Instructor Manual: Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128; Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
Instructor Manual
Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128;
Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter......................................................................2
Chapter Objectives........................................................................................................2
Complete List of Chapter Activities and Assessments.................................................3
Key Terms.....................................................................................................................3
Chapter Outline.............................................................................................................6
Additional Discussion Questions................................................................................15
a
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 1
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128; Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce students to the fundamental characteristics of life and the
scientific principles that explain how living organisms are organized, function, and evolve. Students will
explore how living systems show higher levels of organization than nonliving matter and how genetic
information provides the blueprint for an organism’s structure, development, and ability to reproduce. The
chapter discusses how organisms require energy and regulate internal conditions. It reviews how natural
selection shapes adaptations that enable survival in diverse environments. Students will learn how
biologists categorize the diversity of life using hierarchical classification systems and how phylogenetic
trees reveal the evolutionary relationships among organisms. Finally, Chapter 1 presents the scientific
methods scientists use to generate new knowledge, emphasizing how hypotheses are formulated and
tested through experimental and observational data.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
1.1.1 Describe how living organisms are more highly organized than nonliving matter.
1.1.2 Explain how an organism’s genetic information determines how that organism is organized and
enables it to reproduce.
1.1.3 Discuss why living organisms use energy and regulate their internal environment.
1.2.1 Explain how natural selection results in living organisms that are well adapted to their
environments.
1.3.1 Describe how living organisms are categorized hierarchically.
1.3.2 Explain how phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary history of a group of organisms.
1.4.1 Explain how scientists explore and report new ideas and observations in a formalized method of
inquiry.
1.4.2 Formulate scientific hypotheses and describe how experimental or observational data can test the
predictions of those hypotheses.
[return to top]
a
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 2
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128; Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
COMPLETE LIST OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND
ASSESSMENTS
The following table organizes activities and assessments by objective, so that you can see how all this
content relates to objectives and make decisions about which content you would like to emphasize in your
class based on your objectives. For additional guidance, refer to the Teaching Online Guide.
Chapter Activity/Assessment Source (i.e., PPT slide, Duration
Objective Workbook)
Multiple LOs Icebreaker Activity PPT Slide 5–10 mins.
LO 1.1.1 Study Break 1.1 eBook 5–10 mins.
LO 1.1.2 Study Break 1.1 eBook 5–10 mins.
LO 1.1.3 Study Break 1.1 eBook 5 mins.
LO 1.2.1 Study Break 1.2 eBook 5 mins.
LO 1.3.1 Study Break 1.3 eBook 5 mins.
LO 1.3.2 Study Break 1.3 eBook 5 mins.
LO 1.4.1 Study Break 1.4 eBook 5 mins.
Multiple LOs Test Your Knowledge eBook 15 mins.
Remember/Understand
Multiple LOs Test Your Knowledge eBook 15 mins.
Apply/Analyze
Multiple LOs Test Your Knowledge eBook 15 mins.
Evaluate/Create
Multiple LOs Learn Its activity MindTap 30 mins.
Multiple LOs Vocabulary practice MindTap 5–10 mins.
Multiple LOs Student Test Prep MindTap 30 mins.
Multiple LOs Chapter Quiz MindTap 30 mins.
Multiple LOs Digging into Data MindTap 20 mins.
Multiple LOs Case Study MindTap 20 mins.
[return to top]
KEY TERMS
Adaptations: Beneficial mutations which help an organism reproduce more successfully under a
particular set of environmental conditions.
Alternative hypotheses: Two possible explanations for the same phenomenon.
Archaea: The domain includes unicellular, microscopic organisms. Many archaeans inhabit extreme
environments such as hot springs, extremely salty ponds, or habitats with little or no oxygen.
Artificial selection: A technique practiced by humans who select which individuals
do or do not reproduce based upon desirable traits.
a
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 3
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128; Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
Bacteria: The domain Bacteria comprises mostly unicellular organisms, most are only visible only
under the microscope. Bacteria live almost everywhere on Earth
Biological evolution: The process in which populations of living organisms change from one
generation to the next.
Biological research: The collective effort of countless individuals who have worked to understand
the living world.
Cell: Lowest level of biological organization that can survive and reproduce. The smallest unit of life.
Cellular respiration: Requires oxygen from the atmosphere and allows organisms release chemical
energy.
Chemical energy: Energy stored in molecules.
Controlled variables: The variables that are the same among the experimental groups.
Controlled experiments: When all variables are controlled except the experimental variable.
Control group: The untreated group in an experiment.
Communities: Consist of all the populations of different organisms that live in the same place and
have interactions between species.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): Molecules that store genetic information.
Deductive reasoning: The method used to test the hypothesis. It is reasoning from general principles
to specific conclusions.
Development: One cell goes through many rounds of cell division to produce a multicellular embryo
with the genetic information copied each time the cells divide.
Domain: The most inclusive group in the classification system.
Ecosystem: Interactions between the living organisms in a community and the nonliving environment.
Epidemiological research: Research on uncontrolled human subjects
Eukarya: Domain that included unicellular and multicellular organisms and classified in kingdoms:
Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi and Protists.
Experiments: These investigations allow scientists to test a prediction deduced from a hypothesis.
Experimental variable: The variable that differs between the experimental groups.
Extinct: All members of the species are dead.
Family: All related genera.
Gene: A sequence of nucleotides.
Genome: All of that organism’s unique DNA.
Genus: A group of similar species that share a recent common ancestry.
a
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 4
accessible website, in whole or in part.
Instructor Manual
Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128;
Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter......................................................................2
Chapter Objectives........................................................................................................2
Complete List of Chapter Activities and Assessments.................................................3
Key Terms.....................................................................................................................3
Chapter Outline.............................................................................................................6
Additional Discussion Questions................................................................................15
a
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 1
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128; Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce students to the fundamental characteristics of life and the
scientific principles that explain how living organisms are organized, function, and evolve. Students will
explore how living systems show higher levels of organization than nonliving matter and how genetic
information provides the blueprint for an organism’s structure, development, and ability to reproduce. The
chapter discusses how organisms require energy and regulate internal conditions. It reviews how natural
selection shapes adaptations that enable survival in diverse environments. Students will learn how
biologists categorize the diversity of life using hierarchical classification systems and how phylogenetic
trees reveal the evolutionary relationships among organisms. Finally, Chapter 1 presents the scientific
methods scientists use to generate new knowledge, emphasizing how hypotheses are formulated and
tested through experimental and observational data.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
1.1.1 Describe how living organisms are more highly organized than nonliving matter.
1.1.2 Explain how an organism’s genetic information determines how that organism is organized and
enables it to reproduce.
1.1.3 Discuss why living organisms use energy and regulate their internal environment.
1.2.1 Explain how natural selection results in living organisms that are well adapted to their
environments.
1.3.1 Describe how living organisms are categorized hierarchically.
1.3.2 Explain how phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary history of a group of organisms.
1.4.1 Explain how scientists explore and report new ideas and observations in a formalized method of
inquiry.
1.4.2 Formulate scientific hypotheses and describe how experimental or observational data can test the
predictions of those hypotheses.
[return to top]
a
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 2
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128; Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
COMPLETE LIST OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND
ASSESSMENTS
The following table organizes activities and assessments by objective, so that you can see how all this
content relates to objectives and make decisions about which content you would like to emphasize in your
class based on your objectives. For additional guidance, refer to the Teaching Online Guide.
Chapter Activity/Assessment Source (i.e., PPT slide, Duration
Objective Workbook)
Multiple LOs Icebreaker Activity PPT Slide 5–10 mins.
LO 1.1.1 Study Break 1.1 eBook 5–10 mins.
LO 1.1.2 Study Break 1.1 eBook 5–10 mins.
LO 1.1.3 Study Break 1.1 eBook 5 mins.
LO 1.2.1 Study Break 1.2 eBook 5 mins.
LO 1.3.1 Study Break 1.3 eBook 5 mins.
LO 1.3.2 Study Break 1.3 eBook 5 mins.
LO 1.4.1 Study Break 1.4 eBook 5 mins.
Multiple LOs Test Your Knowledge eBook 15 mins.
Remember/Understand
Multiple LOs Test Your Knowledge eBook 15 mins.
Apply/Analyze
Multiple LOs Test Your Knowledge eBook 15 mins.
Evaluate/Create
Multiple LOs Learn Its activity MindTap 30 mins.
Multiple LOs Vocabulary practice MindTap 5–10 mins.
Multiple LOs Student Test Prep MindTap 30 mins.
Multiple LOs Chapter Quiz MindTap 30 mins.
Multiple LOs Digging into Data MindTap 20 mins.
Multiple LOs Case Study MindTap 20 mins.
[return to top]
KEY TERMS
Adaptations: Beneficial mutations which help an organism reproduce more successfully under a
particular set of environmental conditions.
Alternative hypotheses: Two possible explanations for the same phenomenon.
Archaea: The domain includes unicellular, microscopic organisms. Many archaeans inhabit extreme
environments such as hot springs, extremely salty ponds, or habitats with little or no oxygen.
Artificial selection: A technique practiced by humans who select which individuals
do or do not reproduce based upon desirable traits.
a
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 3
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Russell, Biology: The Dynamic Science, 6th edition, 2027, 9798214449128; Chapter 1: The Nature of Life
Bacteria: The domain Bacteria comprises mostly unicellular organisms, most are only visible only
under the microscope. Bacteria live almost everywhere on Earth
Biological evolution: The process in which populations of living organisms change from one
generation to the next.
Biological research: The collective effort of countless individuals who have worked to understand
the living world.
Cell: Lowest level of biological organization that can survive and reproduce. The smallest unit of life.
Cellular respiration: Requires oxygen from the atmosphere and allows organisms release chemical
energy.
Chemical energy: Energy stored in molecules.
Controlled variables: The variables that are the same among the experimental groups.
Controlled experiments: When all variables are controlled except the experimental variable.
Control group: The untreated group in an experiment.
Communities: Consist of all the populations of different organisms that live in the same place and
have interactions between species.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): Molecules that store genetic information.
Deductive reasoning: The method used to test the hypothesis. It is reasoning from general principles
to specific conclusions.
Development: One cell goes through many rounds of cell division to produce a multicellular embryo
with the genetic information copied each time the cells divide.
Domain: The most inclusive group in the classification system.
Ecosystem: Interactions between the living organisms in a community and the nonliving environment.
Epidemiological research: Research on uncontrolled human subjects
Eukarya: Domain that included unicellular and multicellular organisms and classified in kingdoms:
Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi and Protists.
Experiments: These investigations allow scientists to test a prediction deduced from a hypothesis.
Experimental variable: The variable that differs between the experimental groups.
Extinct: All members of the species are dead.
Family: All related genera.
Gene: A sequence of nucleotides.
Genome: All of that organism’s unique DNA.
Genus: A group of similar species that share a recent common ancestry.
a
© 2027 Cengage Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 4
accessible website, in whole or in part.
