1. The Scientific Method and Characteristics of Living Things
                               
The Scientific Method and
Characteristics of Living Things

2. What is Science?
Science is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.
Body of knowledge that scientist have built up over the years.

3. The Nature of Science
Scientific Methods- the variety of steps and tools scientists use to gather information and answer questions.

4. “The Scientific Method”-
step by step process for experimentation.
Includes:
Observation-
noticing something that leads to a question.

5. Hypothesis-
educated guess or explanation for the question
Ex: Fertilizer will cause plants to grow taller
Must be testable.

6. Experiment
Tests the hypothesis
Specific steps, procedure and materials
Includes 3 Variables

7. 1. Controlled Variables- variables kept constant so they do not affect the results.

8. 2. Independent Variable
Manipulated Variable
The variable (only 1) that is manipulated or changed to test its effect on the outcome
Ex: Fertilizer
X axis

9. 3. Dependent Variable
Responding Variable
The variable that is measured or observed
Depends on changes made to the independent variable
Ex: Plant height, weight, number of flowers, etc.
Y axis

10. The data, charts and graphs resulting from the experiment are interpreted and analyzed to form a…

11. Conclusion
A statement that supports or refutes the hypothesis
Ex: Fertilizer increases plant height.
Usually leads to more questions and a new hypothesis
All results must be verified and repeatable.

12. Scientific Theory An explanation of a natural phenomenon
supported by a large body of scientific
investigations and observations.
Ex: The Cell Theory
The Atomic Theory
The Theory of Evolution

13. Practice
1. What are the dependent and independent variables?

14. What are the dependent and independent and controlled variables?

15. What are the dependent and independent variables?

16. Redi’s Experiment Redi animation
One jar was left uncovered. The second jar was covered
Maggots appeared only on the meat in the open jar.
Redi concluded that meat did not produce maggots-flies did.

17. Redi’s Variables
Controlled Variables- jars, type of meat, location, temperature, time
Independent Variable- Gauze covering that keeps flies away from meat
- Dependent Variable-
whether or not maggots
appear

18. Redi’s Experiment
Disproved the widely accepted idea of Spontaneous Generation – living things come from nonliving things.
Used a control group- a standard to compare test results. In a control the independent variable is not present.

19. Observation: Frogs caught in polluted ponds have deformed limbs

20. youtube: The Scientific Method Made Easy
Hypothesis:
Data:
Conclusion:
youtube: The Scientific Method Made Easy

21. Biology is the study of living things.
What Is Biology?
Biology is the study of living things.
Bio: life
-ology:
the study of

22. What does it mean to be living?
You tube: Intro to Char of Life
What does it mean to be living?
Define living vs. nonliving by
7 characteristics
All living things are complex, organized and made of cells

23. 2. All living things get nutrients and energy from their environment

24. All living things regulate their internal environment so as to maintain a stable, constant condition-homeostasis

25. 4. All living things grow and develop
-increase in cell size or cell number

26. 5. All living things respond to stimuli from their environment.
youtube: jaws of death

27. 6. All living things reproduce more of their own kind
asexual reproduction …..one parent produces …..copies of itself
sexual reproduction- ………………………...two parents, each ………………………...contributes to …………………………production of …………………………offspring
based on universal code-DNA

28. All living things can adapt to their environment and evolve- change over time
Adaptations are characteristics that allow organisms to survive and reproduce
You Tube: Its Alive!
You Tube: Char of Life