Chapter 1
Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life
PowerPoint® Lecture Presentations for
Biology
Eighth Edition
Neil Campbell and Jane Reece
Lectures by Chris Romero, updated by Erin Barley with contributions from Joan Sharp
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings
Overview: Inquiring About the World of Life
• Evolution
• Biology
Response
Evolutionary to the environment adaptation
• Life is recognized by what livings things do
• Biology consists of more than memorizing factual details Order
• Themes help organize biological information
Reproduction
Regulation/
Homeostasis
Energy processing Growth and development Theme: New Properties Emerge at Each Level in the Biological Hierarchy
The biosphere
Cells
Biomes
Organs and organ systems
Ecosystems
Cell
Organelles
Communities
Atoms
Tissues
Molecules
Populations
Organisms
Emergent Properties
• Emergent Properties: result from arrangement and interaction of parts within a system
– EXAMPLES?
The Power and Limitations of Reductionism
• Reductionism: breakdown of complex systems to simpler components more manageable to study – Example: the molecular structure of DNA
• Understanding biology balances reductionism with the study of emergent properties
– Example: new understanding comes from studying the interactions of DNA with other molecules Systems Biology
• System: combination of components that function together
• Systems biology: constructs models for the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems
• Systems approach poses questions such as:
– How does a drug for blood pressure affect other organs? – How does increasing CO2 alter the biosphere?
Theme: Organisms Interact with Environments,
Exchanging Matter and Energy
• Every organism interacts with its environment, including abiotic factors and other organisms
• Both organisms and their environments
Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life
PowerPoint® Lecture Presentations for
Biology
Eighth Edition
Neil Campbell and Jane Reece
Lectures by Chris Romero, updated by Erin Barley with contributions from Joan Sharp
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings
Overview: Inquiring About the World of Life
• Evolution
• Biology
Response
Evolutionary to the environment adaptation
• Life is recognized by what livings things do
• Biology consists of more than memorizing factual details Order
• Themes help organize biological information
Reproduction
Regulation/
Homeostasis
Energy processing Growth and development Theme: New Properties Emerge at Each Level in the Biological Hierarchy
The biosphere
Cells
Biomes
Organs and organ systems
Ecosystems
Cell
Organelles
Communities
Atoms
Tissues
Molecules
Populations
Organisms
Emergent Properties
• Emergent Properties: result from arrangement and interaction of parts within a system
– EXAMPLES?
The Power and Limitations of Reductionism
• Reductionism: breakdown of complex systems to simpler components more manageable to study – Example: the molecular structure of DNA
• Understanding biology balances reductionism with the study of emergent properties
– Example: new understanding comes from studying the interactions of DNA with other molecules Systems Biology
• System: combination of components that function together
• Systems biology: constructs models for the dynamic behavior of whole biological systems
• Systems approach poses questions such as:
– How does a drug for blood pressure affect other organs? – How does increasing CO2 alter the biosphere?
Theme: Organisms Interact with Environments,
Exchanging Matter and Energy
• Every organism interacts with its environment, including abiotic factors and other organisms
• Both organisms and their environments