1. Biology Chapter 1
The Science of Biology

2. Today you will learn about:
Observations
Inferences
The scientific process
Hypothesis
Controlled experiment
Variables in experiments
Theory
Characteristics of Living Things
Levels of Organization

3. Define the following terms.
Science
organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world; also, the body of knowledge that scientists have built up after years of using this process
Observation
use of one or more of the senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, and sometimes taste—to gather information
Data
evidence; information gathered from observations
Inference
logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience
Hypothesis
possible explanation for a set of observations or possible answer to a scientific question

4. What are two types of Observations?
Qualitative observations
involve characteristics that cannot be easily measured or counted, such as color or texture.
Quantitative observations
involve numbers, for example, counting or measuring objects.

5. Take a minute to write 2 qualitative observations and 2 quantitative observations.
Make an inference based on your observations.

6. Making Inferences

7. Scientific Method Stating the problem Hypothesis Controlled Experiment
Identify a problem to be solved, come up with a scientific question
Hypothesis
A possible answer to a scientific question
Controlled Experiment
An experiment set up to test the hypothesis created. Only one variable should be tested at a time.
Record and analyze data
Using graphs, diagrams, computers
Conclusion
Draw a conclusion based on the data collected. Was your hypothesis correct? If so, how can you test it further.
Publishing and Repeating Investigations
The results of the experiment should be published for other scientists to test.

8. A Controlled Experiment
Whenever possible, a hypothesis should be tested by an experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time. All other variables should be kept unchanged, or controlled.
What are the two variables in a controlled experiment?
Manipulated (Independent) Variable
Is the variable which is deliberately changed
Responding (Dependant) Variable
Is the variable which changes in response to the manipulated variable

9. Avoiding Bias
The way that science is applied in society can be affected by bias, which is a particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific.
Science aims to be objective, but scientists are human, too. Sometimes scientific data can be misinterpreted or misapplied by scientists who want to prove a particular point.
Recommendations made by scientists with personal biases may or may not be in the public interest. But if enough of us understand science, we can help make certain that science is applied in ways that benefit humanity.

10. How a theory develops.
   In science, the word theory applies to a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.

11. 8 Characteristics of Living Things
Living things are made up of units called cells.

12. 2. Living things reproduce.
Sexual Reproduction
Asexual Reproduction

13. 3. Living things are based on a universal genetic code.

14. 4. Living things grow and develop.

15. 5. Living things obtain and use materials and energy.

16. 6. Living things respond to their environment.

17. 7. Living things maintain a stable internal environment.
Homeostasis
process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

18. 8. Taken as a group, living things change over time.

19. Levels of Organization

20. Homework Biology Textbook:
Read pages 4-25 and complete the following questions.
p. 15 #’s 1.b, 2.a, 2.b, and 4.c
p. 25 #’s 1.a, 2.b, 3.a, and 4.a