Biology as a Science

Chapter 2

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

Objectives:

List and describe the characteristics of living things.

Charles Page High School Stephen L. Cotton

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

Objectives:

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

Think of making a list of characteristics the line between life and nonlife there are certain accepted traits 1. Made of cells 2. Reproduce 3. Grow, develop 4. Obtain/use energy 5. Respond to the environment

Define homeostasis.

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

1. Made up of CELLS
small, self-contained units separated from its surroundings can make an entire organism - called unicellular: Fig 2-2, page 28 multicellular is made of many cells Cells are never formed by non-living things

2. Living things REPRODUCE

This means they produce new organisms of the same type individuals will die; thus they must reproduce if the group of similar organisms (species) will survive

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

Two basic kinds of reproduction: 1. Sexual reproduction- requires 2 cells from different individuals unite 2. Asexual reproduction- a single organism can reproduce without the aid of another
some single-cell organisms will simply divide into two new cells

3. Grow and Develop

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

at some stage, living things are capable of growth: taking in materials from the surroundings and transforming it into living tissue
different from a snowball growing

development- a cycle of change Fig. 2-4, page 29

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

As development continues, a process called aging occurs
processes become less efficient ability to reproduce ceases death is the end result life span: Fig 2-5, page 29

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

4. Obtain and Use Energy

energy comes from the surroundings, or environment energy used to grow, develop, reproduce Anabolism- process of putting together simpler materials into more complex materials (a building process)

Death is then also a process of change that separates living and nonliving

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

Plants- obtain energy from sunlight in a process called photosynthesis photo- means light synthesis- means put together Animals cannot perform photosynthesis they must take in energy in the form of food

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

Catabolism- breakdown of complex materials into simpler items Living things have both anabolism and catabolism Sum total of both is metabolism the balance of all chemical reactions in the body

Section 2.1 Characteristics of Living Things

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Objectives:

5. Respond to the environment

some can be rapid, some are slow they react to a stimulus
light, temperature, odor, sound, gravity, heat, water, pressure, etc.

Compare the different branches of biology.

Irritability - ability to react to stimulus Homeostasis a balance of conditions

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Objectives:

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Objectives:

Describe the different types of microscopes and their limits of resolution.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different types of microscopes.

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life Biology means the study of life. Bio- means life -logy means study of A biologist is anyone who uses the scientific method to study living things.

Some branches of Biology include: Zoologists- study animals Botanists- study plants Microbiologists- study microorganisms (small organisms) Paleontologists- extinct organisms Ethologists- animal behavior

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life Biology at the molecular level:
may study the basic chemical units of life the workings of DNA and genetics the effect of drugs on molecules in cells, to better understand why entire organisms react as they do

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life Biology at the cellular level:
how normal cells become cancerous how a single cell divides and changes to form the variety of types in an adult how cells communicate with nearby cells

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Biology at the multicellular level:
the study of multicellular organisms zoologists interested in what tells animals when to sleep, eat, or even mate paleontologists explain how certain animals changed over a period of time ethologists explain why certain males are more brightly colored than females

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life Biology at the population level:
interested in groups of organisms how populations interact with their environment how construction of roads or dams might affect nearby plants and animals effects of pesticides or industrial waste

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life Biology at the global level:
the effects on the Earths climate due to burning of coal and oil why fishing is excellent one year, and poor the next

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Qualifications for a Biologist? Hard work, curiosity, and energy! Curious about life, and have the energy to ask questions in a scientific way Many famous biologists were amateurs
Charles Darwin: theory of evolution Gregor Mendel: basic unit of heredity

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Tools of a biologist? There are many, such as: standard laboratory tools
pipettes and graduated cylinders to measure and transfer small amounts of liquid electronic balances to measure solids fume hoods, computers

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

What one tool comes to mind? The MICROSCOPE used to study small organismsproduces larger than life images, pictures, or even videotapes there are several different types

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Compound Light Microscope (Fig 2-12, p. 34) very common in high school labs specimen placed on glass slide; covered 2 lenses (thus the word compound)
top lens is the ocular- look through this bottom lens is the objective may magnify up to 1000 times

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Magnification important, but so is the resolution: how well we can see detail There is a limit of resolution- beyond this, items get blurry and detail is lost For most light microscopes, the limit of resolution is about 0.2 micrometers
a typical cell is about 10 micrometers across

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Using the compound light microscope many specimens must be stained because they are so thin some stains color everything; others color only certain parts of the cell Since some stains kill cells, other types of light microscopes can be used to observe living specimens

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Some different types of light microscopes such as: a) phase contrast microscope b) dark field microscope c) Nomarski microscope Fig. 2-14, page 35 each uses a different property of light rays to improve the contrast (clarity)

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Light microscopes have their limit of resolution that restricts usefulness Electron microscopes use electromagnets to bend streams of electrons, much like glass lenses bend light these have a limit of resolution 1000 times greater than light microscopes!

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life Types of electron microscopes:

1. Transmission electron microscope (TEMs)- shine a beam of electrons, and then magnify on screen 2. Scanning electron microscopes (SEMs)- scans back and forth across the surface of the specimen

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Limitations of electron microscopes: specimen must be placed in a vacuum TEM must have special stains, then cut into very thin slices SEM do not need sliced, but still need to be in a vacuum thus, living cells must be killed first

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Which is better: Light, TEM, or SEM? All types do different things Light microscope - can see living things TEM reveals innermost details, but only after killed, sectioned, and stained SEM allows surface study in 3-D Thus, each have their own purpose!

Section 2.2 Biology: The Study of Life

Laboratory Techniques of a Biologist: Staining - allows more visibility Centrifugation - while spinning, parts separate (heaviest to the bottom) Micro dissection - remove specific parts of cells Cell cultures a single cell placed in nutrients to grow many additional cells