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Fundamentals of Biology
Lesson 1
Introduction I. Introduction to course.
A. My background.
B. Scope of course: Basic overview of Biology.
C. Expectations:
1. Participate in class.
2. Take lecture notes and study them.
3. Weekly reading assignment in the text.
4. Occasional quiz (as needed).
5. Quarterly exam.
6. Two papers.
7. Four labs.
D. Students will be responsible for everything covered in the lecture and the
textbook.
E. The text.
1. Reading assignments are preliminary to the lecture.
2. Focus on the main text. Unless otherwise informed, the material in the boxes
will not be included in quizzes or exams.
3. Learn anything in bold print and the terms at the end of each chapter.
4. Make use of the review exercises at the end of each section.
F. The purpose of quizzes is to make sure you are keeping up with the
course, and will be administered unannounced, as needed.
II. Biblical basis for studying Biology.
A. Love God with all your mind. Mt. 22:37-40
B. Appreciate God's works. Ps. 19:1-6; 104; Job 38-41
C. Acquire knowledge. Pr. 30:18-19, 24-31; 1 Kings 4:30, 33
D. Aspire to excellence. Pr. 25:2
III. Epistemology.
A. No objective truth.
1. We live in a personal universe.
2. All knowledge is mediated through personality.
3. Only God is the measure of what is true.
4. We know truth to the extent our knowledge conforms to God’s.
B. Discovering truth.
1. Only by revelation.
2. General revelation: the universe.
3. Special revelation: God’s Word - scripture.
C. Human limitations.
1. Finitude.
2. Sin.
3. Special Revelation is the "spectacles" through which we see
General Revelation clearly.
4. Unbelievers have a commitment to corrupting truth (Rom. 1:18).
5. Nevertheless, God enables unbelievers by common grace to
understand some things about the universe.
IV. Introduction to Science.
A. Science (Latin, scientia: knowledge)
1. Older meaning: knowledge.
2. Current meaning: systematic knowledge of natural phenomena
B. Scientific Method.
1. "Organized common sense."
2. Observe and record data.
3. Classify data.
4. Formulate a hypothesis: a tentative explanation of the data.
5. Test the hypothesis: controlled experiments.
6. State the hypothesis as a theory: able to predict future results.
C. Limitations of the Scientific Method.
1. Can be used to develop theories which will explain and predict phenomena
a. Contra. p. 17.
b. E.g. Laws of Heredity.
2. Cannot provide ultimate explanations: e.g. macro evolution.
V. Introduction to Biology.
A. Biology (Greek,
bioj:
life; logia
< logos: discourse)
1. Zoology (Greek, zoon:
animal)
2. Botany (Greek, botana:
plant)
B. Taxonomy (Greek, taxij:
arrangement, order; nomoj:
rule)
C. Attributes of Life.
1. Movement.
2. Growth.
3. Reproduction.
4. Comes from similar preexisting life.
5. Similar chemical make-up.
6. Consists of cells.
7. Irritability: responds to stimuli.
8. Requires energy.
9. High level of organization.
10. Faces death.
VI. Assignment
A. Learn lecture material.
B. Study chapter 2.
C. Be prepared for a quiz on today’s lecture and chapters 1 and 2.
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