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Welcome to
General Biology
BI101–Spring 2006
Course Introduction
Instructor:
Lonnie Guralnick
Office:
E-Mail:
Phone:
104b Natural Sciences
[email protected]
838 - 8136 (x8-8136)
Office Hours: M 1 pm
T 9 am
Th 9-11 am
F 2 pm
Course Introduction
Lectures:
• MWF
11:00 - 11:50 am
103 NS
Required Text:
• Biology - Life on Earth (Audesirk2 & Byers - 7th Ed.)
• Laboratory Manual (BI 101)
Course Introduction
Grading:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final
Laboratory
Testing Format:
100
100
100
150
150
500
Multiple Choice
True/False
Matching (w/ Diagrams)
Fill-in-the-blank / Short Answer
Grading Scale (approximate): 100 - 90% = A
89 - 80% = B
79 - 65% = C
64 - 55% = D
< 55% = F
Course Introduction
Web Site:
• http://www.wou.edu/~guralnl
• Course Button: BI101
What is the content of BI 101?
Unit 6: Ecology Chapters 39-42
•
Population Ecology
•
Communities and Ecosystems
•
Biomes
Unit 3: Diversity of Life Chapters 17-23
•
History of life
•
Systematics
•
Diversity of life: Bacteria, fungi, plants and animals
Unit 3: Evolution Chapters 14-16
•
Microevolution
•
Origin of species
•
Macroevolution
Course Introduction
How to get the most out of BI 101:
1) Come to class
2) Read the book before lecture
3) Review study questions.
4) Do your best in lab (It’s 25% of your grade!)
5) Seek understanding of concepts. Ask questions!
• talk to your professor
• visit the tutoring center
• start a study group
6) Stay Healthy!
Chapter 1: Introduction to Life on Earth
What is Life?
What are the Characteristics of Living Things?
1) Living things are complex and organized
(Figure 1.2)
Chapter 1: Introduction to Life on Earth
What is Life?
What are the Characteristics of Living Things?
1) Living things are complex and organized
2) Living things need nutrients and energy
• Nutrients = Environment (e.g. soil)
• Energy = Sun (Direct or Indirect)
3) Living things maintain homeostasis
4) Living things grow
5) Living things respond to stimuli (e.g. pain)
6) Living things reproduce (DNA = blueprints)
7) Living things evolve (Natural Selection)
Chapter 1: Introduction to Life on Earth
How Do Scientists Categorize the Diversity of Life?
Current System of Classification (largest to smallest):
• Bacteria
• Archaea
Domain
Prokaryotes
(no nucleus)
• Eukarya
Eukaryotes
(true nucleus)
Eukarya
Scientific Name:
Animalia
Kingdom
Genus species
Chordata
Phylum
Reptilia
Class
Squamata
Order
Colubridae
Family
Thamnophis
Genus
Sirtalis
Species
Chapter 1: Introduction to Life on Earth
What Does the Science of Biology Encompass?
Scientific principles underlie all scientific inquiry:
1) All events can be traced to natural causes that
can be comprehended
2) Laws of nature (physics) hold in all time and space
3) People perceive natural events in similar ways
Scientific method is the basis of scientific inquiry:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Observation
Hypothesis
Experiment
Conclusion
Maggots appear on meat
Flies produce maggots
Leave meat uncovered / cover meat
Flies source of maggots
What Does the Science of Biology
Encompass?
Science is a human
endeavor:
• Chance events
• Errors
• “Gut” instincts
Scientific Reasoning:
• Inductive
• Deductive
Chapter 1: Introduction to Life on Earth
What Does the Science of Biology Encompass?
Scientific Theories have been thoroughly tested:
• Not educated guesses
• May be modified
• More general and reliable
• General explanation of important natural phenomena
• ie: atomic theory, cell theory,
•Can be modified with evidence
Chapter 1: Introduction to Life on Earth
Evolution: The Unifying Theory of Biology
Three natural processes underlie evolution:
1) Genetic variation exists among members of a population
2) Such variation is inherited to the next generation
3) Natural Selection: The survival and enhanced
reproduction of members with favorable variations.
1
2
3
Birds like
red frogs
Dr. Guralnick