HKDSE BIOLOGY: Connecting Concepts

Revision notes

1 Introduction to biology

1.1 Biology—the science of life

1. Biology is the scientific study of organisms.

2. Organisms have seven typical characteristics: nutrition, respiration,

excretion, sensitivity (irritability), movement, growth and
reproduction. These are the vital functions of organisms.

1.2 The significance of studying biology

3. Biology is important to society, technological advances and the
environment. Many biological discoveries and inventions have greatly
improved our living standards.

4. As individuals, studying biology helps us:

• understand the structures and functioning of organisms
• appreciate the complexity and diversity of organisms
• develop a respect for living organisms and the environment
• prepare for a future career.

1.3 The process of scientific investigation

5. The scientific method usually consists of some basic steps:

Make Ask relevant Propose a hypothesis

observations questions and make a prediction If the results
provide no
evidence to
Design and conduct support the
experiments hypothesis, the
hypothesis has
to be revised or
Analyse data and rejected.
draw a conclusion

© Aristo Educational Press Ltd. 1-1

HKDSE BIOLOGY: Connecting Concepts Revision notes

6. A control experiment involves at least one experimental set-up and

one control set-up.

• Between the two set-ups, only the independent variable is

changed.
• The dependent variable changes according to the independent
variable.
• All other factors that may affect the dependent variable, i.e. the
control variables, are kept constant to ensure that the experiment
is a fair test.

© Aristo Educational Press Ltd. 1-2