Kabankalan Catholic College – STEM 11 | GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

1
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY 1

BY: JENNICA GRACE YNCHAUSTI-PACETE, RPh, LPT

OUTLINE C. BIOLOGISTS
I. INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY  Biologists a scientist who studies life, specifically
A. Description of Biology organisms and their relationship to their
B. Branches of Biology environment.
C. Biologists  Generally speaking, biologists study humans,
D. Levels of Organization of Living Organism animals, plants and bacteria to gain a better
E. Levels of Organization above a living organism understanding of how the body and nature
F. Characteristics of a Living organism works, and how external factors may influence
each organism.

I. INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY  ARISTOTLE- Father of Biology and Zoology

A. DESCRIPTION OF BIOLOGY
Biology
 It is the natural science that studies life and living
organisms, including their physical structure,
chemical processes , molecular interactions,
physiological mechanisms, development and
evolution.
 The term Biology comes from the Greek word:
bios means LIFE and logos means to STUDY
B. BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY
 Cytology is the study of cells.
 Botany is the study of plants.
 Zoology is the study of animals.
 Anatomy is the study of the internal structures of
living things.
 Physiology is the study of normal functions of
living things.
 Taxonomy is the classification and naming of
living things.
 Genetics is the science of heredity and the
lifelong development of living things
 Microbiology is the study of microorganisms.
 Histology is the study of tissues.
 Ecology is the study of the relationships of living
things to each other and their environment.
 THEOPHRASTUS – Father of Botany
 ROBERT HOOKE- Father of Cytology
 CAROLUS LINNAEUS- Father of Taxonomy
 GREJOR MENDEL- Father of Genetics
 LOUIS PASTEUR- Father of Modern Microbiology
 ANTONIE VAN LEUWENHOEK- Father of
Microbiology
 ANDREAS VESALIUS- Father of Anatomy
 HIPPOCRATES- Father of Medicine
D. LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION OF A LIVING
ORGANISM
The living world can be organized into different
levels. For example, many individual organisms can
be organized into the following levels:
 Cell: Basic unit of structure and function of all
living things.
 Tissue: Group of cells that perform specific
function.
 Organ: Structure composed of one or more types
of tissues. The tissues of an organ work together
to perfume a specific function. Human organs
include the brain, stomach, kidney, and liver.
Plant organs include roots, stems, and leaves.
 Organ system: Group of organs that work
together to perform a certain function.
Examples of organ systems in a human include
the skeletal, nervous, and reproductive systems.
 Organism: Individual living thing that may be
made up of one or more organ systems.

GENBIO1 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY

 Kabankalan Catholic College – STEM 11 | GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

1
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY 1

BY: JENNICA GRACE YNCHAUSTI-PACETE, RPh, LPT

E. LEVEL OF ORGANIZATION ABOVE A LIVING  Growth and Development

ORGANISM  Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) – the organisms’
genetic material which direct their pattern of
growth and development.

There are also levels of organization above the

individual organism.
 Population: Organisms of the same species that
live in the same area. For example, all of the
goldfish living in the same area make up a  Reproduction
goldfish population.  Biogenesis: states that “Life comes only from
 Community: All of the populations that live in the life”.
same area. The community that includes the  Sexual reproduction: Involves the fusion of sex
goldfish population also includes the populations cells or gametes.
of other fish, coral, and other organisms.
 Ecosystem: consists of all the living things (biotic
factors) in a given area, together with the
nonliving environment (abiotic factors). The
nonliving environment includes water, sunlight,
soil, and other physical factors.
 Biome: A group of similar ecosystems with the
same general type of physical environment.
 Biosphere: Part of Earth where all life exists,
including all the land, water, and air where living  Asexual reproduction: Does not involve gametes.
things can be found. The biosphere consists of (Ex. Plants)
many different biomes.  Fission: Splitting of the body of an organism into
two identical parts. (Ex. Amoeba)
F. CHARACTERISTICS OF A LIVING ORGANISM
 Cellular Composition:
 Unicellular - made up of one cell only
 Multicellular - made up of more than one cell

GENBIO1 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY

 Kabankalan Catholic College – STEM 11 | GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

1
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY 1

BY: JENNICA GRACE YNCHAUSTI-PACETE, RPh, LPT

 Budding: the growing of bud out of the parent
cells of the bodies which when detached can
grow into another organism that resembles the
appearance of parent.
o Catabolism – Breakdown of energy. (Ex. Cellular
respiration)
 Homeostasis
 Ability to maintain an organisms’ internal
environment within tolerable limits despite
of environmental fluctuations.

 Response to Stimuli
 Stimuli – external factors that elicit
responses from living organisms.
 Phototropism – response of plants to light,
the growth and movement toward light.
 Sporulation: It is the spore formation as in fern
o An example of phototropism is plant
plant and mushrooms.
stem growth in the direction of sunlight
(upward).
o Positive Phototropism-Stems (grow
upwards), Negative Phototropism-Roots
(grow downwards). In a plant, the stem
(or shoot) shows positive phototropism,
as it grows towards the sunlight.

 Utilization of Energy:
 Energy – It is the capacity to do work. It
enables the organisms to perform many
kinds of activities and functions.
o Endothermic process: when energy is
taken in
o Exothermic process: when energy is
given off.
 Metabolism – changes within an organism
 Geotropism – plants response to gravity
which involves energy.
o The movement of plant parts in response to the
 Classification of Metabolism
direction of gravity is known as geotropism. The
o Anabolism – building up of energy (Ex.
growth of plant roots is an example of
Photosynthesis)
geotropism as it grows towards the direction of
gravity.

GENBIO1 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY

 Kabankalan Catholic College – STEM 11 | GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

1
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY 1

BY: JENNICA GRACE YNCHAUSTI-PACETE, RPh, LPT

 Thigmotropism – response to touch

 Chemotropism – response to chemical

substances.

 Adaptation, Mutation and Evolution

 These are changes that will make an organism
suited to its environment.
 Adaptation: changes that happen at the level of
organism
 Mutation: changes that happen at genetic level
 Evolution: changes that happen through a series
of generation.
 Fossils: are remains of things which have lived in
the past.

GENBIO1 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY