The Nature of Science Chapter 1

“Science is built up with facts, as a house is with stones “Science is built up with facts, as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house”. -Jules Henri Poincare

“Science” Scientia – Latin for “to know” Science may seem like it is a series of facts, or ways to explain the universe. HOWEVER, the basis of all science is not the answers.

The basis of all science is the questions.

Goal of science The goal of science is to understand the world around us and the relationships among the “players”. Art, history, language, music, and philosophy also try to do this.

The difference is the approach used to understand the relationships.

Scientific Method The process (or system) of questions, tests, observations, deductions, and conclusions.

Few true scientists rigidly adhere to this system in an orderly manner Few true scientists rigidly adhere to this system in an orderly manner. In other words, there is no set pattern to this process.

Identify the problem Gather information Develop a hypothesis through reasoned inductive or deductive thought Experiment Collect data Draw a conclusion Verify and report results

Scientific Method Regardless, scientists all share 3 characteristics: 1)They have confidence that the natural world is explainable in terms we can understand

2)Descriptions and explanations of the world are based on repeated observations that can be changed, or thrown out, by other observations. 3)Willingness to accept the fact that they could be wrong.

Limitations of scientific inquiry Because science is limited to objective (unbiased), observable, measurable phenomena; it cannot make moral or value judgments.

For example, science gave us the atomic bomb, but science cannot tell us whether or not it is right or moral to use it.

Science cannot say whether a painting is beautiful, but it can analyze people’s responses to a painting.

Science is progressive, self- correcting, replicating, competitive and cooperative.

Types of Science Physical science – chemistry , physics, geology Natural Sciences – biology, physiology, anatomy Social sciences – psychology, sociology

Ways to do science… Pure science – science for the sake of knowledge; Ex: learning how plants use sunlight to make glucose

Applied science – science that uses the knowledge gained in pure science; Ex: using knowledge about photosynthesis to develop plants that make large amounts of glucose using very little sun.

Biology Bio – “life”; ology – “study of” There is a need to study biology because we need to study the relationships within, and between living systems in order to understand them

Themes in Biology Energy System and interactions Unity within diversity Homeostasis Evolution Science as a process

Hypothesis vs. Theory Hypothesis – an “educated guess” about what is likely to occur in an experiment Ex. If I add bleach to this bacterial culture, then the bacteria will die because bleach is known to kill most cells

Hypothesis vs. Theory Theory – a hypothesis that is repeatedly tested and is unlikely to be disproved Ex. Germ Theory of Disease – has been shown that “germs” cause many types of diseases

Characteristics of Life Cells are basic units – all living organisms are made up of 1 or many cells Response to stimuli – all living organisms respond and adapt to the stimuli that is presented to them in their environment

Characteristics of Life Growth and development – all living organisms grow and develop throughout their lifespan Reproduction – all living organisms must have the capability to reproduce in order to carry on their species; but, not every individual within a species must reproduce

Characteristics of Life Homeostasis – all living organisms must maintain constant internal balance -ex. Constant body temperature in mammals Need for energy – all living organisms require energy to survive

Characteristics of Life Made up of a genetic code - DNA