YV4 - Cells - 4.1 Introduction

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Chapter 4 Cells

TV4 - 4.1 Intro

*Not all lesson material in these Ppts is also included in your book Biology for You but it is an essential part of the Central Exam in V6*

Learning goals

• You can describe what biology is 
• You know the difference between the lifecycle and lifespan      of animals
• You can name the levels of organisation in biology
• You can explain that emergent properties arise on the next      level of organisation 

Can you name the characteristics of life?

Refresh

Biology is the study of life

Bio = life; λόγος or logos = to study, to learn

Something is alive when it can show all seven characteristics of life:

1. Alive
2. Dead
3. Lifeless

1. Alive
2. Dead
3. Lifeless

1. Alive
2. Dead
3. Lifeless

Dead or living objects are made of cells. Fossils have been mineralized so they don't consist of cells anymore. A dinosaur bone has lived, died and transitions to lifeless as the once living cells are replaced by minerals 

Lifecycle or lifespan

A life cycle can be defined as the developmental stages that occur during an organism's lifetime whereas the lifespan is the period of time between the birth and death of an organism.

A lifespan ends as the individual organism dies, a lifecycle ends as the species becomes extinct

Organisation levels

You can study life on different organisation levels

ORGAN

ORGANISM

ORGAN SYSTEM

TISSUE

SLEEPVRAAG

Atoms

Biosphere

Ecosystem

Community

Cell

Molecule

Organ system

Organ

Organism

Population

Tissue

On which level of organisation are you investigating if you study the following picture?

1. molecule
2. organelle
3. tissue
4. cell

Which part of all levels of organisation is the smallest?

1. Cell
2. Organ system
3. Cell organelle
4. DNA

Which example describes a population?

1. All rabbits on Schiermonnikoog
2. The plants in a forest
3. All organisms in a pond
4. A lioness with her 2 cubs in the savannah

Species = a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding and of which their offspring is also capable of breeding

Population = a group of organisms of the same species who inhabit the same particular geographical area and are capable of interbreeding

Emergent properties

Emergent properties arise when the interaction of individual components produce new functions when together, that they do not produce as individual parts. 

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” – Aristotle.

Example of an emergent property...

Neurons respond to the same stimulus but only when they work together they create an incredibly complex whole that runs organ systems, speaks, learns and forms...

 the BRAIN

Which of the following is the best example of an emergent property?

1. Cells are the basic unit of life and all organisms are composed of one or more cells
2. Neurons can control which ions they keep inside and outside their membranes
3. Cells are made of simple molecules, but when organized together, these molecules can perform living functions
4. Molecules can form large chains by joining together large atoms

Key concepts

• Alive - dead - lifeless
• Characteristics of life
• Lifecycle and lifespan
• Organisation levels: atoms, molecules, cell organelles, cells, tissue, organs, organsystem, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere
• Emergent property

Homework

Make excercises on the worksheet (see classroom)

• 4.1 introduction (excercises 1-3)