1. Section 1.3: The Nature of Biology

2. Kinds of Information
Scientific information can usually be classified into one or two main types, qualitative or quantitative

3. Quantitative information
Numerical data
Numerical values are compared
Quantitative data may be used to make graphs or tables

4. Measurements in the International System
Scientists use a form of the metric system called the International System of measurements or SI
Q: Why is it important that all scientific measurements be done in the same way?
A: Not everyone uses the English system of measurements that we use

5. Advantage of SI Only a few basic units
Decimal system, measurements can be expressed in multiples of ten or tenths of a basic unit by applying a standard set of prefixes to the unit
In biology, the metric units you will encounter most often are…

6. Metric Units meter _______________ (length) _______________ (mass)
_______________ (volume)
_______________ (time)
_______________ (temperature)
gram
liter
second
Celsius

7. Qualitative information
Observational data, descriptions, etc.
Some phenomena aren’t easily expressed as quantitative information (ex: softness of your skin, the grace with which you run, and the color of your eyes)
Often for exploratory research

8. Science and Society
To comprehend the nature of science, people must understand that knowledge gained through scientific research is never inherently good or bad
Society as a whole must take responsibility for the ethical use of scientific discoveries

9. Ethics
The moral principles and values held by humans

10. Can science answer all questions?
No, some questions are simply not in the realm of science
Ex.) good vs. evil, ugly vs. beautiful
These questions cannot be tested using scientific methods
However, this does not mean that these questions are unimportant

11. Technology
The application of scientific research to societies needs and problems

12. Technology has helped us in many ways
Increase production of food
Decrease the amount of manual labor
Aided in the reduction of wastes and environmental pollution

13. The advances of technology has resulted in some serious problems too
Too much fertilizer can contaminate water
Automobiles have led to increased air pollution

14. In Conclusion
Science and technology will never answer all of the questions we ask, nor will they solve all of our problems
However, during your study of Biology you will have many of your questions answered, and you will explore new concepts
Don’t forget, you are part of this living world and you can use the process of science to ask and answer questions about that world