Chapter 1 - Introduction: Themes in the study of life. In this chapter, you should now be able to: Briefly describe the unifying themes that characterize the biological sciences; distinguish among the three domains of life, and the eukaryotic kingdoms; distinguish between the following pairs of terms: discovery science and hypothesis-based science, quantitative and qualitative data, inductive and deductive reasoning, science and technology. | Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life Chapter 1 Overview: Inquiring About the World of Life Evolution is the process of change over time that has transformed life on Earth. Biology is the scientific study of life. Biologists ask questions such as: How a single cell develops into an organism How the human mind works How living things interact in communities. Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings Evolutionary adaptation Figure Some properties of life Evolution, the Overarching Theme of Biology Evolution makes sense of everything we know about living organisms. Organisms living on Earth are modified descendents of common ancestors. Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings Order Evolutionary adaptation Response to the environment Reproduction Growth and development Energy processing Regulation Some properties of life Figure Theme: New properties emerge at each level in the biological hierarchy Life can be studied at different levels from molecules to the entire living planet. The study of life can be divided into different levels of biological organization. Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings Levels of biological organization The Biosphere Communities Populations Organisms Ecosystems Organs and organ systems Cells Cell Organelles Atoms Molecules Tissues 10 µm 1 µm 50 µm Figure Emergent Properties Emergent properties result from the arrangement and interaction of parts within a system. Emergent properties characterize nonbiological entities as well. For example, a functioning bicycle emerges only when all of the necessary parts connect in the correct way. Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings The Power and Limitations of Reductionism Reductionism is the reduction of complex systems to simpler components that are more manageable to study. For example, | Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life Chapter 1 Overview: Inquiring About the World of Life Evolution is the process of change over time that has transformed life on Earth. Biology is the scientific study of life. Biologists ask questions such as: How a single cell develops into an organism How the human mind works How living things interact in communities. Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings Evolutionary adaptation Figure Some properties of life Evolution, the Overarching Theme of Biology Evolution makes sense of everything we know about living organisms. Organisms living on Earth are modified descendents of common ancestors. Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings Order Evolutionary adaptation Response to the environment Reproduction Growth and development Energy processing Regulation Some properties of life Figure Theme: New properties emerge at each level in the
