The Characteristics of Life Living things: 1.Have one or more cells that contain DNA 2.Can reproduce 3.Carry out growth and development 4.Adjust to their environment 5.Need energy 6.Adapt and evolve Remember: the Martian and the Car

The Methods of Biology 1.Problem: Identify the question 2.Observation: Figure out what you already know 3.Inference: Make a logical guess 4.Hypothesis: If… then 5.Experiment: A test of the hypothesis 6.Results/Analyze Data: Organize your information 7.Conclusion: Communicate what you learned and how you learned it. REPEAT many times! 8.Theory: Supported by lots of data and observations; can change if new evidence is presented 9.Law: A statement that is generally considered true

Types of Observations Qualitative: Remember Mystery Bags Examples –Round –Soft –Squishy –Large –Small –Yellow –Long –Pretty Quantitative: Remember Measuring Gummy Bears Examples –Meters –Kilograms –Seconds –Celsius/Kelvin –Liters –cm 3 –g/cm 3

KILO 1000 Units HECTO 100 Units DEKA 10 Units DECI 0.1 Unit CENTI 0.01 Unit MILLI Unit Meters Liters Grams Metric System Conversions How do you use the “ladder” method? 1 st – Determine your starting point. 2 nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point. 3 rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction. 4 km = _________ m How many jumps does it take? Starting Point Ending Point 4. 1 __. 2 3 = 4000 m

Graphing Independent vs. Dependent variables Remember: D R Y M I X Which is the independent variable? (M I X) Which is the dependent variable? (DRY) Graphs and graphing advice from