Science as a way of learning: A Guide to the Natural World

1.1 How Does Science Impact the Everyday World?

How Does Science Impact the Everyday World? Science plays an increasingly important role in the everyday lives of Americans. Until the mid-1990s, most Americans did not use , cell phones, or the Internet.

What Do Americans Know About Science? Figure 1.1

What Do Americans Know About Science? The average American has at best an uneven knowledge of science.

What Do Americans Know About Science? Almost 80 percent of adult Americans who were surveyed know that the continents are moving about the face of the Earth. Of those surveyed, 25 percent think the sun goes around the Earth.

What Do Americans Know About Science? Figure 1.3 Early humans did not coexist with dinosaurs. Antibiotics kill bacteria but not viruses. The father’s gene determines the sex of a child. The Earth goes around the sun. The oxygen we breathe comes from plants. 48% 51% 65% 75% 79% 87% Percent of Americans who understand that: Continents are moving on the Earth’s surface.

1.2 What is Science?

What is Science? Science is a body of knowledge; a collection of unified insights about nature, the evidence for which is an array of facts.

Science as a Body of Knowledge The unified insights of science are known as theories. A theory is a general set of principles, supported by evidence, that explains some aspect of nature.

Science as a Body of Knowledge Science can also be defined as a way of learning; a process of coming to understand the natural world through observation and the testing of hypotheses.

Science as a Body of Knowledge Figure 1.4 Observation Question Hypothesis Experiment Conclusion

Science as a Body of Knowledge Science works through the scientific method, in which an observation leads to the formulation of a question about the natural world.

Science as a Body of Knowledge Science is a tentative, testable explanation that has not been proven true. The hypothesis may be tested through observation or through a series of experiments, as aided by statistical procedures.

Science as Process An example of hypothesis testing is Louis Pasteur’s experiment regarding the spontaneous generation of life

When you start with a sterile flask of sterile meat broth... Observation Question: What is the source of the living material? Pasteur’s experiments: Conclusion: No growth appears in the broth unless dust is admitted from outside. Reject “spontaneous generation” hypothesis. Hypothesis:... a growth of new living material generally appears in the broth. The living material is derived from nonliving material (spontaneous generation). sterile flask Particle trap sterile broth dust trapped in neck of flask remove trap no growth growth tip flask to mix trapped dust into broth Hypothesis 1Hypothesis 2 The living material is derived from living material outside of the flask. growth of new material in broth sterile flask sterile broth Scientific method at work: Pasteur tests “spontaneous generation” Science as Process Figure 1.5

Science as Process In science, every assertion regarding the natural world is subject to challenge and revision.

When is a Theory Proven? Scientific claims must be falsifiable, meaning open to negation through scientific inquiry Scientific inquiry is limited to investigating natural (as opposed to supernatural) explanations for natural phenomena.

When is a Theory Proven? PLAY Animation 1.1 Scientific Method

1.3 The Nature of Biology

The Nature of Biology Biology is the study of life.

Characteristics of Living Things Life is defined by a group of eight characteristics possessed by living things.

Characteristics of Living Things 1. Assimilate energy.

Characteristics of Living Things 2. Respond to their environment.

Characteristics of Living Things 3. Maintain a relatively constant internal environment.

Characteristics of Living Things 4. Reproduce.

Characteristics of Living Things 5. Possess an inherited information base, encoded in DNA, that allows them to function.

Characteristics of Living Things 6. Are composed of one or more cells.

Characteristics of Living Things 7. Are evolved from other living things.

Characteristics of Living Things 8. Are highly organized compared to inanimate objects.

Life is Hierarchical Life is organized in a hierarchical manner, ranging in increasing complexity from atoms to molecules to organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.

Life is Hierarchical Figure 1.6 atom (hydrogen Molecule (water) organelle (nucleus) cell (neuron) tissue (nervous tissue) organ (brain) organ system (nervous system) organism (sea lion) population (colony) community (giant kelp forest) ecosystem (southern California coast) biosphere (Earth)

1.4 Special Qualities of Biology

Special Qualities of Biology Until the early nineteenth century, biology was largely a descriptive science that mainly catalogued and described the Earth’s living things.

Special Qualities of Biology Biology’s subject matter—the living world—is notable for its complexity and diversity compared to other aspects of the natural world (such as stars and atoms).

Special Qualities of Biology Biology does not deal in universal rules to the extent that a discipline such as physics does; instead, biological research may focus on particular species, processes, or portions of the living world.

Biology’s Chief Unifying Principle Biology’s chief unifying principle is evolution, which can be defined as the gradual modification of populations of living things over time. This modification sometimes results in the development of new species.

Biology’s Chief Unifying Principle Evolution provides the means for making sense of the forms and processes seen in living things on Earth today.

Biology’s Chief Unifying Principle Figure 1.7

Biology’s Chief Unifying Principle Many stinging insects with black and yellow stripes look alike because of the general protection this provides from predators

Biology’s Chief Unifying Principle Figure 1.8