The Science of Biology

I. Studying Living Things
	A. Levels of Organization
		1. Molecular
			a) simplest part
			b) ex. DNA
		2. Cellular
			a) Smallest unit of life
			b) Capable of carrying out all functions
		3. Tissue
			a) Group of cells performing a specific function (1) ex. amoeba
			b) found in multi-cellular organisms
			c) ex. muscle tissue
		4. Organ
			a) Different types of tissue working together to perform a function
			b) ex. heart
		5. System
			a) Organs working together to perform a function
			b) ex. digestive system
		6. Population
			a) Organisms of the same species that live together in a particular location.
			b) ex. people in Lexington
		7. Community
			a) All the populations of different kinds of organisms living in the same place.
			b) ex. a lawn
		8. Ecosystem
			a) Includes living communities and nonliving factors of the environment.
			b) ex. forest ecosystem (includes water, minerals, ect.)

II. Designing an experiment
	A. Steps to an experiment (PPOC)
		1. Problem - state what your trying to find out
		2. Procedure - how your going to run the experiment, include the materials
		3. Observation - record the data running the lab
		4. Conclusion - did you find an answer to the problem
	B. Requirements
		1. Must be able to be repeated with same results
		2. Most are controlled experiments with two groups
			a) Control group
				(1) standard by which change is measured, everything stays the same (constant)
			b) Experimental group
				(1) you change one thing (variable)
				(2) Variable has three parts
				(a) Manipulated (independent) variable - thing you change
				(b) Responding (dependent) variable - what the thing you change effects
				(c) Interfering variable - anything else that happens that can effect the outcome of the experiment. (Try to prevent these!)
III. Tools of Biology
	A. Microscope
		1. Parts (Learn the parts )
		2. Resolution 
			a) Ability to distinguish fca points as two points.
		3. Contrast
			a) Ability to see detail
			b) Organisms may be stained.
	B, Computers
		1. Stores and analyzes data
		2. Models reduce the need for the use of animals in research.