{"id":1085,"date":"2016-12-02T21:38:55","date_gmt":"2016-12-02T21:38:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-biology2\/?post_type=chapter&p=1085"},"modified":"2017-05-12T15:53:18","modified_gmt":"2017-05-12T15:53:18","slug":"putting-it-together-introduction-to-biology","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-wmopen-biology2\/chapter\/putting-it-together-introduction-to-biology\/","title":{"raw":"Putting It Together: Introduction to Biology","rendered":"Putting It Together: Introduction to Biology"},"content":{"raw":"Biology is the study of life. As we've learned, this field covers a broad scope of subjects. As\u00a0you progress through this course, you'll gain the knowledge you need to make informed decisions. Let's think back to the articles Cristina encountered at the beginning of this module: how could a knowledge of biological principle help with her understanding of each article?\r\n
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Think about It<\/h3>\r\nCristina read an article about some of the world's weirdest animals. What biological principle would help her understand why these animals have the features they do?\r\n\r\n[practice-area rows=\"4\"][\/practice-area]\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"775039\"]See Our Thoughts[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"775039\"]By learning about evolution and natural selection, Cristina could begin to see the different evolutionary reasons behind the extreme features some animals have. For example, the aye-aye, a mammal native to Madagascar, has evolved to have an extra long middle finger, which it can use to dig grubs out of trees. Throughout the course we'll learn about different organisms and how their unique features allow them to survive and thrive in different environments.\r\n\r\n[\/hidden-answer]\r\n\r\nCristina also found an article about a \"new\" organ called the mesentery. How could scientists just now be discovering a new organ?\r\n\r\n[practice-area rows=\"4\"][\/practice-area]\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"781328\"]See Our Thoughts[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"781328\"]While our scientific understanding is much broader than it once was, our understanding is always expanding\u2014we\u00a0are always learning more things.\r\n\r\nClarifications of the mesenteric anatomy have facilitated a clearer understanding of diseases involving the mesentery\u2014which include malrotation and Crohn's disease (CD). In CD, the mesentery is frequently thickened, rendering haemostasis challenging. Some authors say that CD is mainly a mesenteric disorder that secondarily affects the GIT and systemic circulation.[footnote]Sahebally SM, Burke JP, Chang KH, Kiernan MG, O'Connell PR, Coffey JC (November 2013). \"Circulating fibrocytes and Crohn's disease\". The British Journal of Surgery<\/i>. 100<\/b> (12): 1549\u201356. doi<\/a>:10.1002\/bjs.9302<\/a>. PMID<\/a>\u00a024264775<\/a>[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nAs scientists researched the\u00a0mesentery more and more, they found that it should be reclassified as an organ. As we will see in the chapter \"Body Systems,\" having a better understanding of\u00a0bodies can dramatically improve our ability to detect and prevent illness.[\/hidden-answer]\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

Biology is the study of life. As we’ve learned, this field covers a broad scope of subjects. As\u00a0you progress through this course, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to make informed decisions. Let’s think back to the articles Cristina encountered at the beginning of this module: how could a knowledge of biological principle help with her understanding of each article?<\/p>\n

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Think about It<\/h3>\n

Cristina read an article about some of the world’s weirdest animals. What biological principle would help her understand why these animals have the features they do?<\/p>\n