Scientific methodLecture #1, Chapter 1

by John Cozza, Biology Dept.(some material modified from Raven, Biology 9th ed.)

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Science of Biology outline

• How to succeed• What is life?• Levels of organization• Brief history of life• Scientific method• Examples of inquiry– Evolution – Climate change

Science of Biology outline

• How to succeed• What is life?• Levels of organization• Brief history of life• Scientific method• Examples of inquiry– Evolution – Climate change

Goals of General Biology 1

Describe & discuss•Cell components and how they function•Inheritance on the molecular, organismal, and population levels•Mechanisms of and evidence for evolution•Relevant applications

Study plan1) Read relevant chapter(s)– Summaries, figures– Review questions

2) Participate in lecture– Interaction– Notes

3) Review lecture ASAP– Book– Study group

4) Ask Qs & use office hours

Integrate!

• Lecture• Book• Lab• PLTL• Experiences &

resources

Science of Biology outline

• How to succeed• What is life?• Levels of organization• Brief history of life• Scientific method• Examples of inquiry– Evolution – Climate change

Think—pair—share:What is life?

NASA Curiosity rover on Mars

What is life?• Movement• Organization• Compartmentalization• Growth & reproduction• Heredity• Evolution • Metabolism• Interact with environment• Homeostasis• Entropy?• Emergent properties http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/

environment/natural-disasters/hurricane-profile/

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/okx/okxfirewx.html

Define life?

Life is a “self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution.”

- G.F. Joyce, adopted as the NASA definition Bains, W. 2004. Many chemistries could be

used to build living systems. Astrobiology 4(2):137-67.

Think—pair—share:Evidence for life on Earth?

NASA Galileo spacecrafthttp://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=462

Earth from Galileo spacecraft. Closest approach 960 Km

Evidence for life on Earth?

• Abundant H2O

• Abundant O2

• Disequilibrium of CH4

• Absorption of red; reflectance of green

• Radio wave emissions

Earth from Galileo spacecraftSagan, C. et al. 1993. A search for life on Earth from the Galileo spacecraft. Nature 365: 715-721

Science of Biology outline

• How to succeed• What is life?• Levels of organization• Brief history of life• Scientific method• Examples of inquiry– Evolution – Climate change

Atoms to cell

Atoms to cell

Macromolecularassembly

Cell to organism

Organisms to biosphere?

Science of Biology outline

• How to succeed• What is life?• Levels of organization• Brief history of life• Scientific method• Examples of inquiry– Evolution – Climate change

Key questions

• How did life begin?• What were the major

innovations?• Which were likely vs.

unlikely?

Archean eonBy Martin Schuler

Timeline of life

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Timeline_evolution_of_life.svg

Timeline of life

LL

U

U

Science of Biology outline

• How to succeed• What is life?• Levels of organization• Brief history of life• Scientific method• Examples of inquiry– Evolution – Climate change

“Popperian” scientific method

observations

question

hypotheses

predictions experiments

hypotheses supported or rejected

Karl Popper1902-1994http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Popper

“Popperian” scientific method

“Popperian” scientific method

observations

question

hypotheses

predictions experiments

hypotheses supported or rejected

Science has many methods!

observations

question

hypotheses

predictions experiments

hypotheses supported or rejected

correlations

model

description

theory-big picture-diverse support

Interactive question #1A researcher is investigating the effect of moderate wine consumption on cardiovascular health. An example of a prediction associated with the study would beA.Red wine is an antioxidant.B.Red wine is popular in Italy, which has a lower rate of heart attacks than the US.C.Red wine slows atherosclerosis.D.Red wine drinkers will have fewer heart attacks than non-drinkers.

Scientific reasoning

Science is a

social process!

http://mistypedurl.com/2009/03/bachelors-of-science/

Peer review

Science of Biology outline

• How to succeed• What is life?• Levels of organization• Brief history of life• Scientific method• Examples of inquiry– Evolution – Climate change

Climate change: is it real?

http://www.skepticalscience.com/solar-activity-sunspots-global-warming-advanced.htm

Data from tree rings, ice cores, sediments

Climate change: is it real?

http://climate.nasa.gov/key_indicators

http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/glaciers.php

http://climate.nasa.gov/key_indicators

Interactive question #2

Rising global temperatures since the late 1800s is an example of a(n)A.observationB.hypothesisC.modelD.correlationE.experimental result

Atmospheric CO2

http://climate.nasa.gov/key_indicators

Atmospheric CO2

http://www.ethree.com/downloads/Climate%20Change%20Readings/Climate%20Science/History%20of%20Climate%20Science/xMaunaLoa.htm

Interactive question #3

“Temperature rise in the 20th century was caused by increased [CO2]” is an example of a(n) A.observationB.hypothesisC.modelD.correlationE.experimental result

http://www.skepticalscience.com/co2-temperature-correlation.htm

Interactive question #4

The relationship of CO2 to temperature since 1970 is an example of a(n)A.observationB.hypothesisC.modelD.correlationE.experimental result

Sea level rise

Projection of sea level rise from 1990 to 2100, based on three different emissions scenarios. Also shown: observations of annual global sea level rise over the past half century (red line), relative to 1990.http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/future.html

Interactive question #5

Scenarios for sea level rise by 2100 are an example of a(n)A.observationB.hypothesisC.modelD.correlationE.experimental result

Science of Biology summary

• How to succeed• What is life?– Characteristics – Levels of organization– History

• Scientific method

Next:• Biological molecules