Welcome
Biochemicals (medicine, metabolism)
Cells-the smallest unit of life! How they work is how we work b/c we are made of a LOT of them
DNA & Genetics (the coding for all known life & how it’s passed on)
Evolution (how all organisms cam about according to science!) and Diversity of organisms
Ecology (how organisms interact with other organisms and the environment) & energy
What is Science?
• Survey- not for grade, just answer to the best of your knowledge
• After we’ll have a class discussion.
Fish Tank-What’s going on?
• How can we figure this out?• What do we see?• What are some differences between the 2
drinks?• What are steps we can follow?
What makes a good experiment?1. Only 1 independent variable: aka the thing you
are changing• WHY? So you know that what you are changing
(manipulating) is causing the “data”– Ex: Does amount of fertilizer effect the growth of
plants? • OR
– Ex: Which fertilizer is the best? – For both of these examples there is only 1 independent
variable…the fertilizer.
2. controlled (constant) variables : as many as possible. Everything is kept the same or treated the same.
• WHY? The link between your data and independent variable is stronger, not some other factor.– EX: fertilizer exp- amount of water, amount of sun light,
amount & type of soil, type of plant & size of plant….etc.
3. Trials…as many as logistically possible. • Why? To reduce error!
– What if the fertilizer was mixed wrong? You wouldn't know unless there was more then 1 trial to see the data that didn’t match the rest.
– You should see consistency in data for all trials or something is wrong.
4. Sample Size: as many as possible. • Why? Again to reduce error.
– Ex: Only one plant per type of fertilizer? What if the plant dies due to human error? That would skew the results giving a possible incorrect conclusion.
5. Length of exp: how long will the study go on? 6. Data: the dependant variables (as many as can be
collected) how is it collected, measured, etc…7. Replicate: can others follow your procedure and get the
same results?8. Baseline: THE CONTROL GROUP, or what you compare
your test subjects to.9. Who is conducting/funding it?
Ted talk
• Ted Talk: Ben Goldacre- Author of “bad science”
• http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_battling_bad_science
• to 9:35• If there’s time
Bad Science• Bad Science uses the scientific method
but…– Relies on “authority” only, speculative– Watch for proper evidence: tests on
bacteria same results in humans, small sample size
– Uncontrolled design– Skews the data to benefit the
author/company– Financial interests– improper experimental set up: built to
fail or succeed• Ex: Drug manufactures putting drugs on the
market
The consequence of Wakefield• Check out this graph. What is it’s story? Any
issues?
Consequences cont
• Time and $ lost refuting the paper• Parents not vaccinating- lose herd immunity• Harm the cause of science?
Key Point
• Always question the science you read/hear about in the media AND even the journals that publish information.
• This is a strength of science, that we question and try to replicate other scientists.
• Questions?
Bad Science• Bad Science uses the scientific method
but…– Relies on “authority” only, speculative– Watch for proper evidence: tests on
bacteria same results in humans, small sample size
– Uncontrolled design– Skews the data to benefit the
author/company– Financial interests– improper experimental set up: built to
fail or succeed• Ex: Drug manufactures putting drugs on the
market
The consequence of Wakefield• Check out this graph. What is it’s story? Any
issues?
Consequences cont
• Time and $ lost refuting the paper• Parents not vaccinating- lose herd immunity• Harm the cause of science?
Does this study support or refute Wakefield?
Pseudoscience• Pseudoscience does not use the scientific method• makes claims in the name of “science”.
– Ex: advertisement that exploits “science”• no find scientific evidence
on medical databases to substantiate terms used in the ad such as "BioPromise", "Biocrystals" and "Far Infra Red Rays".
• "It's clearly pseudoscience designed to give an extra sales gimmick."
Key Point
• Always question the science you read/hear about in the media AND even the journals that publish information.
• This is a strength of science, that we question and try to replicate other scientists.
• Questions?
What is Living?• What does it mean to be alive?• On your own/ silently:• Make a quick list of all of the characteristics you
think are common to all living things. (between 7-10!)
• HINT: you are living, what makes you alive?(5 minutes)
Think?
Move?
Looks alive?
The fuzzy line of life…viruses
Characteristics of Living Things
• In order to be considered living, you must have ALL of these characteristics:– G: Grow and Develop– O: Organization
– H: Homeostasis– A: Adapt/Evolve– M: Metabolism– R: Reproduction– R: Response to Stimuli
Living things are called ORGANISMS.
Growth
• Growth = an increase in the number of new cells
Organized
Organized• Living things have certain parts that
perform certain functions
• Ex: We are organized into systems (nervous, digestive, circulatory)
• Each part has a specific function!
Respond• Living things can RESPOND to STIMULI• Stimulus = anything that causes a change in an
organism
• Stimulus = action that causesa response
Homeostasis
• Homeostasis = the ability to maintain a stable internal environment no matter what the external environment is like
• Ex: temperature, pH, water balance
Homoeostasis is the internal reaction that tries to keep balance. The see-saw is the balance of homeostasis.Response is the outcome of the stimuli which caused the homeostasis imbalance. The stimuli upsets the balance , the response returns to balance. Check out the diagram!Keep in mind this happens at a cellular level that you cannot see…is not as obvious as your hand being burned, that’s organs/organism
Adapt and Evolve• Adaptations: any structure or behavior that
allows an organism to survive better• Evolution: gradual change in a population over
time– Ex: desert plants can survive in the hot and dry
weather because they have adaptations like shallow roots and no leaves
Reproduction
• Living things are able to make more of their own species
• Species: a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Exception!
Metabolize
• Living things need and use energy to survive.• They can build up and break down molecules
• Biology covers an enormous amount of information so we organize it. • Side bar:The blue whale is the largest living individual
organism on Earth EVER (including bigger then the biggest dinosaur, be impressed)
• We also study organisms relationships to: each other, other organisms, their non-living environment & as an entire planet.
Emergent Properties: the concept
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/emergence.html
• (11 minutes)
The whole has different characteristics than the sum of it’s parts.
Emergent property example 1
ElementalCharacteristicsVsCompoundcharacteristics
Key Principle
• If you don't understand the structure of a difficult problem, then you can't solve the problem.
Graphing!
Graphs Tell a StoryWhat story does this graph tell?
What story does this graph tell? – Without Labels and units, it is difficult to know
the story….
Water Depth
inches
Time minutes
It is also important to include a title to specifically describe what the data pertains to.
Water Depth
inches
Time minutes
Water level in a bathtub
Why is This Graph Misleading?
Why is this Graph Misleading?
Why is this graph misleading?
Why is this Graph Misleading?
0 5 10 15 20 250
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Money Made per Hour Worked
Rule #1
• Play close attention to the axes!!!!
Why is this Graph Misleading?
Why is this Graph Misleading?
Rule #2
• Be wary of pictograms or images used in a graph– Are they scaled properly?
Why is this Graph Misleading?
Why is this Graph Misleading?
Rule #3
• Be wary of 3-d graphs!– Are they trying to make it look cool, or are they
distorting the information?
Why is this a Bad Choice of Graph?
# of people playing
Claim, Evidence, and ReasoningHow to write a scientific explanation
Claim
Your claim is a declariative statement that is similar to a thesis.
● The claim is usually one sentence in length.
● It must be accurate, specific, and completely answer the question.
Evidence
The evidence is all of the information that supports your claim.
● Evidence must be sufficient and relevant to your claim. Not all information is considered evidence!
● Most evidence is specific data/information. T
Evidence
The evidence is all of the information that supports your claim.
● It can come from other sources such as: computer simulations, websites, textbook, class notes, personal experience, etc.
● It is important to have numerous pieces of evidence in order to prove your claim!
Reasoning
Reasoning is the explanation that connects your claim to the evidence that supports it.
● It shows why the information you chose counts as evidence.
• It shows a detailed understanding of the concepts involved and uses correct science vocabulary.
• The reasoning should be thorough abd to the point.
Reasoning
Reasoning is the explanation that connects your claim to the evidence that supports it.
● It shows a detailed understanding of the concepts involved and uses correct science vocabulary.
● The reasoning should usually be at least a few sentences in length.
Thomas Huxley quote
How do I Study for the Test?• Make sure you know your definitions. • Review your exit/bell & quizzes.
– If it was a 3 great. If it was not a 3 go through and see if the rest of the answers were ok.
– You can do this by finding students with those questions correct or see me during class today.
– Questions that need to be corrected should be corrected. • Look up emergent properties on-line and watch professors explain
it.– One if the 1st ones that pops up on youtube is done really well. I can log
you onto youtube if you want • Look up homeostasis an reaction examples. • Make sure you understand CER.