CH. 1 Biology

Science:a way of studying the world in order to understand how it works. Biology: the study of living things Biology is used in medicine, veterinary sciences, ecology, and genetics. Biological knowledge is used to fight diseases such as the flu, pneumonia, and AIDS

Biological knowledge is used to help cure genetic disorders Genes: inherited “operating instructions” for the body. Genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis may be cured through the transfer of normally functioning genes to affected individuals. Humans are rapidly changing the environment, and the growing human population is straining the earth’s ability to support it.

Science is a search for knowledge Science is used to solve problems that affect our lives. Hypothesis: a testable explanation for an observation Prediction: what you expect to happen IF your hypothesis is correct The controlled test of a hypothesis is called an experiment.

In a CONTROL EXPERIMENT, a group that HAS NOT been exposed to the variable causing an effect is compared to a group that HAS BEEN exposed to the variable. The group NOT exposed to the variable is called the CONTROL GROUP. The VARIABLE is the factor you are testing that causes some effect.

Theory: a unifying explanation for a broad range of observations – generally accepted as true. Science requires continued verification of hypothesis All Scientific theories can be overturned by new evidence.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD The scientific Method is a systematic study of a question or problem. 7 steps 1.State the Problem 2.Observations 3.Gather Data 4.Hypothesis 5.Experiment 6.Analyze data 7.Draw a Conclusion 8.**Repeat to ensure there were no mistakes**