What is Science?

What are the limits to science? Note: not part of notes What are the limits to science?

Aliens????

Bigfoot body found????

What is Science? Science is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.

The goal of science is to investigate and understand nature The goal of science is to investigate and understand nature. Once you understand nature, you can make predictions about nature.

What types of things can you predict?

Weather (Katrina), Agriculture, environmental problems, etc Taken in (See more photos here) View pastorrobcasey's map

Acid Rain

Biology: is the study of living things Ex: mammals, fish, bacteria, insects, viruses???

Biology involves a search for solutions to medical problems What are some problems?

Examples? West Nile, AIDS, Cancer, Clean water, endangered species, wildlife management.

Arthritis

Allergies

Gangrene

When will you use biology to make personal decisions? Exercise, food/diet, drugs, alcohol, problem solving skills

How does a theory develop?

As data from numerous experiments builds up, a certain hypothesis may become so well supported that scientists consider it to be a theory. A theory is supported by a ton of evidence. But it is not considered to be absolutely true. Ex: theory of plate tectonics, theory of evolution

Theory of Evolution

Characteristics of Living Things 8 characteristics must be met in order for something to be “living” Try to brainstorm a few

Characteristics of Living Things 1. All living organisms are made of cells. -A cell is the basic unit of life

Fill out the Pyramid Organism Organ Systems Organs Tissue Cells

Prokaryotes vs eukaryotes

Reproduction 2. All living organisms must reproduce -All living organisms must reproduce sexually or asexually. a. Life would come to an end without reproduction

Reproduction

DNA 3. All living organisms have a genetic code (DNA) -There is a reason why we look like our parents. DNA is a molecule that gets passed down to the next generation.

Genetics

DNA

Life Cycle 4. All living organisms must grow -All living organisms go through a life cycle. Humans start off as sperm/egg, embryo, zygote, fetus, infant, teenager, etc…

All living things must grow

Energy 5. All living organisms need energy -Organisms need energy to grow, develop, and reproduce. How do you get energy? Humans= eating, plants= sun, fungus=decomposing

Obtain Energy

395 pound sumo wrestler

Respond to Environment 6. All living organisms must respond to their environments -Not a lot of organisms can survive a winter. What do they do? a. Hibernate, migrate

Respond to Environment

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Homeostasis 7. All living organisms must maintain an internal balance -Homeostasis: is the process in which organisms maintain their internal balance If we eat, we have to excrete (removal of waste) Plants take in CO2 and give off O2

Homeostasis

Evolution 8. All living organisms change over time -This change is known as evolution

Change over time