1.2 Science in Context----Outline The Science of Biology 1.2 Science in Context----Outline Exploration and Discovery: Where Ideas Come From What scientific attitudes help generate new ideas? 1) Scientific Attitudes 2) Practical Problems 3) The Role of Technology Communicating Results: Reviewing and Sharing Ideas Why is peer review important? Peer Review Sharing Knowledge and New Ideas Scientific Theories What is a scientific theory? Science and Society What is the relationship between science and society? 1) Science, Ethics, and Morality 2) Avoiding Bias 3) Understanding and Using Science

Scientific Theories In science, What is a scientific theory? In science, theory = a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses and that enables scientists to make accurate predictions about new situations. In society, theory = a hunch, a guess.

Scientific Theories Evidence from many scientific studies may support several related hypotheses in a way that inspires researchers to propose a scientific theory that ties those hypotheses together. In science: Theory applies to a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses. Enables scientists to make accurate predictions about new situations. A useful theory that has been thoroughly tested and supported by many lines of evidence may become the dominant view among the majority of scientists. But, no theory is considered absolute truth. Science is always changing; as new evidence is uncovered, a theory may be revised or replaced by a more useful explanation.

Scientific Theories vs. Laws Theory applies to a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses. Is the explanation More dynamic, complex Contain many more ideas and hypotheses Ex: Law = A concise description of how the natural world functions. = a specific descriptions of how some aspect of the natural world is expected to behave in a certain situation Is the how come THEORIES DO NOT BECOME LAWS OVER TIME