Chapter Three An Introduction to Science

 If viewing this in PowerPoint, use the icon to run the show (bottom left of screen).  Mac users go to “Slide Show > View Show” in menu bar  Click on the Audio icon: when it appears on the left of the slide to hear the narration.  From “File > Print” in the menu bar, choose “notes pages”, “slides 3 per page” or “outline view” for taking notes as you listen and watch the presentation.  Start your own notebook with a 3 ring binder, for later study! ALAT Presentations Study Tips

Scientific Fundamentals  Competency in technical skills = an understanding of basic science & general scientific concepts and terminology.  Practical aspects essential for the skills required.  General information helps in understanding research, communicating effectively with scientists & advancing careers.  Additional study required to develop special skills needed to perform advanced techniques.

Selected Scientific Terminology  Prefix, Root, & Suffix  Prefix is descriptive & appears at the beginning.  Root is item being described.  Suffix is at end of word & is descriptive.  “Bio” (life), “logy” (study of) = biology (study of life)  “Patho” (disease), pathology = study of disease  “Anti–” (against), antibiotic = against life, & describes a drug that kills bacteria  Diabetics = too much glucose in blood = hyperglycemia =“hyper” (more than) + “glyc” (glucose) + “emia” (blood)

(Image) Prefix, Root and Suffix

Basic Principles of Chemistry  All matter fundamental material called atoms.  Atoms make up elements.  Different elements combine and form a molecule.  Elements are shown with standard symbols:  carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), calcium (Ca), hydrogen (H), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe)  Atoms combine to form molecules such as:  O 2 = oxygen found in air  H 2 O = a water molecule  CO 2 = carbon dioxide

More Chemistry  Interaction of atoms  metabolism of food, interaction of an antibiotic, toxicity of medicine involve chemical reactions  Chemical reactions in living things = biochemistry.  Chemical interactions in normal animals, in a dynamic balance, called homeostasis.  Incorrect environment or errors can cause changes in homeostasis.  Recognize that SOPs, treatments, feeds and dosages are meant to reduce unwanted chemical impacts on research data.

Weights and Measures  Metric system is based on powers of 10.  units are gram (g), meter (m), and liter (l)  Prefix units indicate multiples or fractions, i.e.:  1 milli = 1/1,000; centi =1/100; deci = 1/10; kilo = 1,000  1 mg = 1/1,000 of a gram, and 1 kg = 1,000 grams  1 ml = 1/1,000 of a liter, and a 1 kl = 1,000 liters  1 mm =1/1,000 meter, and 1 km = 1,000 meters  Conversions:  1 inch = 2.5 centimeters  1 meter is little longer than three feet  1 liter is about the size of a quart  1 milliliter is about 20 drops  15 grams is about a half ounce  1 kg = 2.2 pounds

Temperature  Fahrenheit and Celsius  Celsius = centigrade, 100 degrees separate freezing and boiling water  Fahrenheit to Celsius: °C = 5/9 (°F - 32)  180°F to Celsius scale: °C = 5/9 (180° - 32) = 5/9 x 14 = 740/9 = 82.2°C  Celsius to Fahrenheit: °F = 9/5 (°C) + 32  41°C to Fahrenheit: °F = 9/5 (41°) + 32 = = 105.8°F  To use decimals to make these conversions, the formulas are: °C = (°F- 32 )/ 1.8 °F = (1.8 x °C) + 32

More Weights and Measures  Other common temperature conversions that should be committed to memory include:  72°F = 22°C.  39°F = 4°C.*  32°F = 0°C.  212°F = 100°C.  98.6°F = 37°C. *(corrected)

Additional Reading McBride, Doug. Learning Veterinary Terminology, Mosby-Year Book, Inc., St. Louis, MO