Aja Clark 8/29/11 AP Biology Chapter 1.1-1.3 Outline Vocabulary 1.

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Biology: scientific study of life Producer: plants and other photosynthetic organisms that convert light energy to chemical energy Consumers: organisms that feed on producers and other organisms Deoxyribonucleic acid/DNA: substance of genes Genes: units of inheritance that transmit information from parents to offspring Genome: entire library of genetic instructions that an organism inherits Eukaryotic cell: cell with membrane enclosed nucleus and membrane enclosed organelles Prokaryotic cell: cell without membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane enclosed organelles System: more complex organization formed from a combination of components Emergent properties: new properties that emerge in each step of the level below it Reductionism: reducing complex systems to simpler components that are more manageable to study Systems biology: approach to studying biology that aims to model the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems Bioinformatics: using computing power, software, and mathematical models to process and integrate biological information from large data sets Negative feedback: Positive feedback: Domain Bacteria: contains prokaryotes; one of the 3 domains of life Domain Archaea: contains prokaryotes; one of the 3 domains of life Domain Eakarya: largest domain; includes eukaryotes; one of the 3 domains of life

Biologys Most Exciting Era: Charachteristics of Life: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Order: highly ordered structure Evolutionary Adaptation: change over time Response to the environment: responds and interacts with the environment Regulation: homeostasis; maintain internal balance Energy Processing: obtain and release energy Growth and development: inherit information carried by genes Reproduce: perpetuate the species

Concept 1.1: Biologists explore life from the microscopic to the global scale -life is studied from the microscopic scale to global scale; it is broken into different levels of biological organization A Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Biosphere: part of the Earth that contains all ecosystems Ecosystem: composed of communities and their non-living surroundings Community: composed of populations who live together in a defined area Populations: composed of organisms of only one type that live in the same area Organism: individual living thing Organ System: group of tissues organized to carry out a specific function Tissues: group of cells performing a common function Cells: the smallest unit that carry out all of lifes processes Organelle: group of group of molecules organized to perform a particular function Molecule: structure made of two or more atoms Atom: basic units of matter Sub-atomic Particles: parts of an atom

A Closer Look at Ecosystems Each organism interacts with its environment (abiotic and biotic) ex: roots of a tree absorb water from the soil Ecosystem Dynamics Ecosystems include two major processes: cycling of nutrients (same concept as energy transfer) and flow of energy from sunlight to producers to consumers Energy Conversion The exchange of energy between organisms involves transformation of one kind of energy to another; ex: plant: solar energy => chemical energy - In all energy conversions some available energy is turned into thermal energy which is dissipated as heat

A Closer Look at Cells

 Cells are the lowest level of organization that can perform all activities required for life; Ex: cells being able to divide is basis for reproduction and growth and development Energy flows through and ecosystem normally entering as light and exiting as heat

The Cells Heritable Information Chromosomes are made of DNA which is the substance of genes Each chromosome has one DNA molecule that holds genes DNA of a chromosome copies itself as cells prepare to divide; this is how the two offspring inherit a full set of genes In each cell genes in the DNA hold the code to make the cells other molecules; this is how DNA directs the development and maintenance of the entire organism Each DNA strand is made of two long chains arranged into a double helix; each chain is one of four kinds of nucleotides How the nucleotides matchup is how the DNA encodes a cells information Genes program the cells production of proteins; Almost all cellular activities involve action of one or more protein DNA provides blueprint, proteins do the work The genetic code is universal throughout all forms of life; this makes it possible to engineer cells to make proteins that would normally be found in other organisms; EX: human insulin came from bacteria Chromosomes of each human cell pack a genome that has nucleotide sequences that have genes coding for the production of more than 75,000 different kinds of proteins Two Main Forms of Cells Every cell has a cell membrane that regulates what materials enter and exit the cell and every cell uses DNA There are two main forms of cells: prokaryotic and eukaryotic Prokaryotic No nucleus No membrane bounded organelles Eukaryotic Nucleus (contains cells DNA) Membrane enclosed organelles

Concept 1.2: Biological systems are much more than the sum of its parts -Understanding systems is the future of biology The Emergent Properties of Systems in every level of the levels of life there are emergent properties that cannot be found in the level just below it; this is an effect of the interaction of certain parts as complexity increases

 Parts of a whole must be arranged in the correct order in order for them to function properly; EX all detached parts of a bike and working bike The Power and Limitations of Reductionism Disrupting a living system interferes with the understanding of its processes but complex organisms cannot be studied without taking it apart; this is the problem scientists are faced with Reductionism has helped towards massive achievements in science Systems Biology Systems biology can be used to create models that predict how changes in one or more variables can affect other components and the whole system Creating systems models help answer big questions like, how will a gradual increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide alter ecosystems and the entire biosphere? Systems biology focuses on the cause and effect of systems of biology Three key research developments are needed to make systems biology possible: -High-throughput technology: devices that can analyze biological materials quickly and produce a lot of date -Bioinformatics: huge databases to keep all information that is fond in order; bioinformatics extracts useful biological information form the enormous, ever expanding data sets, such as DNA sequences and lists of protein interactions -interdisciplinary research teams: melting pots of divers specialists who all collaborate to add the common data Feedback Regulation in Biological Systems Enzymes control a supply and demand economy in biological systems Many biological processes have the ability to self-regulate by a mechanism called feedback In feedback regulation the product of a process regulates that process Negative feedback is when the accumulation of an end product of a process slows that process Positive feedback is when the end product speeds up the process