The Science of BiologyChapter 1

Ch 1.1-What is Science?

- An organized way of gathering evidence about the natural world

- Goals:

1) Provide natural explanations for events in the natural world

2) Use those explanations to understand patterns in nature

3) Make useful predictions about natural events

“Think something that nobody has thought yet, while looking at something that everybody sees”—Arthur Schopenhauer

Scientific Methodology

1. Make an Observation

2. Ask a Question

Types of Observations:

1) Qualitative: using your senses (sight, smell, sound, touch, taste)

2) Quantitative: using instruments and tools (rulers, beakers, graduated cylinders, etc)

Scientific Methodology

1. Make an Observation

2. Ask a Question

3. Make an Inference

4. Form a Hypothesis

Inference: A logical interpretation based on what scientists already know (General)

Hypothesis: A scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested in ways that support or reject it (More specific)

Inferences and Hypotheses- Observation: Larger species of barnacles are

found lower in the intertidal than the larger species of barnacles

- Question: Why are barnacle species that are different sizes found in different areas?

- Inference: There is something that influences where a species of barnacles lives

- Hypothesis: Barnacle location is influenced by predation (or many other factors)

Scientific Methodology

5. Test the Hypothesis with Controlled Experiments

1. Make an Observation

2. Ask a Question

3. Make an Inference

4. Form a Hypothesis

Controlled Experiments

- Keep track of factors, or variables, that naturally change- Examples: temperature, light, time, etc

- Independent Variable: the variable that is deliberately changed (manipulated variable; the variable that will produce an effect)

- Dependent Variable: the variable that is observed and changes in response to the independent variable (responding variable; the variable that depends on the manipulation of the other variable)

- Control Group: the group that is not treated with the independent variable but is exposed to all other conditions

Scientific Methodology

6. Collect and Analyze Data

5. Test the Hypothesis with Controlled Experiments

1. Make an Observation

2. Ask a Question

3. Make an Inference

4. Form a Hypothesis

Data Collection-Tools

Data Collection-Graphs

Line GraphBar Graph

Pie Chart

Scatter Plot

Scientific Methodology

7. Develop Conclusions

6. Collect and Analyze Data

5. Test the Hypothesis with Controlled Experiments

1. Make an Observation

2. Ask a Question

3. Make an Inference

4. Form a Hypothesis

Ch 1.2: Science in Context

1) Curiosity

2) Skepticism

3) Open-Mindedness

4) Creativity

5) Identifying practical problems

6) Using advances in technology

Asking the right kinds of questions

Communicating Results

- Peer Review

- Scientific Journals

- New Ideas and Questions

- Replication of Results

Scientific Theories

- Well-tested explanations that unify many observations and hypotheses

- Enable scientists to make accurate predictions about new situations

- Examples:- Gravitational Theory- Evolutionary Theory- Cell Theory

Science and Society

- How does science relate to us?

- Make a list of any current scientific issues that directly influence you

- We cannot study science without understanding its role in society

What is science and what isn’t?- Ethics and Morality

- How life works- Applying scientific knowledge

- Bias: a particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific

Who makes decisions about laws and public

policy?

Ch 1.3 Studying Life

Is it alive?

8 Characteristics of Living Things

1. Living things are based on a universal genetic code.

2. Living things reproduce.

3. Living things grow and develop.

4. Living things respond to their environment.

5. Living things maintain a stable internal environment.

6. Living things obtain and use material and energy.

7. Living things evolve.

8. Living things are made of cells.

8 Characteristics of Living Things