Communication in Biology

 1.3 Communicating in Biology
 
Table
  • Used to record and present the data.
  • Used to organize data systematically and make the data comparison become easy.
  • The headings in the table consist of the manipulated variable and the responding variable with the respective unit.
  • The manipulated variable is placed in the column on the left side.
  • The responding variable is placed in the column on the right side.
 
Graph
  • To shows the relationship between the manipulated variable and responding variable.
  • There are several types of graphs such as line graphs, bar charts and histograms.
 
Methods to Draw Graph
Line Graph
  • The responding variable is represented by the vertical axis (y-axis) and the manipulated variable is represented by the horizontal axis (x-axis).
  • The scaling on the axis must be uniform.
  • Mark the points with an appropriate symbol such as ‘x’.
  • Title the graph: “Graph (responding variable) versus (manipulated variable)”.
Bar Graph
  • Draw two axes, the horizontal axis/X to represent the manipulated variable and the vertical axis/Y to represent the responding variable.
  • Each width of the bar needs to be uniform.
  • The bar height depends on the frequency of the data.
  • Bar charts are used to make comparisons between two or more items at a time.
Histogram
  • Draw two axes where the horizontal axis/X represents the data that has been divided into groups according to the appropriate range while the vertical axis/Y shows the frequency.
  • Insert labels and units on the axes.
  • The size or width of the bars must be the same for all class gap with no spacing between the bars.
 
Biological Drawings
  • Give an accurate representation of an observed specimen.
 

Characteristics of biological drawings:

  • Large and accurate; use a sharp pencil and not a colour pencil or pen
  • Not shaded artistically.
  • Lines drawn must be clear, clean and continuous.
  • Do not use a ruler to draw the outline of a specimen.
  • Drawings must be labelled.
  • Label lines must point to the correct structure, no arrowheads, must be straight and not cross each other.
  • Drawings must have titles.
  • Each structure in the drawing must be placed in the correct position, and its size should be proportionate to the rest of the structures.
  • Consists of plan drawing and detailed drawing.
  • Must include the magnification factor: \(\dfrac{\text{The length of drawing in cm}}{\text{The length of specimen in cm}}\)
 
Plane
  • The plane refers to a flat surface of shadow passing through the body.
 

Consists of:

  • Sagittal plane (divides the body into right and left parts)
  • Frontal plane (divides the body into frontal and rear parts)
  • Horizontal plane (divides the body into upper and lower parts)
 

 

Section
  • Cross section divides the structure into upper and lower portions horizontally while longitudinal section divides the structure into left and right portions.
 
Direction
  • Direction consists of anterior, ventral, posterior, dorsal, superior, inferior and lateral.
 
This chart has six directions explained: 1. Anterior: towards the front of the body. 2. Posterior: towards the back of the body. 3. Superior: the part that is above all other parts or towards the head. 4. Inferior: located below another part or towards the foot. 5. Ventral: towards the lower part of the body. 6. Dorsal: towards the upper part of the body. 7. Lateral: away from the midline or on the side of the body.

Communication in Biology

 1.3 Communicating in Biology
 
Table
  • Used to record and present the data.
  • Used to organize data systematically and make the data comparison become easy.
  • The headings in the table consist of the manipulated variable and the responding variable with the respective unit.
  • The manipulated variable is placed in the column on the left side.
  • The responding variable is placed in the column on the right side.
 
Graph
  • To shows the relationship between the manipulated variable and responding variable.
  • There are several types of graphs such as line graphs, bar charts and histograms.
 
Methods to Draw Graph
Line Graph
  • The responding variable is represented by the vertical axis (y-axis) and the manipulated variable is represented by the horizontal axis (x-axis).
  • The scaling on the axis must be uniform.
  • Mark the points with an appropriate symbol such as ‘x’.
  • Title the graph: “Graph (responding variable) versus (manipulated variable)”.
Bar Graph
  • Draw two axes, the horizontal axis/X to represent the manipulated variable and the vertical axis/Y to represent the responding variable.
  • Each width of the bar needs to be uniform.
  • The bar height depends on the frequency of the data.
  • Bar charts are used to make comparisons between two or more items at a time.
Histogram
  • Draw two axes where the horizontal axis/X represents the data that has been divided into groups according to the appropriate range while the vertical axis/Y shows the frequency.
  • Insert labels and units on the axes.
  • The size or width of the bars must be the same for all class gap with no spacing between the bars.
 
Biological Drawings
  • Give an accurate representation of an observed specimen.
 

Characteristics of biological drawings:

  • Large and accurate; use a sharp pencil and not a colour pencil or pen
  • Not shaded artistically.
  • Lines drawn must be clear, clean and continuous.
  • Do not use a ruler to draw the outline of a specimen.
  • Drawings must be labelled.
  • Label lines must point to the correct structure, no arrowheads, must be straight and not cross each other.
  • Drawings must have titles.
  • Each structure in the drawing must be placed in the correct position, and its size should be proportionate to the rest of the structures.
  • Consists of plan drawing and detailed drawing.
  • Must include the magnification factor: \(\dfrac{\text{The length of drawing in cm}}{\text{The length of specimen in cm}}\)
 
Plane
  • The plane refers to a flat surface of shadow passing through the body.
 

Consists of:

  • Sagittal plane (divides the body into right and left parts)
  • Frontal plane (divides the body into frontal and rear parts)
  • Horizontal plane (divides the body into upper and lower parts)
 

 

Section
  • Cross section divides the structure into upper and lower portions horizontally while longitudinal section divides the structure into left and right portions.
 
Direction
  • Direction consists of anterior, ventral, posterior, dorsal, superior, inferior and lateral.
 
This chart has six directions explained: 1. Anterior: towards the front of the body. 2. Posterior: towards the back of the body. 3. Superior: the part that is above all other parts or towards the head. 4. Inferior: located below another part or towards the foot. 5. Ventral: towards the lower part of the body. 6. Dorsal: towards the upper part of the body. 7. Lateral: away from the midline or on the side of the body.