Biology: The Study of Life

What is Science??

• “knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method “

-Merriam Webster Dictionary

• Latin – scire = to know; • sciens = having knowledge

What is NOT science?

• Science is based on facts and empirical evidence

• Scientific knowledge is based on conclusions from using scientific method

• THEREFORE, anything that can not be tested using the scientific method is NOT science– Opinion– Abstract thoughts/ideas– Religion– Non-repetitive events/historical events

What are the Sciences?

• Biology

• Zoology

• Botany

• Ecology

• Astronomy

• Geology

• Archaeology

• Paleontology

• Meteorology

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Physiology

• Paleobotany

• Geophysics

….and so many more!!!!!

Biology• The study of living things• “bio” – Greek (bios) for “life”• “logy” – Greek (logos) for “study”• Not just animals• Other branches within biology

– Ecology – interaction of living things with the environment and each other– Botany – study of plants– Zoology – study of animals– Entomology – study of insects– Herpetology – study of reptiles– Ornithology – study of birds– Pathology – study of diseases– Virology – study of viruses– List goes on and on and on and on and on!!!!!

The Reasons for Science

• Observations of the world

• Natural inquisitiveness

• Innate desire for knowledge

• Satiate curiosity

• Improve life

• Solve/prevent problems

• Make predictions

The Reasons for Biology

• Life is all around us

• We interact with living things

• Living things interact with us

• Understand the “why’s” and “how’s” of life

• Make predictions

• Prevent/solve problems

• Inspire

Some Famous Scientists

• Archimedes • Aristotle• Hippocrates• Galileo• Sir Isaac Newton• Leonardo Da Vinci• Charles Darwin• Albert Einstein

• Robert Hooke• Watson & Crick• Ben Franklin• Thomas Edison• Gregor Mendel• John Audubon • Marie Curie• Rosalind Franklin

How is science done?

• Scientific Method:– Observe– State a problem/ask question– Collect background information– Formulate hypothesis– Test the hypothesis – experiment– Draw conclusion– Repeat testing of the hypothesis– Publish

Observations

• How do we observe??– Sight– Sound– Touch/Feel– Smell– Taste

What’s a Hypothesis?

• NOT AN EDUCATED GUESS!!!

• Possible solution to the problem or question that is testable

A Controlled Experiment

• An experiment where only one variable is manipulated/changed

• Variable – factor that affects the outcome of the experiment

• Manipulated variable – factor that is changed (aka – independent variable)

• Responding variable – outcome of the experiment as a direct result of the manipulated variable (aka – dependent variable)

Control

• The control is the part of an experiment where the variable is not changed

• The control is necessary for comparison purposes

• Without a control, one would not know if the independent variable influenced the result of the experiment

Types of Observations/Data

• Quantitative – specific information that involves measurements– 250 kg– 30 cars

• Qualitative – information that describes characteristics such as color, relative size, texture . . . etc.– Heavy– Many cars

How is Data Analyzed?

• Use graphs– Bar– Line– Scatter plot– Histograms

• Use charts– Pie charts– Tables

Quantitative Data & Analysis Date Reg Super Premium

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Conclusion

• After analyzing and interpreting the data, a conclusion must be made regarding the hypothesis

• Data can either support the hypothesis or refute the hypothesis

• Experiment is often repeated– Getting the same result increases confidence– Reduces the chance of a fluke or coincidence– Allows time for further thought and analysis of

procedures

Publish

• The conclusion is often published so others can learn from your experience.

• Others can proofread…look for errors and information you overlooked.

• Others can improve your experiment.

• If others try and get the same result, it makes your conclusion even stronger.

• Prevents “reinventing the wheel”

Science is Dynamic!

• Information or facts in science is changing!– New discoveries– Better technology– More information

• Information must be continuously monitored and tested…kept updated.

• Examples:– Pluto– Dinosaurs

Now That’s Just WRONG!!!• Sometimes hypotheses can not be tested

using experiments because of ethics.

• Ethics – the belief of right vs. wrong

• Examples:– Animal testing– Human experimentation– Stem cell research (embryonic vs. adult)– Cloning

• The alternative: find a different method such as computer simulations