WHAT IS SCIENCE? WHAT IS SCIENCE? An organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world.

WHAT IS SCIENCE? Science only deals with the Natural World. Science only deals with the Natural World. Never concern the supernatural phenomena of any kind Never concern the supernatural phenomena of any kind Use scientific reasoning to justify abstract explanations. Use scientific reasoning to justify abstract explanations. Make sound scientific inferences based on natural phenomena Make sound scientific inferences based on natural phenomena

WHAT IS SCIENCE? Scientist collect and organize information in an orderly way Scientist collect and organize information in an orderly way Interpret, analyze, and synthesize data to determine causal relationships in a complex investigation. Interpret, analyze, and synthesize data to determine causal relationships in a complex investigation.

Biology The Study of Life

Experimental Design

Problem Statement The question you are trying to solve. he primary purpose of a problem statement is to focus the attention of the problem solving team.

Forming and Testing a Hypothesis Hypothesis – a suggested answer to a well-defined scientific question. –An explanation on trial –Are usually concerned with natural phenomena –Often based on past experience of knowledge gained from discoveries or other sources

An Educated Guess People normally use hypothesis to solve everyday problems. After you propose a hypothesis – you test these ideas by making additional observations or designing an experiment.

Hypothesis – If…. Then….. Additional observations allows you to make predictions These predictions are tested. A Hypothesis is written as an If… Then… Statement. If a particular hypothesis is correct, and you test that hypothesis with a suitable experiment, then you should expect a certain result for the experiment.

Hypothesis An incorrect hypothesis does not mean failure –Just wrong The inquiry continues with test of alternative hypothesis. Even when an experiment supports a hypothesis curiosity can send you in a new direction.

What makes a Hypothesis Scientific? Even if a hypothesis that stand-up to repeated testing may later be revised or even rejected. A change can occur when new tools make new kinds of observations and experiments are possible. The magnet core of the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) particle accelerator in Geneva. Site of the discovery of the God particle

Observations & Data The questions that drive scientific inquiry are based on observation. Observation – the use of senses; such as vision/hearing; to gather and vision/hearing; to gather and record information about structures record information about structures or process. or process. Data - recorded observation; items of information All observations depend on human senses. Scientific instruments vastly increase the range of possible observation

Data Quantitative Data – Recordable observations –Metric System Qualitative Data – data recorded as description instead of description instead of measurements measurements Data can best support science when they are clearly organized, consistently recorded, and reliable. ie. Use tables

Designing a Controlled Experiment Variable – A condition that can differ within the experiment experiment Controlled Experiment – An experiment that test the effect of a single the effect of a single variable variable In a controlled experiment scientist try to eliminate (or control) other variables that could affect the outcome

Variables Variables could include temperature, humidity (if outside), light, and other weather conditions –Dependent Variable – What your are testing, what is affected during an experiment. It responds to the independent variable. –Independent Variable – the variable that stands alone and is not changed by the other variable. This is the variable you manipulate during the experiment. –Control Variable – it’s what stays the same, what a researcher will compare the results to

Eliminating Unwanted Variables A Control Group Equals Cancelled out Experimental Group

Theory A well tested explanation that makes sense of a great variety of scientific observations A well tested explanation that makes sense of a great variety of scientific observations Compared to hypothesis, a theory is much broader in scope. Compared to hypothesis, a theory is much broader in scope.

Models Are physical, mental, or mathematical representations of how people understand a process or an idea. Are physical, mental, or mathematical representations of how people understand a process or an idea.

Communication in Science Many scientist work in teams and are good communicators They share information:

The Characteristics of Living Things Living Things Reproduce All organisms reproduce. –They produce new similar organisms Sexual Reproduction – Cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism Asexual Reproduction – a single organism produces offspring identical to itself.

The Characteristics of Living Things Interaction with the Environment We are not isolated from our environment, No One Is! –All organisms in an environment interacts continuously with its environment. Stimulus – a signal to which organism responds responds

The Characteristics of Living Things Energy Moving, growing, reproducing, and other activities of life require organisms to perform work. Work depends on a source of energy –We obtain energy in the chemical form, sugar, fats, etc. Metabolism – the combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials

The Characteristics of Living Things Living Things are Made of Cells Organisms are composed of one or more cells Organisms are composed of one or more cells The smallest units considered fully alive.The smallest units considered fully alive. Cells can growCells can grow Respond to the environmentRespond to the environment Despite their small size they are highly organizedDespite their small size they are highly organized

The Characteristics of Living Things Regulation Organisms have the ability to regulate their internal conditions –Sweating on a warm day –Dogs panting to cool off Homeostasis – internal stability or “steady state” maintained by the body Mechanisms of homeostasis enables organisms to regulate internal environment, despite changes in their external environment.

The Characteristics of Living Things Adaptation and Evolution Taken as a group living things evolve. Taken as a group living things evolve. Over generations, groups of organisms evolve, or change over time Over generations, groups of organisms evolve, or change over time

The Characteristics of Living Things Living things Grow and Develop –During development a single egg divides again and again –As cells divide they differentiate They begin to look different –They perform different functions

The Characteristics of Living Things Living Things are Based on a Universal Code –All organisms store the information they need to live, grow, and reproduce in a genetic code written on a molecule called DNA. –This information is passed from parent to offspring