What approaches do scientists use to make observations about the natural world, solve problems, and...

Journal – Bio Basics

1. Yesterday we talked a little about what counts as science – what is and is not science. Try to come up with your own, 1-sentence definition for the word “science”.

2. What do you think of when you hear the word “cleavage”? [Yes, this is a trick question] What do you think of when you hear the word “law”?

3. Describe the scientific method? How might you use this in everyday life?

Agenda…

WEEK AHEAD

INTRO QUIZ FRIDAY

TODAY’S TOPICS & ACTIVITIES

The Scientific Research MethodKey Terms in Science

The Nature of ScienceWhat approaches do scientists use to make observations about the natural world, solve problems, and make sense of new information?

The Nature of Science

How is this activity similar to “doing” science?

1. Assume that the pieces fit together – nature is a puzzle that we have not yet solved

2. Trial and error is an essential ingredient to science3. New information may require the old theory to be

modified or discarded4. Our current information may be incomplete and

therefore, our theories incorrect5. Sometimes, we get lucky and find the right answer6. Collaboration may be helpful7. Once we arrive at the answer, it makes perfect sense –

but we have to avoid assuming more pieces won’t come along!

Unit 1: The Basics of BiologyFirst Set of Notes!

Brief tips for taking notes… You must take notes &

you should use your notes

Find a strategy that works for you

Be consistent & organized

Leave room for additions, revisions, key points & questions

A. What is Science?

1. Science: the organized systematic way of gathering knowledge about the natural world and summarizing that knowledge into testable laws and principles

2. Types of Sciencea. Earth, Chemistry, Physicsb. Botany, Ecology, Genetics, Anatomy &

Physiologyc. -”Ologies” – a branch or knowledged. The scientific process is increasingly being

applied to answer questions in other fields

3. Approaches & Principlesa. Reductionist Approach

Study another more basic group to understand the one you are in

One thing builds on another

b. Inductive Reasoning Inferences drawn on data or observations Creating testable assumptions

c. Identifying relationshipsd. Scientific research methods

4. Key characteristics of sciencea. The natural world is understandableb. Science demands evidencec. Science is a blend of logic and imaginationd. Scientific ideas are durablee. Scientific ideas are subject to changef. Science is a social activity

Collaboration Societal impact Standards

g. Science avoids bias

B. Scientific Research Method

1. SRM provides a framework for acquiring & interpreting data

2. It is a systematic (step by step) way of answering questions

a. Observation: gather information using your senses

b. Question: define the problemc. Hypothesis: a proposed explanation of the

relationship between two variables based on limited existing evidence that can be tested

d. Experimental design Independent variable (IV): manipulated factor

in an experiment Dependent variable (DV): measured, using

qualitative ( / ) or quantitative (#s) values, to show the effect of the independent variable

Constants: Factors kept the same for all individuals being tested in an experiment

Control: A group in an experiment that receives no treatment in order to compare the treated group against a norm

e. Data: record observations & measurements from the experiment

f. Analysis: graph data & interpret trends & results

g. Conclusion: refocus & ask “so what?”

Rememb

er its not

a

straight

one-shot

process!

C. Terms to know in Biology

1. Fact: data that is observed to be true

2. Hypothesis: an idea that can be tested and the explains why we expect to see certain results

What is this a part of?*Remember limits & benefits of

expectations…

What other questions could I

ask?

Adding to the model

“If….then…”

- “If I blow out this candle, then it will go out” is either a prediction or just an answer based on what is know

- We need to go further and explain WHY

- Hypothesis must be something that CAN BE PROVEN WRONG

TESTABLE EXPLAINATION

“The candle will go out, because when you blow on it, it gets colder and its not hot enough for the fire to

burn.”

3. Law: a true and universal fact that describes a single action or event

a. Laws are useful assumptions but do not provide explanations for why they are true

b. Examples: Law of Inertia: “Once a force acts on an object it

will keep moving in that direction unless another force acts on it” but,…..the law doesn’t tell us why this happens

Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion: Kepler put together decades of data and found for the six known planets, all of them behaved in manners described by his three statements, and in the early 1600’s we did not understand the Sun and planets were exerting forces on each other through gravitation

Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation: It does not tell us HOW two different masses exert forces on each other, it simply describes it and names it.

The question “How does a theory become a law?” is a trick question!

The answer is – it cannot!!

Scientific theories EXPLAIN things, laws state things.

4. Theory: a complex explanation of events or observations based on hypotheses, facts, evidence and laws

a. Supported multiple timesb. Altered, but not replacedc. Multiple partsd. Examples:

The Atomic Theory: “matter is made of discrete units of matter that maintain their ‘identity’ through physical and chemical change.” This theory is very useful in understanding chemical reactions and much more .

Copernicus’ Heliocentric Theory: an unquestioned idea among scientists that explains the motions of the planets, Moon, and Sun as observed from Earth. It pulls together many different observations and concepts together in a unifying explanation.

Theory of Evolution: Combines many different hypotheses and evidence to explain how speciation occurs

We are still in search of a theory of gravitation!

Theories are no less certain than laws.

Theories and laws DO different things – Laws describe, theories explain.

Theories and laws may need to be adjusted from time to time as we get

new data but they are solid foundations from which we can

launch new hypothesis in order to explain the world we live in

The Nature of Science

D. Biotic vs Abiotic

1.Biotic: livinga. Examples: You, me,

plants, coral, fish, fossils, wood, decomposing organic matter

2.Abiotic: non-living, never-livinga. Examples: rocks,

plastic, metal chairs, temperature,

sunlight, wind, climate

Thumb CheckTRUE (UP) OR FALSE (DOWN)?

All Scientific ideas come from controlled experiments.

Scientific ideas change gradually over time.

The scientific method is accepted world-wide as the standard for research.

Science is based on the idea that, if a natural event is studied long and hard enough, it can be understood.

A law can someday become a theory.

Scientists are objective in their research.

Society has little influence on scientific research.

Thumb CheckTRUE (UP) OR FALSE (DOWN)?

All Scientific ideas come from controlled experiments. F

Scientific ideas change gradually over time. F

The scientific method is accepted world-wide as the standard for research. T

Science is based on the idea that, if a natural event is studied long and hard enough, it can be understood. T

A law can someday become a theory. F

Scientists are objective in their research. F (try)

Society has little influence on scientific research. F

In Your Planner…

THIS WEEK

Key terms in scientific inquiry, experiment set up & lab safety, graphing, & intro to themes in biology

INTRODUCTION QUIZ ON FRIDAY

HOMEWORK

Syllabus & Course Overview Signatures Fri. 8/24Safety Contract Signature Fri. 8/24Interests & Learning Styles Survey Fri. 8/24

Planner

THIS WEEK

Key terms in scientific inquiry, experiment set up & lab safety, graphing, & intro to themes in biology

INTRODUCTION QUIZ ON FRIDAY

HOMEWORK Syllabus & Course Overview Signatures Fri.

8/24 Safety Contract Signature Fri. 8/24 Interests & Learning Styles Survey Fri. 8/24