The Nature of ScienceThe Nature of Science

Chapter 1Chapter 1

““Science is built up with facts, Science is built up with facts, as a house is with stones. But as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is no more a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of a science than a heap of stones is a house”. stones is a house”.

-Jules Henri Poincare-Jules Henri Poincare

“Science”Scientia – Latin for “to know” – Latin for “to know”

Science may seem like it is a Science may seem like it is a series of series of facts, or ways to , or ways to explain the universe. explain the universe. HOWEVER, the basis of all HOWEVER, the basis of all science is not the science is not the answers… …

The basis of all science The basis of all science is the…is the…

questions.questions.

Goal of science

The goal of science is to The goal of science is to understand the world around us and the relationships and the relationships among the “players”. Art, among the “players”. Art, history, language, music, and history, language, music, and philosophy also try to do this.philosophy also try to do this.

The difference is The difference is the approachthe approachused to understand theused to understand therelationships.relationships.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

The The processprocess (or system) of (or system) of questions, tests, questions, tests, observations, deductions, observations, deductions, and conclusions.and conclusions.

Few true scientists rigidly Few true scientists rigidly adhere to this system in an adhere to this system in an orderly manner. In other orderly manner. In other words, there is words, there is no set no set patternpattern to this process. to this process.

Identify the problemGather informationDevelop a hypothesis through

reasoned inductive or deductive thought

ExperimentCollect dataDraw a conclusionVerify and report results

Scientific MethodScientific MethodRegardless, scientists all share 3 Regardless, scientists all share 3

characteristicscharacteristics::1)They have confidence that the 1)They have confidence that the natural world is natural world is explainable in explainable in terms we can understandterms we can understand

2)Descriptions and 2)Descriptions and explanations of the world are explanations of the world are based on based on repeated repeated observations that can be observations that can be changed, or thrown out, by changed, or thrown out, by other observations.other observations.

3)Willingness to accept the 3)Willingness to accept the fact that they could be fact that they could be wrongwrong..

Limitations of scientific inquiry

Because science is limited to Because science is limited to objective (unbiased), objective (unbiased), observable, measurable observable, measurable phenomena; it cannot make phenomena; it cannot make moral or value judgmentsmoral or value judgments. .

For example, science gaveFor example, science gaveus the atomic bomb, butus the atomic bomb, butscience cannot tell usscience cannot tell uswhether or not itwhether or not itis right or moral to use it.is right or moral to use it.

Science cannot say whetherScience cannot say whethera painting is beautiful, but ita painting is beautiful, but itcan analyze people’scan analyze people’sresponses to a painting.responses to a painting.

Science is… Science is… progressive, self-correcting,

replicating,competitive and cooperative.

Types of ScienceTypes of SciencePhysicalPhysical science – chemistry , science – chemistry ,

physics, geologyphysics, geologyNaturalNatural Sciences – biology, Sciences – biology,

physiology, anatomyphysiology, anatomySocialSocial sciences – psychology, sciences – psychology,

sociologysociology

Ways to do scienceWays to do science……

Pure science – science for science – science for the sake of the sake of knowledge; ;

Ex: learning how plants use Ex: learning how plants use sunlight to make glucosesunlight to make glucose

AppliedApplied science – science – science thatscience that usesuses the knowledge gained in the knowledge gained in pure sciencepure science; ; Ex: using knowledge about Ex: using knowledge about photosynthesis to develop photosynthesis to develop plants that make large plants that make large amounts of glucose using very amounts of glucose using very little sun. little sun.

BiologyBio – Bio – ““life”;”; ology – ology – ““study of””There is a need to study There is a need to study

biology because we need to biology because we need to study the relationships within, and between living systems in order to understand them

Themes in BiologyEnergySystem and interactionsUnity within diversityHomeostasisEvolutionScience as a process

Hypothesis vs. TheoryHypothesis vs. TheoryHypothesisHypothesis – an – an “ “educated guess” about educated guess” about what is likely to occur what is likely to occur in an experimentin an experiment

Ex. Ex. If I add bleach to this bacterial If I add bleach to this bacterial culture, then the bacteria will die culture, then the bacteria will die because bleach is known to kill because bleach is known to kill most cellsmost cells

Hypothesis vs. Theory

TheoryTheory – a hypothesis that is – a hypothesis that is repeatedly tested and is unlikely repeatedly tested and is unlikely to be disprovedto be disproved

Ex. Germ Theory of Disease – Ex. Germ Theory of Disease – has been shown that “germs” has been shown that “germs” cause many types of diseasescause many types of diseases

Characteristics of LifeCells are basic units – all living – all living

organisms are made up of 1 or organisms are made up of 1 or many cellsmany cells

Response to stimuli Response to stimuli – all – all living organisms respond living organisms respond and adapt to the stimuli that is and adapt to the stimuli that is

presented to them in their presented to them in their environmentenvironment

Characteristics of LifeGrowth and development Growth and development – all living – all living

organisms grow and develop organisms grow and develop throughout their lifespanthroughout their lifespan

ReproductionReproduction – all living organisms – all living organisms must have the capability to reproduce must have the capability to reproduce in order to carry on their species; but, in order to carry on their species; but, not every individual within a species individual within a species must reproducemust reproduce

Characteristics of LifeHomeostasisHomeostasis – all living organisms must – all living organisms must

maintain constant internal balancemaintain constant internal balance-ex. Constant body temperature in -ex. Constant body temperature in mammalsmammals

Need for energy Need for energy – all living – all living organisms require energy to organisms require energy to survivesurvive

Characteristics of Life

Made up of a genetic code Made up of a genetic code - DNA- DNA