Unit 1: Introduction to

Biological Sciences
Lecturer: Mr Francois Naude
Office: Robert Sobukwe GNA 213
Telephone: 011 559 5112

Announcements
Ensure that you have signed the register
that is now circulating in the class.
Learning guide is on Blackboard.
Test: 15 August 2016 @ Funda 08:30
1st year guide is on Blackboard
Study only the life and living section

Sections in this Unit

1.1: What is biology?
1.2: The diversity of life: evolution through
natural selection.
1.3: Biological organisation: the hierarchy of life.

WHY SHOULD WE STUDY

BIOLOGY?

1.1: What is Biology?

The study of life and living organisms including their
structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and
taxonomy.
Biology recognizes the cell as the basic unit of life,
genes as the basic unit of heredity, and evolution as
the engine that propels the synthesis and creation of
new species.
All organisms survive by consuming and transforming
energy and by regulating their internal environment to
maintain a stable and vital condition Homeostasis.

1.1: What is Biology?

Biochemistry examines the rudimentary chemistry of life.
Molecular biology studies the complex interactions
among biological molecules.
Botany studies the biology of plants.
Zoology studies the biology of animals.
Cellular biology examines the basic building-block of all
life, the cell.
Physiology examines the physical and chemical functions
of tissues, organs, and organ systems of an organism.
Evolutionary biology examines the processes that
produced the diversity of life.
Ecology examines how organisms interact in their
environment.

THE ORIGIN OF LIFE?

I THINK EVOLUTION

1.2: The diversity of life: evolution through

natural
selection.

Evolution is change in heritable traits of biological

populations over successive generations.
Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every
level of biological organisation, including the levels of
species, individual organisms, and molecules.
Repeated formation of new species (speciation), change
within species (anagenesis), and loss of species (extinction)
throughout the evolutionary history of life on Earth are
demonstrated by shared sets of morphological and
biochemical traits, including shared DNA sequences.

1.2: The diversity of life: evolution through

natural
selection.

These shared traits are more similar among species

that share a more recent common ancestor, and
can be used to reconstruct a biological "tree of life"
based on evolutionary relationships (phylogenetics),
using both existing species and fossils.
In the mid-19th century, Charles Darwin formulated
the scientific theory of evolution by natural selection,
published in his book On the Origin of Species
(1859).

1.2: The diversity of life: evolution through

natural
selection.

Evolution by natural selection is a process demonstrated by

the observation that more offspring are produced than can
possibly survive, along with three facts about populations:
1) traits vary among individuals with respect to morphology,
physiology, and behaviour (phenotypic variation),
2) different traits confer different rates of survival and
reproduction (differential fitness), and
3) traits can be passed from generation to generation
(heritability of fitness).

1.2: The diversity of life: evolution through

natural
selection.

In successive generations members of a

population are replaced by progeny of parents
better adapted to survive and reproduce in
the biophysical environment in which natural
selection takes place.

1.2: The diversity of life: evolution through

natural
selection.

1.2.1 The difference between theories and

opinions.
1.2.2 Empirical evidence for the theory of
evolution.
1.2.3 Artificial selection.
1.2.4 Evolution through natural selection.
1.2.5 Applications of evolutionary theory.
1.2.6 Objections to evolution.

1.2.1

The difference between theories

and opinions

Unfortunately, the everyday discourse of lay people has

diluted the meaning of the word Theory to mean
subjective opinion or personal speculation.
This misinterpretation and the lack of sound knowledge
regarding the nature of science leads to the misconception
that the theory of evolution is just that, a theory.
Scientific theories undergo strenuous empirical activities
that stretch over an extended time period.
The statements that form part of a theory have been
extensively tested and is not the opinion of only one
person but of the scientific community as a whole.
An opinion however is often the thoughts of a single person
and seldom has any empirical evidence to support it.

1.2.2

Empirical evidence for the

theory of evolution.

The evidence for the theory of

evolution comes from various
disciplines and will be discussed:

Palaeontology
Morphology
Genetics
Embryology

1.2.3 Artificial selection.

Selective breeding (also called artificial selection) is the

process by which humans use animal breeding and plant
breeding to selectively develop particular characteristics
by choosing which typically animal or plant males and
females will sexually reproduce and have offspring
together.
Domesticated animals are known as breeds, normally
bred by a professional breeder, while plants are known
as varieties, cultigens, or cultivars in plants.
Two purebred animals of different breeds produce a
crossbreed, and crossbred plants are called hybrids.

1.2.4 Evolution through

natural selection
Evolution by means of natural selection is the process by
which traits that enhance survival and reproduction become
more common in successive generations of a population. It
has often been called a "self-evident" mechanism because
it necessarily follows from three simple facts:
Variation exists within populations of organisms with respect to
morphology, physiology, and behaviour (phenotypic variation).
Different traits confer different rates of survival and
reproduction (differential fitness).
These traits can be passed from generation to generation
(heritability of fitness).

1.2.5

Applications of evolutionary
theory

Artificial selection has become a vital part of genetic

engineering, with selectable markers such as antibiotic
resistance genes being used to manipulate DNA.
Proteins with valuable properties have evolved by
repeated rounds of mutation and selection (for example
modified enzymes and new antibodies) in a process
called directed evolution.
Understanding the changes that have occurred during
an organism's evolution can reveal the genes needed to
construct parts of the body, genes which may be
involved in human genetic disorders.

1.2.5

Applications of evolutionary
theory

Many human diseases are not static phenomena,

but capable of evolution. Viruses, bacteria, fungi
and cancers evolve to be resistant to host
immune defences, as well as pharmaceutical
drugs.

1.2.6

Objections to evolution

Most criticisms and denials of evolution have come from

religious sources, rather than from the scientific community.
Although many religions have accepted the occurrence of
evolution, there are some religious beliefs which reject
evolutionary explanations in favour of creationism, the belief
that a deity supernaturally created the world largely in its
current form.
Modern creationism is characterized by movements such as
creation science, neo-creationism, and intelligent design,
which argue that the idea of life being directly designed by a
god or intelligence is at least as scientific as evolutionary
theory, and should therefore be taught in public education.

1.3: Biological organisation: the hierarchy of

life.

1.1: What is biology?

1.2: The diversity of life: evolution through
natural selection.
1.3: Biological organisation: the hierarchy of life.

The hierarchy of life.

ATOM

Molecule

Organelle

Cell

Tissue

Organ

Organ System

Organism

The hierarchy of life.

 Return the name lists to me

Thank you!

See you all

next door