LS1201

Introduction to Biology II

Class No. 2
(4th Jan 2016)
10.00am
 Evolution

Latin word
Which means – to unfold or unroll

 Change in the properties of groups of

organisms over the course of generations
Levels of Organization

Organism
Populations
Species
Communities
Ecosystem

Biosphere
 Organism

 An organism is the central biological unit that

integrates and responds to internal and external
information and carries out all the basic life
functions.
 Phenotype & Genotype
 Phenotype is defined as an organism's
physical traits.
Examples of an organism's phenotype include traits such as
height, size, shape and behavior.
 Genotype is defined as an organism’s genetic
makeup

Phenotype is the result of the environment and

the genotype of the organism and can be highly
variable
Variation – difference in a given
trait among organisms of the
same species
Variation
 Variation
Some examples in Humans

• Ability to roll your tongue

• Slightly curved little finger
• Blood groups
Variation

One species
of plant at the
same age,
grown in
similar
conditions
 Variations

• What does this mean?

• How is this brought about?
• When did it occur?
• Why would this be important?

Why do we see so much variation in the

phenotypes of organisms?
 Proximate & Ultimate
category of questions

Proximate Ultimate
• How it works? • Why it’s there?
• Mechanism • Advantages
Touch me not!

Mimosa pudica

Shy or Shrinking
Touch me not!

Botany
 Touch me not!

• Over 300 species of Mimosa are present, they all

belong to the pea family of plants
• Is considered a weed and is a native of Brazil
• Perennial plant
 Touch me not!
Leaf movements

Rapid movement
Seisomonastic movement
Slow movement • This can be caused by mechanical,
chemical, thermal or electrical
Nyctinastic movement stimulation.
•