1.

3 Communicating in Biology

CHAPTER 1
Biologists who conduct research need to communicate their research
findings. Communication in biology involves tables, graphs and biological
drawings.
Tables
Tables are used to record and present data. When you conduct an
investigation, the experimental data needs to be recorded in a suitable table.
A table allows you to organise data systematically for easy comparison.
The headings in the table consist of the manipulated variable and the
responding variable with the respective unit.
ICT 1.2
a. The manipulated variable is placed in the column on the
Video: How to
draw a graph
left side.
(Accessed on 21 b. The responding variable is placed in the column on the
August 2019)
right side.
Table 1.2 shows an example of a table in an experiment on the
TABLE 1.2 Volume of oxygen released by effects of different temperatures (manipulated variable)
aquatic plants at different temperatures on the volume of oxygen (O2) released by aquatic plants
Temperature Volume of oxygen (responding variable).
(°C) released (cm3)
Graph
30 2.0
The relationship between the manipulated variable and
40 14.0 responding variable can be illustrated in the form of a
50 12.0 graph. There are several types of graphs such as line graphs,
bar charts and histograms. The line graph shown in Figure
60 6.0
1.1 is based on the data in Table 1.2.
70 3.0

Volume of oxygen released versus temperature

GENERAL METHOD OF
DRAWING A GRAPH
• The responding variable
is represented by the
vertical axis (y-axis) and
Volume of oxygen released (cm3)

the manipulated variable

is represented by the
horizontal axis (x-axis).
• The scaling on the axis
must be uniform.
• Mark the points with an
appropriate symbol such
as ‘x’.
• Title the graph: “Graph
(responding variable) versus
(manipulated variable)”.
Temperature (°C)
FIGURE 1.1 Example of a line graph

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 A bar chart presents data using vertical bars
Number of Form 4 pupils versus blood type that are not attached to each other.

METHOD OF DRAWING A BAR CHART

Number of Form 4 pupils

• Draw two axes, the horizontal axis/X

to represent the manipulated variable
and the vertical axis/Y to represent the
responding variable.
• Each width of the bar needs to
be uniform.
• The bar height depends on the
Blood type frequency of the data.
FIGURE 1.2 Example of a bar chart • Bar charts are used to make
comparisons between two or more
items at a time.
Take Note!
The graph title must be written as
“<Y-axis label> versus <X-axis label>”. Number of pupils versus height

10
A histogram shows the visual distribution of
data and the frequency of a value in a data set. 8
Number of pupils

METHOD OF DRAWING A HISTOGRAM 6

• Draw two axes where the horizontal axis/X

represents the data that has been divided 4
into groups according to the appropriate
range while the vertical axis/Y shows
the frequency. 2
• Insert labels and units on the axes.
• The size or width of the bars must be the 0
115 - 120

121 -125

126 - 130

131 - 135

136 - 140

141 - 145

146 - 150

151 - 155

156 - 160

161 - 165

same for all class gap with no spacing

between the bars.
Height (cm)
FIGURE 1.3 Example of a histogram
Biological drawings
Biological drawings must be exact to give an accurate representation of an observed specimen.
Characteristics of biological drawings
• Large and accurate; use a sharp pencil and not a colour pencil or pen.
• Not shaded artistically.
• Lines drawn must be clear, clean and continuous. Do not use a ruler to draw the outline of
a specimen.

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 • Drawings must be labelled. Label lines must point to the correct

CHAPTER 1
structure, no arrowheads, must be straight and not cross each other.
• Drawings must have titles.
• Each structure in the drawing must be placed in the correct position,
and its size should be proportionate to the rest of the structures.
• A plan drawing is a line drawing that shows the outline of a structure.
• A detailed drawing shows the cells in a structure.
• The magnification factor of a drawing must be stated, for example:
Length of drawing in cm 2.4
= = 2x
Length of specimen in cm 1.2
Therefore, the magnification factor is 2x.
phloem

pith

cortex
xylem
phloem

pith
xylem (b) Detailed drawing

horizontal plane
(a) Plan drawing frontal plane

FIGURE 1.4 Example of (a) plan drawing and (b) detailed

drawing of cross section of dicotyledon stem

Plane, section and direction

In biology, research and observation of an organism’s
structure are done based on the plane, section and
direction. The plane refers to a flat surface of shadow
passing through the body. There are three main planes
used (Figure 1.5):
• sagittal plane (divides the body into right and left parts)
sagittal plane
• frontal plane (divides the body into frontal and rear
parts)
• horizontal plane (divides the body into upper and
lower parts)
FIGURE 1.5 Sagittal, frontal and horizontal planes

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