Biology SPM

Final Notes

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biology
 Biology is the science of life.
 Fields of study in Biology:
a) Groups of living things (e.g. Bacteriology and Botany)
b) Structure and function of living things (e.g. Anatomy and Biochemistry)
c) Changes and development (e.g. Genetics and Palaeontology)
d) Living things and their environment (e.g. Biogeography and Ecology)
e) Applied biology (e.g. Agriculture and Biotechnology)
 Important components of Biology:
a) Scientific skills
b) The scientific method
c) Scientific attitudes and noble values
 Main steps of the scientific methods:
1) Identifying a problem
2) Hypothesis formulation
3) Experiment
4) Conclusion
 The scientific attitude is the way one thinks and feels about learning or doing science.
 Noble values are the beliefs of high moral code or standards.
 Steps in planning and applying a scientific investigation:
1) Identifying a problem
2) Forming a hypothesis
3) Planning an experiment
4) Conducting the experiment
5) Collecting data
6) Analysing data
7) Interpreting data
8) Making conclusions
9) Writing a report
 The report of an experiment should include these aspects:
a) Aim of investigation
b) Problem statement
c) Statement of hypothesis
d) Variables
e) Techniques used
f) List of apparatus and materials
g) Procedure or method of the experiment
h) Record of data
i) Presentation of data
j) Conclusion

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Chapter 2: Cell Structure and Cell Organisation

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