Chapter 1: Introduction to Biology and Laboratory Rules

1.1 Fields and Careers in Biology

• The word "Biology" comes from the Greek words "bios" (life) and "logos" (study). (p.4)
• Biology is a detailed study of living things in the natural environment, including the structure and function of organisms and their relationships and interactions with the environment. (p.4)
• Botany: study of plant life. Ecology: study of interactions between organisms and their environment. (p.4)
• Physiology: study of function and mechanisms in organisms. Genetics: study of inheritance and genetic variation. Microbiology: study of microorganisms. (p.4)
• 3D bioprinting prints artificial tissues and assists modern medical engineering. (p.4)
• Malaysian innovation: a biological scaffold derived from shellfish for dental treatment. (p.4)
• Medical: in vitro fertilisation, family planning, plastic surgery and gene therapy. (p.5)
• Food production: microorganisms used to make cheese, soy sauce, tapai and tempe. (p.5)
• Pharmaceutical: production of synthetic vitamins, vaccines, insulin and synthetic enzymes. (p.5)
• Agriculture: transgenic crops and animals, hydroponic and aeroponic technology. (p.5)

1.2 Safety and Rules in a Biology Laboratory

• Fume hood: avoids breathing in hazardous gases such as chlorine, bromine and nitrogen dioxide. (p.6)
• Laminar flow cabinet: provides a flow of filtered air for a clean work area. (p.6)
• Biological safety cabinet: enclosed work space for materials contaminated (or likely contaminated) by pathogens. (p.6)
• Emergency shower station: used when chemicals or hazardous substances contact the skin. Eye wash station: used to wash eyes exposed to chemicals. (p.6)
• Personal protective equipment: laboratory gloves (handle biological samples), handwash (remove germs), lab coat (protect skin and clothes from chemical splashes). (p.7)
• Lab shoes prevent injury from glass shards and chemical spills; goggles protect the eyes; face mask protects against smoke, vapour and dust. (p.7)
• Can be disposed into the sink: chemicals with pH 5–9; low-concentration harmless liquids (sucrose solution, dye solution, distilled water). (p.7)
• Cannot be disposed into the sink: organic solvents (acetone, alcohol, benzene), pH below 5 or above 9, acids, greases, oils, solid waste, heavy metals (mercury), volatile, toxic, reactive and radioactive substances, organic waste (microorganisms, carcases). (p.7)

Management of biological waste

(p.8)

Category	Example	Management
A (sharp wastes)	Syringes, needles, glass, scalpel	Special sharps bin; does not need sterilising
B (non-sharp wastes)	Gloves, tissue paper, petri dishes, plastic culture containers, hardened agar	Autoclave-resistant biohazard bag, sterilise in autoclave, then biohazard bin; never regular waste basket
C (animal carcases)	Carcases, organs, tissues	Wrap in absorbent material, pack in biohazard bag, freeze
D (liquids)	Broth culture, liquid medium such as blood	Decontaminate by autoclaving before disposal; dispose sterilised liquid immediately

• Decontamination by autoclaving: 121°C, 15 psi, 20 minutes. (p.8)
• Sterilised biohazard bags and sharps bins are stored temporarily in a controlled place until scheduled disposal. (p.8)
• Clothing: use lab coat, gloves, safety shoes and goggles when appropriate. (p.9)
• Ethics and rules: do not work alone, wash hands after experiments, do not bring irrelevant items, clean workstation with disinfectant, dispose wastes by set procedures, do not eat or drink, identify safety symbols. (p.9)
• Fire safety: stop work, switch off power sources and unplug appliances, exit by the emergency plan, call fire and rescue, stay calm, do not turn back for belongings, assemble at the assembly point. (p.9)
• General chemical spill: inform teacher, declare restricted zone, contain with sand, scoop up with suitable equipment, dispose safely. (p.9)
• Mercury spill: inform teacher, declare restricted zone, sprinkle sulphur over the mercury, call fire and rescue department. (p.9)
• Handling glass and chemicals: be cautious with hot glassware, report damaged equipment, keep flammables from fire, do not touch, taste or smell chemicals directly. (p.10)
• Live specimens: use gloves, bury or freeze harmless dissected specimens, wash hands with antiseptic before and after, clean surfaces with disinfectant. (p.10)
• Emergency help: inform teacher, call fire and rescue number, remove the victim from the scene, give emergency treatment, make the place a restricted area. (p.10)
• Scientific attitudes: curiosity, honesty and accuracy in recording data, diligence and perseverance, responsibility for safety, critical and analytical thinking. (p.10)

1.3 Communicating in Biology

• Tables record and present data: manipulated variable in the left column, responding variable in the right column, with units. (p.11)
• Graph: responding variable on y-axis, manipulated variable on x-axis; uniform scale; mark points with "x"; title "Graph (responding variable) versus (manipulated variable)". (p.11)
• Bar chart: vertical bars not attached to each other, uniform width, height depends on frequency; used to compare items. (p.12)
• Histogram: data grouped into ranges on the x-axis, frequency on the y-axis, bars of equal width with no spacing between them. (p.12)
• Biological drawings: large and accurate, sharp pencil (no colour pencil or pen), not shaded, clear continuous lines, no ruler for outlines. (p.12)
• Drawings must have titles and labels; label lines are straight, do not cross and have no arrowheads. (p.13)
• Plan drawing shows the outline of a structure; detailed drawing shows cells. (p.13)
• Magnification factor = length of drawing / length of specimen. (p.13)
• Planes: sagittal (right and left parts), frontal (front and rear parts), horizontal (upper and lower parts). (p.13)
• Directional terms: anterior (front), posterior (back), dorsal (upper), ventral (lower), superior (towards head), inferior (towards feet), lateral (far from midline). (p.14)

1.4 Scientific Investigation in Biology

• Steps: identify problem, form hypothesis, identify and control variables and data collection method, plan and carry out investigation, collect data, interpret data, form conclusion, write report. (p.15)
• Experiment framework: problem statement, hypothesis, variables (manipulated, responding, fixed), materials and apparatus, procedure, results, discussion, conclusion. (p.15)