SHEPHERDVILLE COLLEGE

Formerly Jesus the Loving Shepherd Christian College

College of Health
Talojongon, Tigaon, Camarines Sur

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION

MARIA CORAZON B. CONTANTE

Instructor

This module belongs to:

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 I. Module 1: Introduction
II. Overview
All life is based on a universal genetic code written in DNA. That’s
why we can learn about human cancer by studying yeast and mice.
Scientific tools such as computers, gene-sequencing machines, and
satellites provide more information about the living world than we ever
dreamed possible. Science enables us to understand the natural world and
offers the power to predict or influence natural events. That power gives us
awesome responsibility.

III. Learning objectives

Upon completion of this module, you are expected to:
1. Define biology and explain the importance of studying biology;
2. Identify and define the different areas of biology;
3. State and explain the characteristic of Living things;
4. Identify and define the Hierarchy of life

IV. Definition of term

Biology is a branch of science that deals with living organisms and their vital
processes. Biology encompasses diverse fields, including botany,
conservation, ecology, evolution, genetics, marine biology, medicine,
microbiology, molecular biology, physiology, and zoology.
A hierarchy is a system or classification in which things are classified by level
of relationship or importance. In biology, a hierarchy will classify parts from
smallest to largest, or broadest classification to the most specific
classification.

V. Context/discussion
Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms,
including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular
interactions, physiological mechanisms, development and evolution.
Despite the complexity of the science, certain unifying concepts
consolidate it into a single, coherent field.

SAQ#1. In your own words, give the meaning of BIOLOGY. (5 points)

Importance of biology in daily life

Study of biology helps one understand the nature around. One can
know what an animal, plant, microbe, etc is. It also teaches the structure of
different parts of plant and animal bodies. It explains the processes like
reproduction, metabolism, food collection, etc. in detail.
Benefits to man. Learning biology can help one understand the
benefits of nature to man. We can learn the source of our food, milk, meat,

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eggs and other essential in details. One can also learn how nature
contributes to agriculture, house construction, travel, etc. For centuries man
relies on animals for travel.
Role in medicine. Knowledge of biology helps one understand the
concepts of health and disease better. A student gets an idea of what is
the body made of, its physiology, etc. This helps to understand disease state
and also chances for improvement. It also helps one understand the useful
substances from plants and animals which are used for medicine. Most of
the disease condition find a solution by biological knowledge.
Contribution to research: Biology contributes a great deal to
research. Even space exploration and landing on other planets can be
done by the use of animals.
Many drugs, engineering and biomedical studies can be done well
by knowledge of biology. The interesting point is that even the destruction
capability of powerful bombs was done by the use of animals.
Safe guard and Conservation of nature: By knowledge of biology, we
can understand the species which are endangered and protect them. This
saves them from extinction. Even the soil, forest conservation is possible due
to biology.

SAQ#2. How is Biology important to you as a BSMT student? To our society?

(10 points)

Biology is a broad field including many branches and subdisciplines.

Biologists study structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution,
identification and taxonomy. Below are the main branches of study
included in this field.

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 SAQ#3. What are the Main Branches of Biology and what do they study?
(20 points)

All living things share the same seven characteristics and those are
movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, and
nutrition.

The hierarchy of compound biological systems and structures, defining life

with the help of the reductionist type of approach is termed as a biological
organization. The biological organization extends from the atoms and goes till the
biosphere. When you look at the higher levels of this organization, it is called the
ecological organization.

SAQ#4. Are viruses living or not? Which of the characteristics of living things does
a virus have and which characteristics is it lacking? (15 points)

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Simple Standard Biological Organization
Cellular and Pre-Cellular Level
Atoms
Molecule: it contains a group of atoms
Biomolecular Complex: it contains a group of biomolecules
Subcellular Level
This level contains organelle which is made from the functional groups of
biochemical, bimolecular reactions and interactions.
Cellular Level
The cellular level contains the cell which is the fundamental unit of life and
it is a group of organelles.
Multicellular or Super cellular Level
The Multicellular level contains some functional parts. They are
Tissue: a group of the cell together makes a tissue.
Organ: comprises various functional tissues.
Organ System: The organ system comprises different functional organ.

Ecological Levels
The ecological level contains many subcategories like

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 Organism: it is the fundamental of all living systems. It might have one or
more cells formed by the elements of the lower
Population: organisms of the identical groups come together to create
population
Community: when Inter specific species try to interact with the population
it becomes a community.
Ecosystem: a combination of the organism from the different biological
domain in the physical environment makes up the ecosystem.
Biome: grouping of the ecosystem on the basis of geographical areas and
climatic conditions.
Ecosphere or Biosphere: it contains all abiotic or the physical environment
on Earth

SAQ#5. Draw your own CONCEPT MAP showing the Hierarchy of Organism from
ATOM to BIOSPHERE. (20 points)

VI. Summary
Biology is a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms
and vital processes. The Importance of biology Is simple: you cannot study
medicine without understanding biology. It is a science that studies the
functions of living organisms, such as humans and their functions. Far still is
the biology of giving all the answers that scientific minds need. It is a broad
field including many branches and subdisciplines. Biologists study structure,
function, growth, evolution, distribution, identification and taxonomy.
All living things share the same seven characteristics and those are
movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, and
nutrition. Living organisms can reproduce either asexually or sexually.
Asexual reproduction does not include a partner, while sexual reproduction
does. All living things are able to detect changes in their surroundings
through their sensitivity.
The hierarchy of life on the biosphere which we know – Earth is a
simple diagram that shows us it’s where we fit in. The hierarchy starts with
the simplest unit i.e., an atom. The next levels are put forth according to
complex nature of each level.

VII. Reference
1. Biology, Prentice Hall, Kenneth R. Miller and Joseph S. Levine, 2003.
2. https://www.bing.com/search?q=biology+meaning&qs=n&form=QBRE
&sp=-1&pq=&sc=0-0&sk=&cvid=73B1C5E241084FBFB85281E47D2323C2
3. https://www.studyread.com/importance-biology/
4. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=branches+of+biology&id=83
3435A87F820C2B11F651CAC03F521FD28AE530&FORM=EQNAMI

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 5. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-
Fi3Hw1gOzJ4/UKWHwFBMQvI/AAAAAAAAAMw/9waNbT24o2I/s1600/7
+characteristics+of+living+organisms.png
6. http://cdn.thinglink.me/api/image/744669743746646017/1024/10/scale
towidth/0/0/1/1/false/true?wait=true

VIII. Evaluation/Activity/Quiz
Read each item carefully, choose the best answer and write it in your Answer
Sheet provided:
1. Study of tissue/microscopic anatomy is termed as
A) Ecology B) Cytology C) Histology D) Anatomy
2. Term biology was introduced by
A) Lamarck and Traviranus
B) Darwin C) John Ray D) Aristotle
3. Dialysis comes under
A) Surgery B) Neurology C) Nephrology D) Haematology
4. What is biology
A. The study of life
B. The study of atoms and molecules
C. The study of the Earth and space
D. The study of fossils
5. Scientists are studying how wolves have shaped the ecosystem in
Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They have found that an
increase in wolf populations affects the populations of so many
other living things that the rivers and mountains actually changed
as well. In what branch of biology do these scientists work?
A. Ecology
B. Botany
C. Cell Biology
D. Anatomy and Physiology
6. Sports physical therapists study the biomechanics of how joints,
muscles and bones move during athletic activity. What branch of
science do they study?
A. Anatomy and physiology
B. Cell biology
C. Molecular Biology
D. Biochemistry

7. Which of the following describes the vast number of different

species found on Earth?
A. Ecology
B. Evolution
C. Diversity
D. Symbiosis
8. The following is/are characteristic(s) of living things.
A. Feeding, movement, evaporation
B. Feeding, Respiration, movement

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 C. Respiration, movement, evaporation
9. Another word for living things is:
A. Organ
B. Organism
C. Organelle
10. To be considered alive an object must have:
A. At least one characteristic of living things
B. Most characteristics of living things
C. All the characteristics of living things.

For our next module, we will be discussing CHEMISTRY specifically, A)

Atomic Structure: Subatomic Particles, Electron Shells; B) Chemical Bonding:
Covalent, Ionic, Hydrogen Bonds; and C. Biologically Important Compounds
and Molecules --1. Properties of Water, 2. Acids, Bases, Buffers, 3.
Macromolecules: a. Carbohydrates, b. Lipids, c. Proteins, d. Nucleic Acids.
You can do an advance reading by searching the web or browsing
biology books for we will be having another pre-test at the beginning of the
discussion. You can contact me through my email or mobile number if there
are certain parts of this module that you do not understand. Thank you and
God bless!

MARIA CORAZON B. CONTANTE

Biology Instructor
09122036443
Corz Malonda Bombase-Contante
[email protected]