to grow and to reproduce. Food provides the material or
nutrients. These are then used to make the organisms’ own molecules
or for energy needed for chemical reactions. All the reactions involved in
maintaining an organism alive make its metabolism. Nutrients can be
acquired from air, water or the soil and from other organisms. The energy
that sustains most forms of life on Earth is sunlight. Some organisms
such as plants carry out the process of photosynthesis, where they
capture energy from the Sun and convert it into chemical energy in
molecules such as sugars; others use these sugars as a source of energy
when they consume plants. Organisms Acquire Nutrients, Grow and
Reproduce. This buffalo carcass is recycled by
(5) Organisms Grow and Reproduce the ecosystem, providing energy and nutrients for
Organisms grow and develop according to specific instructions coded for living creatures which grow and reproduce (credit:
by their genes. These genes provide instructions that will direct cellular Luca Galuzzi CC BY-SA 2.5).
growth and development, ensuring that a species’ young will grow up to
exhibit many of the same characteristics as its parents. Single-celled organisms reproduce by first duplicating their DNA,
which is the genetic material, and then dividing it equally as the cell prepares to divide to form two new cells. Many
multicellular organisms produce specialized reproductive cells that will form new individuals. When reproduction occurs,

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

DNA containing genes (encoded information) is passed along to an organism’s offspring. These genes are the reason
that the offspring will belong to the same species and will have characteristics similar to the parent, such as fur color and
blood type.

(6) Organisms Evolve


All living organisms exhibit a “fit” to their environment. Biologists refer to
this fit as adaptation and it is a consequence of evolution by natural
selection, which operates in every lineage of reproducing organisms.
Examples of adaptations are diverse and unique, from heat-resistant
Archaea (single-celled organisms) that live in boiling hot springs to the
tongue length of a nectar-feeding moth that matches the size of the flower
from which it feeds. All adaptations enhance the reproductive potential of
the individual exhibiting them, including their ability to survive to reproduce.
Adaptations are not constant. As an environment changes, natural
selection causes the characteristics of the individuals in a population to Organisms Have Adaptations. A white-lined
track those changes and adjust to them. moth feeding with its unique long tongue (credit:
Mike Lewinski, CC BY 2.0).

The Diversity of Life and How All Its Forms Are Organized
Biodiversity is a term used to include all forms of life in its great variety. About 1.8 million species have been identified and
some estimates about the actual number of species indicate that more than 200 million species might exist! In recent past
years, as there has been growing concern about the degradation of our environment and the extinction or threat of extinction
of many species in many parts of the world, interest in the diversity of organisms and in their evolutionary relationships has
greatly increased. Biodiversity is a resource of immense direct medicinal (most prescription drugs are derived from living
organisms), agricultural and consumptive values.
To keep track and organize the study of all these species, a branch of biology called taxonomy (from the Greek tasso,
arrange, classify, and nomos, usage law) uses a classification system that categorizes organisms into similar groups following
a hierarchy that was developed in the 18th century by Karl von Linné. This Swedish physician and botanist also often called
Carolus Linnaeus, assigned scientific names to species. Following a binomial nomenclature, to prevent confusion as with
common names, each species name is a unique combination of two Latin words: the genus (group of species) and the
specific epithet (species name). Sometimes the species name provides some descriptive information about the organism.
For example: Alligator mississippiensis - the American alligator; Homo sapiens - humans, ‘wise’ species of the Homo genus;
or Scaptia beyonceae - a horse fly with a
golden abdomen tip, named after the
famous singer Beyoncé Knowles.

In the Linnean classification, the principal


basis for grouping similar species into
increasingly general categories are their
structural, chromosomal or molecular
similarities. Today, the following set of
major ranking order of classification
categories - proceeding down the
taxonomic hierarchy is: domains, the
broadest levels are divided into
kingdoms comprised of several phyla
(sing. phylum) subdivided into classes
divided in orders including several
families split into related genera (sing.
genus) each containing one or more
species. A domain of life contains
millions of different species and
subdividing it into progressively smaller
groups makes it easier to appreciate the Classification of the Dog. This diagram shows the levels of taxonomic hierarchy for dogs
relationships among species. from the broadest category - domain, to the most specific - the species. Note the scientific
name of dogs: Canis lupus. (Credit: CNX Openstax CC BY 2.0).

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

Hierarchy of the Taxonomic Classification of Humans


Domain Eukarya Cells with a nucleus
Kingdom Animalia Multicellular organisms; usually motile; no cell wall or chlorophyll; heterotrophs by ingestion
Phylum Chordata Organisms that, at a stage of their life history, have a dorsal nerve cord, a notochord, pharyngeal clefts
and a post anal tail
Class Mammalia Vertebrates with mammary glands; warm-blooded; presence of hair; well-developed brain
Order Primates Opposable thumb; no claws, scales, horns or hoofs; large brain
Family Hominidae Upright stance and bipedal locomotion
Genus Homo S-curved spine; making and using tools
Species Homo sapiens Modern human body proportions, think skull bones, largest cranial capacity

The highest level, domain, is a relatively new addition to the system since the 1990s. Scientists now recognize three domains
of life, the Eukarya, the Archaea, and the Bacteria. The domain Eukarya contains organisms that have cells with a nucleus
which encloses the DNA. It includes the kingdoms of fungi, plants, animals, and several kingdoms of protists. The Archaea,
are single-celled organisms without a nucleus (their
DNA is free in the cell) with species that live in harsh
environments like hot springs. The Bacteria are another
quite different group of single-celled organisms without
a nucleus.
The evolutionary relationships of various life forms on
Earth can be summarized in a phylogenetic tree. A
phylogenetic tree is a diagram showing the evolutionary
relationships among biological species based on
similarities and differences in genetic or physical traits
or both. A phylogenetic tree is composed of branch
points, or nodes, and branches. The internal nodes
represent ancestors and are points in evolution when,
based on scientific evidence, an ancestor is thought to
have diverged to form two new species. The length of
each branch can be considered as estimates of relative
The Three Domains of Life. Organisms of the three domains of life
time.
share basic similarities (Credits: CNX OpenStax, CC BY 4.0)

Activity 1. Biology: The Study of Life

Using the information in the text above:

1.1 - Complete the Living Things


concept map on the right.
1.2 - List the levels of biological
organizations from the broadest
to the smallest.
1.3 - Explain the relation between
adaptations and evolution.
1.4 - Explain how biologists organize
all known organisms
1.5 - Describe the 3 possible domains
organisms fall into.
1.6 - Explain what an organism
scientific name is. How does it
differ from its common name(s)

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

Activity 2. Viruses - Critical Thinking


Viruses are not made of cells. They are typically made of genetic information (a molecule of DNA for example) enclosed
in a protein capsule. To make new viruses, they have to invade and hijack a living cell using all its resources; only then
can they obtain the materials they need to reproduce.
Review the properties of life and discuss whether or not viruses should be considered alive.

The Process of Science

What is Science?
Like geology, physics, and chemistry, biology is a science that gathers knowledge about the natural world. Science (from the
Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") can be defined as knowledge about the
natural world. Science is a very specific way of learning, or knowing, about the
world. The history of the past 500 years demonstrates that science is a very
powerful way of knowing about the world; it is largely responsible for the
technological revolutions that have taken place during this time. There are
however, areas of knowledge and human experience that the methods of
science cannot be applied to. These include such things as answering purely
moral questions, aesthetic questions, or what can be generally categorized as
spiritual questions. Science cannot investigate these areas because they are
outside the realm of material phenomena, the phenomena of matter and
energy, and cannot be observed and measured.
Like politics, science has considerable practical implications and has
transformed human existence and will continue to do so. Some area of science
is dedicated to practical applications, such as the prevention of disease. Other Science. Some fields of science include
science proceeds largely motivated by curiosity. One of the main purposes of astronomy, biology, computer science, geology,
science is to elaborate scientific theories which allow to understand the world logic, physics, chemistry, and mathematics
and predict and explain events before they happen. A scientific theory is a (credits: Image Editor, CC BY 2.0).
generally accepted, thoroughly tested and confirmed explanation for a set of
observations or phenomena. In 2008, the United States National Academy of Sciences provided the following description of
scientific theories: “the formal scientific definition of theory is quite different from the everyday meaning of the word. It refers
to a comprehensive explanation of some aspect of nature that is supported by a vast body of evidence. Many scientific theories
are so well established that no new evidence is likely to alter them substantially. For example, no new evidence will
demonstrate that the Earth does not orbit around the sun (heliocentric theory), or that living things are not made of cells (cell
theory), that matter is not composed of atoms, or that the surface of the Earth is not divided into solid plates that have moved
over geological timescales (the theory of plate tectonics)...One of the most useful properties of scientific theories is that they
can be used to make predictions about natural events or phenomena that have not yet been observed.” In biology, the theory
of evolution is the unifying concept as it explains all that we know about organisms. Its concept is that all organisms have a
common ancestor and change over time as a result of natural selection of heritable traits.

The Scientific Method


The scientific method is a method of research with defined steps that include experiments and careful observation. In the
steps of the scientific method one of the most important aspects is the testing of hypotheses. A hypothesis is a suggested
explanation for an event, which can be tested. Hypotheses, or tentative explanations, are the day-to-day material that
scientists work with and are generally produced within the context of a scientific theory. The steps of the scientific method are
as follows:

(1) Observation
The scientific process typically starts with an observation (often a problem to be solved) that leads to a question. Let’s
think about a simple problem that starts with an observation and apply the scientific method to solve the problem. One
Monday morning, a student arrives at class and quickly discovers that the classroom is too warm. That is an observation
that also describes a problem: the classroom is too warm.

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

(2) Question
The student then asks a question: “Why is the classroom so
warm?”

(3) Hypothesis
Recall that a hypothesis is a suggested explanation that can be
tested. To solve a problem, several hypotheses may be proposed.
For example, one hypothesis might be, “The classroom is warm
because no one turned on the air conditioning.” But there could be
other responses to the question, and therefore other hypotheses
may be proposed. A second hypothesis might be, “The classroom
is warm because there is a power failure, and so the air
conditioning doesn’t work.”

(4) Prediction
Once a hypothesis has been formulated, a prediction may be
made. A prediction is similar to a hypothesis but it typically has the
format “If … then …” For example, the prediction for the first
hypothesis might be, “If the student turns on the air conditioning,
then the classroom will no longer be too warm.”

(5) Experiments/Observations
A hypothesis must be testable to ensure that it is valid. For
example, a hypothesis that depends on what a bear thinks is not
testable, because it can never be known what a bear thinks. It
should also be falsifiable, meaning that it can be disproven by
experimental results. An example of an unfalsifiable hypothesis is
“Botticelli’s Birth of Venus is beautiful.” There is no experiment that
might show this statement to be false. To test a hypothesis, a
researcher will conduct one or more experiments designed to
eliminate one or more of the hypotheses. This is important. A hypothesis can be disproven, or eliminated, but it can never
be proven. Science does not deal in proofs like mathematics.
The Scientific Method. The scientific method is a series
(6) Conclusion of defined steps that include experiments and careful
If the results fail to disprove a hypothesis, then we find support for observation. If a hypothesis is not supported by data, a
that explanation, but this is not to say that down the road a better new hypothesis can be proposed
explanation will not be found, or a more carefully designed (credits: Image Editor, CC BY 4.0).
experiment will be found to falsify the hypothesis.

Designing Experiments
Each experiment will have one or more variables and one or more controls.
A variable is any part of the experiment that can vary or change during the
experiment. The control group contains every feature of the experimental
group except it is not given the manipulation that the researcher
hypothesizes. Therefore, if the experimental group's results differ from the
control group, the difference must be due to the hypothesized manipulation,
rather than some outside factor. Look for the variables and controls in the
examples that follow. To test the first hypothesis, the student would find out if
the air conditioning is on. If the air conditioning is turned on but does not work,
there should be another reason, and the student should reject this hypothesis.
To test the second hypothesis, the student could check if the lights in the
classroom are functional. If so, there is no power failure and the student should
reject this hypothesis. The students should test each hypothesis by carrying Designing Experiments. A lab technician,
out appropriate experiments. Again, rejecting one hypothesis does not prepares media for plant tissue culture in a tissue
determine whether or not one can accept the other hypotheses. It simply culture lab in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (credit:
ILRI/Stevie Mann, CC BY 2.0).

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

eliminates one hypothesis that is not valid. Using the scientific method, the student rejects the hypotheses that are inconsistent
with experimental data.

Reporting Scientific Work


Whether scientific rese arch is basic science or applied science, scientists must share their
findings for other researchers to expand and build upon their discoveries. The work is shared
with the community so other scientists can reproduce the experiments under similar or different
conditions to expand on the findings. The experimental results must be consistent with the
findings of other scientists. Communication and collaboration within and between sub disciplines
of science are key to the advancement of knowledge in science. For this reason, an important
aspect of a scientist’s work is disseminating results and communicating with peers. Scientists
can share results by presenting them at a scientific meeting or conference, but this approach can
reach only the limited few who are present. Instead, most scientists present their results in peer-
reviewed articles that are published in scientific journals. Peer-reviewed articles are scientific
papers that are reviewed, usually anonymously by a scientist’s colleagues, or peers. These
colleagues are qualified individuals, often experts in the same research area, who judge whether Scientific Journals. Cover
or not the scientist’s work is suitable for publication. The process of peer review helps to ensure of the first 1883 volume of the
that the research described in a scientific paper or grant proposal is original, significant, logical, Science journal. (credit: Public
and thorough. Domain).

Pseudoscience
There are many journals and the popular press that do not use a peer-review system. A large
number of online open-access journals, journals with articles available without cost, are now
available many of which use rigorous peer-review systems, but some of which do not. Usually,
rigorous and credible scientific information can be found on the websites of educational (.edu),
governmental (.gov) institutions and for non-profit organizations (.org). Results of any studies
published in media without peer review are not reliable can make claims that are not supported
by evidence (data). Such publications consist of practices or beliefs that are not screened
through the scientific method, proper experimental design and peer-review. They fail to be
testable, reproducible and falsifiable. This has led the scientific community to qualify certain
topics as pseudoscience. Pseudoscience is wide spread in the health field and is commonly
used as a way to promote products and practices and make profit. However, it can be harmful
especially when used for treatment of serious diseases. Topics that have been characterized
Pseudoscience. Phrenology
as pseudoscience include homeopathy, colon cleansing, ear candling, detoxification, is a pseudoscience that
numerology, astrology, ufology, graphology. studies the skull to predict
personality and abilities.
(credits: Minivalley, CC BY-SA
3.0).

Activity 3. The Scientific Method – Case Study 1


In the example below, the scientific method is used to solve an everyday problem. Order the scientific method steps (numbered
items) with the process of solving the everyday problem (lettered items). Based on the results of the experiment, is the hypothesis
correct? If it is incorrect, propose some alternative hypotheses.
1. Observation
2. Question
3. Hypothesis (answer)
4. Prediction
5. Experiment
6. Result

A. There is something wrong with the electrical outlet.


B. If something is wrong with the outlet, my coffeemaker also won’t work when plugged into it.
C. My toaster doesn’t toast my bread.
D. I plug my coffee maker into the outlet.
E. My coffeemaker works. Credit: OpenStax Biology, CC BY-SA 4.0
F. Why doesn’t my toaster work?

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

Activity 4. The Scientific Method – Case Study 2


The Strange Case of BeriBeri
In 1887 a strange nerve disease attacked the people in the Dutch East Indies. The disease was beriberi. Symptoms of the disease
included weakness and loss of appetite, victims often died of heart failure. Scientists thought the disease might be caused by
bacteria. They injected chickens with bacteria from the blood of patients with beriberi. The injected chickens became sick. However,
so did a group of chickens that were not injected with bacteria.
One of the scientists, Dr. Eijkman, designed a new experiment based on his own observations. Before the experiment, all the chickens
had eaten whole-grain rice, but during the experiment, the chickens were fed polished rice. Dr. Eijkman researched this interesting
case and found that polished rice lacked thiamine, a vitamin necessary for good health.

4.1 - State the question or problem that Dr. Eijkman investigated.


4.2 - What was the original hypothesis?
4.3 - What was the manipulated (independent) variable and the responding (dependent) variable?
4.4 - Write a statement that summarizes the results of the experiment.
4.5 - How would Dr. Eijkman test his new hypothesis? Credit: Biology Corner, CC BY-SA 4.0

Activity 5. The Scientific Method – Case Study 3


How Penicillin Was Discovered
In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming was studying Staphylococcus bacteria growing in culture dishes. He noticed that a mold called
Penicillium was also growing in some of the dishes. A clear area existed around the mold because all the bacteria that had grown
in this area had died. In the culture dishes without the mold, no clear areas were present.
Fleming hypothesized that the mold must be producing a chemical that killed the bacteria. He decided to isolate this substance
and test it to see if it would kill bacteria. Fleming transferred the mold to a nutrient broth solution. This solution contained all the
materials the mold needed to grow. After the mold grew, he removed it from the nutrient broth and then added the broth to a
culture of bacteria. He observed that the bacteria in the culture died. Fleming's experiments were later used to develop antibiotics.

5.1 - State the question or problem that Fleming investigated.


5.2 - What was Fleming's hypothesis?
5.3 - How was the hypothesis tested?
5.4 - Write a statement that summarizes the results of the experiment.
5.5 - This experiment lead to the development of what major medical advancement?
Credit: Biology Corner, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Metric System

The metric system is used to record measurements in most industrial countries of the world
and in science laboratories in all countries. It was designed to be convenient, easy and
versatile. The units are based on the natural world, decimal ratios, prefixes for multiples and
sub-multiples, and a structure of base and derived units. Within each category, the units vary
by powers of 10. The metric system is also known as the International System of Units (SI).
Some of the reasons why the US have kept the Imperial system and not switched to SI,
although simpler to work with, are time and money.

Metric Units. Four metric measuring devices - a tape measure, a thermometer, a one kilogram weight
and an electrical multimeter, selected to show some of the units of measure that are part of the metric
system: kilograms, degrees Celsius, amperes, volts and ohms. (Credit: Martinvl, CC BY-SA 3.0)

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

ENGLISH TO METRIC
UNIT - ABBREVIATION METRIC EQUIVALENT
EQUIVALENTS (APPROX.)

LENGTH
nanometer - nm 10-9 m (10-3 µm)
micrometer - µm 10-6 m (10-3 mm)
millimeter - mm 0.001 (10-3) m
centimeter - cm 0.01 (10-2) m 1 inch = 2.54 cm

meter - m 100 (102) cm 1 foot = 30.5 cm = 0.30 m


1,000 (103) mm 1 yard = 0.91 m
kilometer - km 1,000 (103) m 1 mi = 1.6 km

WEIGHT (MASS)
nanogram - ng 10-9 g
microgram - µg 10-6 g
milligram - mg 10-3 g
gram - g 1,000 mg 1 ounce = 28.3 g
1 pound = 454 g = 0.45 kg
kilogram - kg 1,000 (103) g
metric ton - t 1,000 kg 1 ton = 0.91 t

VOLUME
microliter - µl 10-6 l (10-3 ml) 1 tsp = 5 ml
milliliter - ml 10-3 l 1 fl oz = 30 ml
1 cc = 1 cm3 = 1,000 mm3

liter - l 1,000 ml 1 pint = 0.47 l


1 quart = 0.95 l
1 gallon = 3.79 l

Temperatures

Celsius °C Fahrenheit °F
0 32 Water freezes
37 98.6 Human body temperature
100 212 Water boils

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New York City College of Technology Human Biology – BIO1100
Biological Sciences Department

Activity 6. The Metric System


Use the information in the table above to answer the questions:
6.1 - Measure the width of a standard 8.5 × 11 inches page using a small plastic ruler or a meter stick. Record your
measurement in 1) millimeters, 2) centimeters, and 3) meters.
6.2 - Which unit of measurement (kilometer, meter, centimeter, millimeter, micrometer, or nanometer) would be most
appropriate for measuring the width of this room.
6.3 - Is having 5 ml of coffee a lot?
6.4 - Can you easily run a 20 cm run?
6.5 - Do you think you can lift 3,000 mg?
6.6 - Perform the following conversions:
• 37 g = _____ mg
• 0.047 mg = _____ g
• 45.36 g = _____ kg
• 42 ml = _____ liters
• 27 µl = _____ liters




Review Questions

1. Define Biology

2. How is life defined?

3. List the level of organizations and provide examples for each

4. What is taxonomy?

5. Explain why organisms are grouped in categories

6. Describe the organisms found in the 3 domains of life

7. Define Science

8. List the steps of the Scientific Method

9. Why is the scientific method necessary for reliable and credible science?

10. Explain why the metric system easier to use than the Imperial system

With text modified from OpenStax Biology 2e and Concepts of Biology

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