General science

I. LIFE

A. What are we studying

1. Biology

“Bio” = Life “ology” = Description

2. How to study

B. Define

C. CHARACTERISTICS

C1. Complex, Organized Order

Have levels of hierarchy where each level based on and dependent on the ones below.

C2. Metabolism

Acquire and use energy from the environment

C3. Homeostasis

Maintain a complex structure and internal environment

C4. Growth & Development

Become larger and more complex.

Use material from the environment and incorporate into the body.

C5. Respond to stimuli

Interacts with the environment.

C6. Reproduce

Make individuals similar to themselves.

C7. Evolve

Change over time (from generation to generation)

C8. DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid

THE HEREDITARY MATERIAL THAT CONTROLS EVERYTHING.

Stores information that acts as a blueprint

D. HOW STUDY

E. How to classify life

1. What is used

Cell type

Cell number

Mode of nutrition

2. Classification – 3 domains & 4 kingdoms

a. Domains

BACTERIA ARCHAEA EUKARYA

Prokaryote prokaryote eukaryote cell

b. Kingdoms of Eukarya

Eukaryotic cell

PROTISTA – single or colony

FUNGI – multicellular, consume others, cell wall

PLANTAE – multicellular, make food, cell wall

ANIMALIA – multicellular, consume others

II. SCIENCE

A. Definition

A systematized, mechanistic,causalistic discipline where generalizations to unknowns aredetermined through observationand experimentation

B. Characteristics of scienceB1. CONTROL OF THE UNIVERSE

Vitalism

A vital force (outside the

physical realm controls

the universe).

Ex. Religion

MechanismThe universe follows the

laws of chemistry and

physics (uniform in

space and time).

Ex. Science

B2. PURPOSE OF THE UNIVERSE

TeleologyThe universe and

events are pre-planned.

Ex. Religion

CausalismThere is no purpose to

the universe everything

is understood by cause

and effect.

(Cause) (Effect)

X happens Y happens

B3. LOGIC

DeductiveGeneralization

Specifics

Ex. Math

Religion

InductiveSpecifics

Generalization

CAN’T PROVE TRUE

Ex. Science

III. TWO SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES

A. Discovery Science

1. Make verifiable observations and measurements to describe life

2. Completely based on inductive reasoning.

B. Hypothesis-Driven Science

1. Use scientific method to ask questions

2. Do experiments

3. Use deductive logic to test hypothesis.

C. SCIENTIFIC METHODObservation

Question

Hypothesis

Prediction

Experiment and Conrol

Evluate results

Publish

Theory

METHOD OBSERVATION

Definition Use senses

Example: Bacteria does not grow

1920’s Fleming around fungus.

METHOD QUESTION

Definition What is the cause?

Example: How is the fungus killing the

bacteria?

METHOD HYPOTHESIS

Definition Testable statement with one

variable that proposes an

explanation for observations

Example: The fungus produces a

chemical that kills the bacteria.

METHOD PREDICTION

Definition What you think will happen.

Example: If I isolate material produced

I will find a chemical.

METHOD

EXPERIMENT Test the hypothesis

with only one variable

Heat broth/fungus

Filter

Pour on bacteria

BACTERIA DIE

CONTROLSame as experiment but

without the variable

Heat broth/ no fungus

Filter

Pour on bacteria

BACTERIA LIVE

METHOD EVALUATE

Definition What you think results mean.

Example: A chemical produced by the

fungus kills the bacteria.

METHOD PUBLISH

Definition Communicate with scientific

community.

Example: Peer review.

METHOD THEORY

Definition A general explanation ofnatural phenomena. Atheory has been testedand upheld many times.

THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE IDEA BUT AFUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE.

IV. LEVELS OF COMPLEXITYChemical

atoms, compounds

Cellular

organelles, cells

Tissue

cells & cell products that work together

OrganTissues that work together and have a genetic shape.

SystemGroup of organs that work together for afunction.

OrganismIndividual

PopulationLocal group of individuals that arereproductively isolated

CommunityGroup of populations that live close enoughto interact

EcosystemGroup of communities and related abiotic

V. MODERN SCIENTISTS

A. Linnaeus – classification & taxonomy

B. Schleiden & Schwann – Cell Theory

C. Charles Darwin – Theory of Evolution

D. Gregor Mendel - Genetics