Please copy the following into your Agenda Book

Tentative Agenda (based on time):

1. Why study biology?2. Activity-Cholera Epidemic Mystery/Sleuth3. What is science? The Baconian Method4. What is pseudoscience?5. How has science changed over time?6. Syllabus7. Canvas on-line website

Homework:

• Read chapter one in textbook• Find a graph and a use of statistics in the news (bring to class)• Think about what you would like to study or research for your semester

long science project

Why Science?

BiologyWeek 1

Dr. ThorntonOAPB

What is one of the greatest threats to human-kind?

Why Biology?

• A virus like Ebola?

Why Biology?

• BSE causative agent (called a prion) is a protein that is folded in the wrong way

Why Biology?

MRSA

• Staph infection that has morphed over time making it resistant to the most used antibiotics

• Most people contract MRSA in the hospital, also a problem in other confined setting such as prisons, daycare centers, nurseries and also in athletes who share locker rooms and gyms

http://akorra.com/2010/10/13/top-10-most-dangerous-germs/

Thalidomide- 1950’s-1960’s • Given to expectant mothers for morning sickness • A sedative and tranquillizer• Used for 12 years before taken off the market

WHY Biology?

What do you know about BPAs?

One generation ingests, two

generations “feel.”

www.niehs.nih.gov/recovery/critical/docs/bpa-signature-project.pdf

Bisphenol A(BPA)

• Used for more than 40 years• Hard plastic food containers – Baby bottles – Reusable cups – The lining of metal food and beverage cans

(including canned liquid infant formula) – Trace amounts of BPA can be found in some foods

packaged in these containers.

http://www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnUjTHB1lvM

Biology

• Study of life• Includes– Physics– Chemistry

• All systems– Habitats– Cells– Atoms

Characteristics of Living things

• Uses energy• Respond to their environment• Maintains a relatively constant internal

environment• Information base in the form of DNA• Composed of One or more cells• Evolved from other living things• Highly organized

(Page 9 in Text)

MYSTERY!

How did 500 people, in 10 days, get Cholera?

What is Science?

Science is based on “knowledge” or “skill”Debate of what science is: Is it mathematical?

Who has the knowledge?• Scientist? Laymen?• Does it depend on what the general population believes?• Does science change?

How is that knowledge verified?Scientific Method: Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

“Baconian Method”

PseudoScience

Scientific Method“Baconian Method”

• Hypothesis• Prediction and testing• Experimental Design• Rigorous Testing• Duplication

Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626

Lab Period One: Appropriate Scientific Sources

First Lab Period: Who determines what is valid scientific results?

1. What are primary, secondary, and tertiary sources?2. How do you read a peer reviewed journal article?3. How do you find appropriate sources (library)

Homework:

• Find peer reviewed article and write a summary in electronic journal (2-3 sentences)

How do you discern between good and poorly performed science?

Acceptable Resources

• Primary Original source or evidence Peer reviewed journal articles

• Secondary Cite, comment on, or build upon

primary sources Books, scientific magazines

• Tertiary Compilation of primary and secondary sources

How you do discern acceptable resources?

• In a small group check the resources on your desk.

• Which are acceptable for scientific research?

The Nature of Science

• Ethics in experimentation • Science Changes