Chapter 1 – Introduction to Biology

1.1 What is Biology?

Biology is the scientific study of life and organisms.

Examples of biology branches:

Branch of Biology Area of study

Anatomy 解剖學 Structure

Cytology 細胞學 Cells

Ecology 生態學 Interactions

Characteristics passed between

Genetics 遺傳學
generations

Physiology 生理學 Functions

Taxonomy 分類學 Classification

1.2 The characteristics of organisms
All organisms display seven characteristics in common

Characteristic Description

Respiration Organisms release energy stored in food to support

body activities.

Nutrition Organisms obtain food for energy, growth and

maintaining health.

Movement All living things move. Animals move from place to

place freely. Plant shoots grow towards light and their
roots grow towards water.

Excretion Organisms remove metabolic wastes (waste

products) produced as a result of many chemical
reactions in their cells.

Growth Organisms increase in cell number, size and

complexity.

Reproduction Organisms are able to produce offspring.

Sensitivity/Irritability Organisms are able to sense and respond to stimuli

from the environment.
Exercise 1.1

A. Which characteristic of organisms are each of the followings shown?

1. A boy is eating a hot dog.

2. A yeast undergoes fermentation in winemaking.

3. A bacterium divides itself into two cells.

4. A snake is shedding its skin.

5. A girl is sweating.

6. You are exhaling.

7. Pollen is transferred to stigma of another plant by bee.

8. A green plant carries out photosynthesis in daytime.

9. A shy plant (怕羞草) folds up itself when it is touched.

10. A swimmer takes a deep breath above the water.

11. A plant grows towards the sun. Nutrient &

12. You move your hand away from a hot kettle immediately after touching it accidentally.

13. You walk along the street to catch Poké mon.

14. You hair becomes longer and longer.

B. A car is filled with gasoline. It takes in air in order to move and exhaust gas is continuously

emitted.

1. Which characteristics of living organisms are displayed by the car?

2. Is the car an organism? Explain briefly.

1.3 Studying Biology
The scientific method

Scientists study biology by carrying out scientific investigation. They observe and make

hypothesis. Then they do experiments to see if the results match their prediction.

Finally, they draw a conclusion after analysing the experimental results.

Variables and Control Set-up

Variables are factors affecting the result of an experiment.

Variable Description

Independent Factor under investigation

Dependent Variable that may change with the independent

variable

Controlled Other variables kept the same

Exercise 1.2

(HKDSE Biology Practice Paper 2012 1A Q35-36)

Questions 1 and 2 refer to the following description of an experiment, which was carried out
in the 1880s by a scientist, Christiaan Eijkman, for identifying the cause of the disease beriberi:

Group Experimental conditions Result after 5 weeks

chickens with beriberi and healthy chickens chickens with beriberi recovered,
I
kept together; fed with unpolished rice others remained healthy

healthy chickens injected with bacteria

II taken from chickens with beriberi; fed with all chickens remained healthy
unpolished rice

III healthy chickens; fed with polished rice all chickens developed beriberi

IV healthy chickens; fed with unpolished rice all chickens remained healthy

1. Which of the following can be concluded from this experiment?

(1) Beriberi is not caused by the bacteria taken from chickens with beriberi.
(2) Beriberi is most likely non-infectious.
(3) Eating unpolished rice can prevent beriberi in healthy chickens.

A (1) and (2) only B (1) and (3) only

C (2) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)

2. In the light of the results of this experiment, Eijkman used prisoners for testing whether the
same cause led to beriberi in humans. Which of the following should have been included
in the experimental design so that he could make a valid conclusion?
(1) The test should have been performed on healthy prisoners.
(2) The controlled variables should have included sex, age and body mass of the prisoners.
(3) The prisoners chosen for the test should have been randomly assigned to the
experimental and control groups.

A (1) and (2) only B (1) and (3) only

C (2) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)
3. A mung bean seems to grow toward light. It is hypothesized that the plant shoot of mung
bean can detect light and grow towards the light source. The following experiment was
conducted to test this hypothesis. The set-up of the experiment and the result are shown
in the figure below. In the experiment and the result are shown in the figure below. In this
experiment, the soil used for both plants was the same.

a) Which set-up, A or B, is a control set-up?

b) What is the purpose of wrapping a black plastic bag in set-up B?

c) What are the variables in this experiment?

Independent variable:
Dependent variable:
Controlled variables (List two):

d) The light source used is LED (an energy efficient light source that do not emit much heat),
why is it necessary to use LED light instead of ordinary light bulb in this experiment?
 Chapter 1 Glossary

The biological process by which offspring are produced

Reproduction
from their parents.

Nutrition The process of obtaining food for energy and growth.

The biological process by which energy is released from

Respiration
food.

The process by which organisms increase in size and in

Growth
complexity.

The biological process by which metabolic wastes are

Excretion
removed from organisms.

Organisms’ ability to respond to change in the

Sensitivity / Irritability
environment.

The process by which organisms can move from place to

Movement
place.

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon under

Hypothesis
scientific investigation.

Independent variable Factor under investigation in an experiment.

Dependent variable Variable that may change with the independent variable.

Variables other than factor under investigation which are

Controlled variables
kept unchanged.