Biology Early Days:
-comes from 2 Greek words
“bio” means life 3 Major Branches of Biology
“logos” means study of/science of 1. zoology- animals
2. botany- plants
3. microbiology- microorganisms
9 Traditional Branches of Biology
1. Genetics- study of genes, hereditary
2. Anatomy & Rhypiology- study of organs and how it works
3. Ecology- the study of populations in their natural habitats
4. Taxonomy- study of living organisms
5. Evolution- studying origin
6. Biochemistry- study of chemical reactions required to exist
7. Embryology- deals with the study of the development of the embryo
8. Cytology- the study of cells
Modern Branches of Biology
1. Bioinformaties- use of information technology for the study of genomic and bio data
2. Genomics
3. Molecular Biology- study of molecular level
4. Pharmacogenomics
5. Proteomics
6. Synthetic Biology- research integrated biology and engineering
7. Systems Biology
Facts:
1. Elephants have the longest gestation period for about a year and a half.
2. Biology is natural science about study of life.
3. The importance in studying Biology are:
Better understanding to the human body
Finding cure for diseases
Saving endangered species which are on the edge the extinction
One problem right now is Dengue. It is caused by a female mosquito, Aedes Aegypti. Dengue is an acute
infectious disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitos and the symptoms are headache, severe joint pain,
and rashes.
The authorities should consider using biological methods to counter the dengue epidemic in the country
which is fast spiraling out of control. This method includes the use of fish, dragonflies, and genetically
engineered mosquitoes to battle Aedes mosquitos. The western mosquito fish is known as Gambusia
Affinis, which eats mosquito larvae. This method has been used in United States already. The record of
cases in Dengue now is 13, 306 cases. The dragonfly nymphs, also the genetically engineered
mosquitoes also be release. They can help us too! How? They mate the Aedes mosquito and since it is
engineered they would not spawn eggs.
Biological methods are effective. This method has been used in China, Cambodia, United States and I
think that is enough reason for us to jump in trying this method. And this I conclude.
9 Characteristics of Living Things:
1. Order- some degree of order is present in living organisms. Living organisms are characterized by
simple to complex organization.
2. Metabolism- the ability of an organism to capture energy from the outside environment.
Two Types of Metabolism:
1. Catabolism- larger molecules are broken down into smaller or simpler substances.
2. Anabolism- energy is used to bring together small molecules to build larger molecules.
3. Motility- the ability of organism to move.
4. Irritability or Responsiveness- ability of an organism to react with organisms and change of
environment.
5. Reproduction- way of perpetuating the species. The ability of the living organisms to increase its
population by making use of two important molecules: the DNA & RNA
6. Development- the process by which the offspring grow and matures.
7. Heredity- the process which traits of parents are blended during sexual reproduction into a new
individual.
8. Evolution- the changes in the hereditary features of an organism over time.
9. Adaptation- the ability of an organism to complement or manage a new environment to survive and
reproduce.
Types of Microscopes:
1. Scanning Electron Microscope
-type of electron microscope
-produces image by scanning the surface with focused beam of electrons
2. Transmitted Electron Microscope
-a beam of electrons is transmitted through a specimen to form an image
3. Inverted Microscope
-useful for observing living cells in organisms
-for visualization of the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria
4. Stereoscopic Microscope
-using light reflected from the surface of an object rather than transmitted
-for low magnifying observation
-optical microscope
5. Fluorescent Microscope
-optical microscope that uses fluorescence and phosphorescence
-used to study properties of organic or inorganic microscope
-any microscope uses fluorescence to generate image
Cells- basic unit of all living organisms
Cells make up by: cell > tissues > organs > organ system > organism
Different Kinds of Cells:
1. Plant cell
2. Animal cell
3. Specialized cell –adapted to perform a specific function.
Types:
a) Sperm cell
a. Male sex cell or “gamete”
b. Smallest cell in human body
c. Contains flagellum to help swim
d. Streamline shape
e. It has mitochondria
:: provides energy
:: it has many mitochondria
b) Ovum or Egg Cell’
a. Female sex cell or “female gamete”
b. Largest cell in human body
c. Large supplies of yolk
d. Provide nutrition
c) Neurons or Nerve Cell
a. Carry information from brain
b. Group of neurons = nerve
c. It has electric signals
d. Stellate shaped
d) Red Blood Cell (RBC)
a. Carries oxygen around the body
b. Has chemical called hemoglobin
c. Bi-concave shape
d. Does not have nucleus
e. Flexible
e) White Blood Cell (WBC)
a. Part of immune system
b. Fight foreign bodies and infections
c. Have many different types
f) Guard Cell
a. In plants particularly found in the bottom of leaves
b. Open and close to allow or prevent
