Introduction to Biology:

• Biology- the study of life and all of it's forms

• characteristics of life-

1. cellular respiration

2. reproduction

3. metabolism

4. homoestasis

5. heredity

6. responsiveness

7. growth and develpoment

• scientific method-

1. observations

2. predictions and hypothesis

3. experimentation

• control group
• experimental group
• independent variable
• dependent variable

4. drawing conclusions

5. constructing a theory

• line graphs-

•  measures continuous data
•  x-axis is usually measure of time
•  x independent variable
•  y dependent variable

• bar graphs-

•  non continuous data

• metric measures-

•  prefix - symbol - factor of base unit
•  kilo - k - 1,000
•  centi - c - .01
•  milli - m - .001
•  micro - M - .00001

• microscope parts-

•  ocular lens
•  body tube
•  arm
•  stage
•  coarse adjustment
•  fine adjustment
•  lamp or mirror
•  revolving nosepiece
•  low and high power objective lens
•  base
• diaphragm

• chemical bonding-

0. covalent bonds: sharing electrons/molecules

1. ionic bonds: transfer of electrons

2. hydrogen bonds: weak chemical attraction between polar molecules

• bio molecules-

• classes of organic compounds
  •  carbohydrates (CHO) key energy source

1. monosaccharides: building blocks of carbs

2. disaccharides: 2 simple sugars

3. polysaccharides: many simple sugars

• lipids (CHO) energy source not soluable in water

1. fats: energy storage for molecules

2. phospholipids: cell membrane

3. steriods: cholesterol, sex hormones

• proteins (CHON) build and burn molecules

1. amino acids: building blocks of protein

2. play a key role in interactions in cellular process

•  nucleic acids

1. consists of nitrogen base, sugar and phosphate

2. DNA and RNA

• enzymes- special proteins that speed up chemical reactions (catalyst)

•  lower activation energy
•  temp, pH and concentration of substances effect enzyme activity
•  enzyme helps one reaction, then releases and helps another reaction
•  substrate fits into an enzyme's active site