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    Heinemann Biology 1 Reduced

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    hal wang
    Biology is based on careful observations and experiments. Some theories are strongly supported by evidence while others are still being modified. Key biological principles include that living things are made of cells, evolve over time, and are adapted to their environments.

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    Heinemann Biology 1 Reduced

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    hal wang
    1K views518 pages
    Biology is based on careful observations and experiments. Some theories are strongly supported by evidence while others are still being modified. Key biological principles include that living things are made of cells, evolve over time, and are adapted to their environments.

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    Biology is based on careful observations and experiments. Some theories are strongly supported by evidence while others are still being modified. Key biological principles include that living things are made of cells, evolve over time, and are adapted to their environments.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    1K views518 pages

    Heinemann Biology 1 Reduced

    Uploaded by

    hal wang
    Biology is based on careful observations and experiments. Some theories are strongly supported by evidence while others are still being modified. Key biological principles include that living things are made of cells, evolve over time, and are adapted to their environments.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 518

    1.

    1 Important principles in biology


    Biology is a science, and our current understanding of life is based on the results
    of careful observations and experiments. In biology, some ideas or theories arc BIOFILE
    supported by ovenvhe.lming amounts of evidence from s.uch a wide variety of
    Popular theories overturned
    sources that it seems very unlikely they will be found to be untrue in the future.They
    are. accepted as biological principles. Other theories are Jess strongly supported. Scientific theories often change or
    Many are being modifie.d or overturne.d even as you read this book. are discarded when new information
    is obtained. Some popular theories
    Some biological principles and processes arc reJcvant to the ways that almost all
    that have been recently modified or
    living organisms function. For example, living organisms arc composed of cells,
    overturned include:
    organisms have comrnon characteristics and rcquircrncnts, evolution explains the
    • sugar causes tooth decay (bacteria
    diversity of ,organjsms, and orgM.isms ore adnptcd to their c·nvironmcnts.
    are the real cause; they use the
    sugar and release acid which attacks
    teeth)
    • stress causes ulcers (the bacterium
    Helicobacter pylori is the cause
    . )
    • fibre in the diet reduces the risk of
    colon cancer (a huge study showed
    no correlation).

    FIGURE 1.1.1 An example of living organisms: a common wombat (Vomb.atus ursinus) mother with
    her young joey.

    ORGANISMS ARE LIVING THINGS


    There arc usually obvious dHfcrcnccs bcnvccn a living orga.njsn, and a non-Hving
    object, such as a ,vombat and a rock. A wombat ('Figure 1.1.1) is able to move,
    cat and respond to sounds; the young animal in the picture is evidence that the
    wombat is able to reproduce. A tree cannot move about_, but we can observe it grow
    new leaves and reproduce at a certain time of the year by flo,vering and producing
    seeds, which c.an germinate and de.vclop into new plants. \Ve can observe that a tree
    obtains materials and energy from its surroundings, since without sunlight, soil,
    nutrients and water a tree will ce.ase to grow.
    \Ve can also see when an organism is no longer living. In a tree the signs of death
    may be yellowing and loss of leaves, and branches that become dry and brittle. It is
    perhaps more difficult to tell whether or not mould on rotting fruit or vegetables is
    living (Figure I, 1.2). But if we carefully observe a p-Jtch of mould over a few days
    we can sec it grow in size and eventually produce dark spores that disperse in air
    currents.
    \Ve c.an also apply the terms �living' and �dead' to parts of organisms, but this
    is not always straightfonvard. A fruit that has dropped from an apple tree encloses
    flGURE 1.1.2 Moulds are also living organisms.
    seeds, e.ach of which contains and protects a living embryonic plant. In contrast, This image shows mould (pale wey) wowing in
    the outer corky part of the bark of the tree consists of dead tissue, just as the outer a oompost bin on decaying fruit and vegetables.
    layer of your skin is dead. An organ such as a kidney that h!as been removed from
    a donor must be kept alive artificially if it is to be transplanted successfully into a
    recipient patient. [f thc organ died it could not maintain its structure and functions.

    CHAPTER 1 I BIOLOGY KEYSTONES- FOUNDATION CONCEPTS ANO SKILLS 3

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