Intro lecture

Question 1

What is animal physiology?

Answer 1

the study of the function of organisms as integrated systems of molecules, cells, tissues, and organs, in normal and diseased states.

Question 2

Biological levels of organization

Answer 2

atoms, molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, biosphere

Question 3

Unifying themes of animal physiology

Answer 3

1. Physiology is integrative
2. Physiological processes obey the laws of physics and chemistry
3. Physiological processes are shaped by evolution
4. Physiological processes are usually regulated (ex: pos and neg feedback loops)

Question 4

Animal Physiology - 2 central questions:

Answer 4

1. the study of mechanism (proximate)
   -how do modern-day animals carry out their
   functions?
2. The study of origin (ultimate)
   -why do modern-day animals possess the m
   mechanisms they do?

Question 5

The hypothetico-deductive method

Answer 5

“scientific method”

1. ask a question about nature
2. propose alternative TESTABLE hypotheses to explain the phenomenon (INDUCTION)
3. design experiments or observations that test the hypotheses by making testable predictions (DEDUCTION).
4. conduct the experiments or observations
5. Using the outcomes, refine earlier questions and hypotheses, design new tests, until hypothesis is consistently supported and an alternative hypothesis has been falsified.

Question 6

The Krogh Principle

Answer 6

“For such a large number of problems there will always be some animal of choice, or a few such animals, on which it can be most conveniently studied.”

This gave rise to comparative physiology

Question 7

Example of Krogh’s principle

Answer 7

Giant nerves in squids allow us to study neurons