Study of Life

Biology

• In studying life “biology”, unravels a story that started at least 3.8

billion years ago back in an aquatic environment devoid in life. The
first living cell (archaea) a single celled organism, produce itself and
then evolved from one generation to the next, and created vast and
different types of species as a result that we know today.
Biology
• Biology means “study of
life” where came from
the Greek word
“bios”(life) and
“logos”(reason or study).
Biology is a science that
focuses on life of living
things and their
environment.
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Biology
• It is a broad field that
studies various levels,
from micro to macro
perspective of life.

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Biology
• Biology has three major
parts, namely;
1. Microbiology – study of
microorganisms
2. Botany – study of plants

3. Zoology – study of
animals

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Biology
• These major divisions are further divided into more specific branches, and these are;

1. Taxonomy – naming and classifying organisms

2. Cytology – structures and functions of the cell
3. Embryology – formation and development of organisms
4. Anatomy – structures and part of organisms
5. Physiology – functions of living organisms and parts
6. Biochemistry – biochemical compositions of living things
7. Genetics – heredity and variation
8. Evolution – origin and differentiation of various organisms
9. Ecology – relationships of organisms to the environment.
Biology
• But biology’s subdisciplines have emerged because of the rapid changes in the society;

1. Molecular biology – molecules that makes up an organisms

2. Genomics – genetic material of an organism
3. Proteomics – proteins inside organism
4. Immunology – immune system and immunity
5. Bioinformatics – biological data and computer programs.
Life and its
Beginnings

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Early beliefs about the origin of life

• Theories

1. Spontaneous generation or abiogenesis - Abiogenesis is the scientific idea that

life can arise naturally from non-living matter, without the need for pre-existing
living organisms. It proposes that the transition from simple organic compounds to
living organisms can occur through chemical and physical processes under certain
conditions.
Early beliefs about the origin of life

• Theories

2. Biogenesis - Biogenesis is the scientific principle that living

organisms can only arise from pre-existing living organisms. This
concept stands in contrast to abiogenesis, which suggests that life can
originate from non-living matter.
Early beliefs about the origin of life

• Since then, several experiments have been conducted to

prove these contradicting beliefs about the origin of life.
Redi’s experiment

• Francesco Redi conducted an experiment in the 17th century to challenge the

idea of spontaneous generation—the belief that living organisms could arise
spontaneously from non-living matter. In his experiment, Redi used three jars
with meat: one left open, one covered with gauze, and one tightly sealed. The
open jar developed maggots, the gauze-covered jar had maggots on the surface,
and the sealed jar remained free of maggots. This experiment supported the idea
that maggots (and, by extension, other living organisms) did not arise
spontaneously but instead came from pre-existing flies laying eggs on the meat.
Redi's work contributed to the rejection of the concept of spontaneous generation
and laid the foundation for the understanding of biogenesis.
Needham’s experiment

• Needham's experiment involved boiling a broth and sealing

it in a flask, but microorganisms still appeared. This was
interpreted as supporting spontaneous generation, though
later criticisms and experiments questioned the validity of
his results.
Spallanzani’s experminet

• Lazzaro Spallanzani conducted an experiment in the

18th century using broth in sealed and open flasks to
challenge the idea of spontaneous generation. He
showed that microorganisms did not appear in the
sealed flask, supporting the idea that living organisms
come from pre-existing life.
Pasteur’s experiment

• Louis Pasteur's experiment involved swan-necked flasks

containing broth. The curved necks prevented
microorganisms from entering, proving that air alone was
not sufficient for the generation of life. This experiment
supported the idea of biogenesis, confirming that living
organisms only arise from pre-existing life.
Current beliefs about the origin of life

• The idea that life came from pre-existing life is unquestionable based on
previous findings. But a question still lingers on how organisms developed on
the planet.
Current beliefs about the origin of life

• Divine creation – the oldest hypothesis that life came from a divine being is the

most widely-accepted belief. Divine creation posits that living organisms

were created by a higher power or deity rather than through natural
processes.
Current beliefs about the origin of life

• Spontaneous origin - Spontaneous origin of organisms is the idea

that living beings can emerge naturally from non-living matter
without the involvement of pre-existing living organisms.
Current beliefs about the origin of life

• Panspermia- Panspermia is the hypothesis that life on Earth, or at least its

building blocks, originated from extraterrestrial sources, such as comets or
meteorites.
Unifying themes
about life

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Gathering and using energy

• Humans gather and use energy in the body through the process of cellular
respiration, where nutrients like glucose are metabolized to produce ATP
(adenosine triphosphate), the primary energy currency of cells. Life gathers and
uses energy through various processes such as photosynthesis (in plants and some
bacteria) or cellular respiration (in most organisms). During these processes,
energy is captured from sunlight or obtained from nutrients, and it is converted into
a form that cells can use, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), to fuel essential
biological functions.
Nutrient uptake and processing

• Organisms' uptake nutrients from their environment through

processes like ingestion, absorption, or photosynthesis. These
nutrients are then processed through various metabolic pathways to
produce energy and building blocks for the organism's growth,
maintenance, and reproduction.
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Waste elimination

• Waste elimination is the process by which the body expels

and removes unnecessary or harmful byproducts, often
through organs like the kidneys (for urine) and the digestive
system (for solid waste).
Adopting and
Evolving
• Adopting and evolving refer
to the ability of living
organisms to adapt to their
environment over time
through genetic changes and
natural selection. This
process allows species to
better suit their surroundings
and improve their chances of
survival and reproduction
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Motility

• Motility is the ability of an organism or cell to move, often

facilitated by structures like flagella or cilia, allowing for
directed or random movement in response to stimuli.
Irritability

• Irritability is the ability of an organism or a cell to respond to stimuli,

typically through a change in behavior or activity, allowing it to adapt
to its environment.
Adaptation

• Adaptation is the process by which organisms evolve traits

that enhance their survival and reproduction in a specific
environment.
Evolution

• Evolution is the process of change in all forms of life over

generations, driven by mechanisms such as natural selection,
genetic mutation, and genetic drift, resulting in the
adaptation and diversification of species over time.
Reproducing and
continuing life

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Growth

• Growth is the process of increasing in size or number of

cells, typically resulting in an overall increase in an
organism's mass or structure.
Development and reproduction

• Development is the process by which an organism undergoes growth,

differentiation, and maturation from a single cell or embryo to a
complex, multicellular structure. Reproduction is the biological
process by which organisms produce offspring, ensuring the
continuity of their species. Sexual reproduction is a kind of
reproduction that needs another special gamete to produce an
offspring, while Asexual reproduction is a capability of a singled-
cell organism to produce another cell on their own.
Heredity

• Heredity is the process by which traits and characteristics are passed

from one generation to the next through the transmission of genetic
information encoded in DNA. This occurs during reproduction,
where offspring inherit genetic material from their parents, ensuring
the continuity of genetic information across successive generations.
 Organization of life

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Heirarchichal levels of biological organization

• The hierarchical levels of biological organization, from simplest to most

complex, are:
1. Atoms and Molecules: The basic building blocks of matter, involved in chemical
reactions.
2. Cells: The fundamental units of life, containing organelles and carrying out essential
functions.
3. Tissues: Groups of cells working together for a specific function.
Heirarchichal levels of biological organization

• The hierarchical levels of biological organization, from simplest to

most complex, are:
4. Organs: Structures composed of tissues, serving specific physiological purposes.
5. Organ Systems: Collections of organs working together to perform complex functions.
6. Organisms: Entire living entities, made up of interacting organ systems.
Heirarchichal levels of biological organization
• The hierarchical levels of biological organization, from simplest to most complex, are:

7. Populations: Groups of individuals of the same species living in a particular area.

8. Communities: All populations of different species living and interacting in a defined
area.
9. Ecosystems: Living organisms and their physical environment interacting in a
particular area.
10. Biosphere: The sum of all ecosystems and living organisms on Earth, forming the
global ecological system.
The 6 kingdoms of life is
divided into 3 domains of life

• The eubacteria classified

as DOMAIN BACTERIA
(prokaryotes)
• The archaea classified as
DOMAIN ARCHAEA
(prokaryotes)
• The protista, fungi,
plantae, and animalia are
classified as DOMAIN
EUKARYA