Chapter 1: The Science of Biology 1.1 What is Science?

The Goals of Science 1. Deals only with the natural world The supernatural is outside the realm of science

2. Collect and Organize Information

3. Propose explanations that can be tested

Summarizing.............. SCIENCE is a body of knowledge  that explains the natural world.

Science Begins with OBSERVATIONS **Try an exercise in observation.  How good are your observing skills?

Data = information gathered from observations Quantitative = a quantity, a number or measure, uses scientific tools Qualitative = a quality, description, based on the observer

INFERENCE - a logical interpretation based on prior knowledge * Drawing a conclusion

HYPOTHESIS - a proposed explanation to a problem, must be testable Examples:   1.  Purina food will reduce a dog's shedding. 2.  Putting Miracle Grow on tomato plants will make them produce more tomatoes. 3.  The drug Avapro will lower a person's blood pressure.

1-2 How Scientist Work (page 8)

Scientific Method: 1) Ask questions, make observations 2) Gather information  3) Form a hypothesis 4) Set up a controlled experiment  Manipulated variable - the variable that is deliberately changed (independent variable) Responding variable- is variable that is observed ( aka dependent variable) 5)Record and analyze results  6)Draw a conclusion 7)Repeat 

Law, Theory or Hypothesis? Three such terms that are often used interchangeably are "scientific law," "hypothesis," and "theory." Scientific laws must be simple, true, universal, and absolute. They represent the cornerstone of scientific discovery, because if a law ever did not apply, then all science based upon that law would collapse. Some scientific laws, or laws of nature, include the law of gravity, Newton's laws of motion, the laws of thermodynamics

A theory is what one or more hypotheses become once they have been verified and accepted to be true. A theory is an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon tested hypotheses and verified multiple times by detached groups of researchers.

Hypothesis- The beginning of science in action This is an educated guess based upon observation. It is a rational explanation of a single event or phenomenon based upon what is observed, but which has not been proved.

***Field studies, models *** Field Studies - when nature is observed in its natural state Models - using computers or other media to make a representation of a process, idea, or structure

Spontaneous Generation- A walk through history Francesco Redi (1668) Meat and Flies John Needham (Mid 1700’s) Boiled then sealed Lazzaro Spallanzini (Mid 1700’s) sealed (No Air) Louis Pasteur (1800's) Special flask design

Metric System The metric system is the most widely used system of measurement in the world. It is a more universal measurement standard as compared to what the United States uses. The three basic units of the metric system are the meter, gram, and liter: The gram measures Mass. The meter measures Length. The liter measures capacity (Volume).

Study of life Living things share several characteristics Living things are made of cells. Living things obtain and use materials and energy. Living things grow and develop. Living things reproduce. Living things respond to their environment. Living things maintain a stable internal environment. Living things are based of a universal genetic code.

BIG IDEA’S of Biology Cellular basis of life Information and Heredity Matter and Energy Growth, Development, and Reproduction Homeostasis Evolution Structure and Function Unity and Diversity of life Interdependence in Nature Science as a way of knowing

MICROSCOPE TYPES Compound light Electron The term light refers to the method by which light transmits the image to your eye. Compound deals with the microscope having more than one lens. Microscope is the combination of two words; "micro" meaning small and "scope" meaning view. Electron Any of a class of microscopes that use electrons rather than visible light to produce magnified images, especially of objects having dimensions smaller than the wavelengths of visible light, with linear magnification approaching or exceeding a million (106).