Delta College6/17/2015 #1 Survival skill in a changing world Flexibility
Delta College6/17/2015 #2 Survival skill in a changing world Communication
Delta College6/17/2015 #3 Survival skill in a changing world Ability to ask critical or insightful questions
Delta College6/17/2015 # 4 Survival skill in a changing world hooks pigeon holes themes & schemes
5 WHAT IS SCIENCE? Science is a way of knowing a way of knowing and understanding the world around us
Figure 1.1 Biologists study life on many different scales of size and time
7 THE SCIENTIFIC WAY OF KNOWING l Begins with observations l Is inquiry based l Must be testable l Is tentative – there is no proof in science l Progressive & self correcting l Involves measurement and probability l Limited - cannot address all life’s questions
8 A typical scientist is a healthy skeptic who needs evidence to draw conclusions
Figure 1.1x Geneticist Mary-Claire King
10 Figure 1.23x1 Biotechnology laboratory
11 Little Known Facts About Science There is no proof »We disprove the null hypothesis »We support with evidence »We accumulate evidence that is consistent with our current way of thinking or paradigm »There are very few theories in biology Why?
Figure 1.22 Science as a social process
13 SCIENCE IS... not a collection of facts but a search for them.
14 The Scientific Method l Logical problem solving l Not the only method »Experiments »Models »Synthesis l Discovery »inspiration or serendipity
Figure 1.20 Applying hypothetico-deductive reasoning to a problem
Figure 1.19 Idealized version of the scientific method
17 Figure 1.x1 David Reznick conducting field experiments on guppy evolution in Trinidad
18 Figure 1.21 Controlled experiments to test the hypothesis that selective predation affects the evolution of guppy populations
Scientific Research
Delta College6/17/2015
21 Ectrodactyly
Delta College6/17/2015 Exencephaly
Vental Wall Defect
24 Scientific Writing l Scientific paper – how scientist spread the news l Common style or format »Specific title »Abstract »Intro »Materials & Methods/Procedures »Results »Discussion/Conclusion »References