Biology and The Scientific Method PDF

Biology and the Scientific Method What is Biology? The scientific study of life But what is science and the scientific method? The Scien3fic Method Science: The word Science is derived from the Latin word Scientia, which means “to know” Science is a systematic way of gathering knowledge about the wor...

Biology and the Scientific Method What is Biology? The scientific study of life But what is science and the scientific method? The Scien3fic Method Science: The word Science is derived from the Latin word Scientia, which means “to know” Science is a systematic way of gathering knowledge about the world and organizing it into theories and laws. The Scientific Method The scientific method is the series of steps used to gather that knowledge. o Observations can lead us to ask questions and propose tentative answers called hypotheses. - A good hypothesis is a testable statement that may be either rejected or supported. o A prediction is the measurable and observable results you expect to see from an experiment or future observations if your hypothesis is valid. Experimental Design A well-designed experiment has the possibility of yielding data that may or may not match the prediction: o If the results and predictions do match, the hypothesis is supported (but not proven!). o If the results and predictions do NOT match, the hypothesis is rejected. Repor2ng Results and Peer Review Process After properly conducting the experiment and analyzing the data, the findings and conclusions should be reported. The report of scientific data and conclusions are done through publication in scientific journals (e.g. Nature and Science) Test: Experiment or additional observation Analyze data Reliable scientific journals use the peer review process to ensure the experiment and data analysis were well conducted. Make Conclusions But how does the peer review process work? Report your findings What is a Theory? The term “theory” has a different meaning in science compared to everyday usage. A scientific theory is broad in explanatory scope and supported by a huge amount of evidence. How do we get to the point of having a theory? Scientific Method! Hypothesis vs. Theory A hypothesis is an educated guess, initially made before any research is completed. o A hypothesis may be tested repeatedly using different experiments and different sets of predictions. If a hypothesis is extensively tested and continues to be supported, it may become a theory or part of a theory. o For a hypothesis to become a theory, it also needs to explain a broad number of phenomena or observations, and act as a framework for developing new hypotheses. What is Biology? The scientific study of life But what is life? What does it mean to say that something is alive? Five fundamental characteristics of living organisms: 1. Cells All organisms are made up of membrane-bound units called cells. 2. Reproduction All organisms are capable of reproduction. 3. EvoluDon Organisms are products of evolution, and populations continue to evolve today 4. Information All organisms process hereditary information encoded in genes and can respond to information from the environment. 4. Energy Organisms acquire energy and use it to power metabolic processes Biologists study all levels of life organization What is an atom?