1. Scientific Method
Lesson One

2. What are some “types” of science?
What is science?
An intellectual and practical activity that studies the structure and behavior of the physical world through observation and experiment.
A body of knowledge.
What are some “types” of science?
What is biology?
What do you think is the most interesting science?
How does science work?

3. The Scientific Method
In reality, there isn’t a single method…but this is a general overview
You could say there are as many scientific methods as there are types of science...why?
Let’s apply this to a real world problem...

4. Apply the scientific method Let’s discuss Clostridium Difficile
Healthy colon (top)
Clostridium Difficile infection (bottom)
Very uncomfortable disease that can be made worse with antibiotics
Wouldn’t you want to find a treatment for this?

5. State the Problem What is a way we can state the problem described?
Treating a Clostridium Difficile infection with antibiotics can worsen the disease and an alternative treatment is necessary.
How can we make this statement better?

6. Read and Respond
Read the handout that contains two articles on the fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) process
Answer the questions from the handout in your notes

7. Background Research
Why is doing background research so important? Discuss as a class.
Research reveals that
Some people’s infection cannot be cured with antibiotics, and can even be made worse
This disease occurs when the c. difficile bacteria replaces the healthy bacteria that is normally in your intestines
Replacing the healthy bacteria may help treat the infection
Let’s use this to create a hypothesis

8. Form a Hypothesis
With this information, what is a hypothesis we could come up with?
A good hypothesis is:
Simple and clear
Written as a statement
Establishes variables
Predicts an outcome
Is testable

9. If C. difficile causes symptoms when it replaces normal gut flora, then reintroducing healthy gut flora, through a poop transplant, will eliminate the C. difficile infection.

10. Test the Hypothesis Test your hypothesis by designing an experiment
What type of experiment would effectively test this hypothesis?
What would we need for materials?
What would the process be?

11. Analyze the Data Patient Before Treatment # of Lesions in Colon
After Treatment A 25 5 B 36 2 C 22
Control 1 19 21
Control 2 51 52
Control 3 30

12. Draw Conclusions Did the fecal matter transplants seem to work?
Do you think a single experiment is enough?
The importance of RETESTING
How could we retest the hypothesis in a different way?

13. Now You Try! We will watch a video about a disease called Pellagra
You will be prompted to think about each step in the scientific process as we watch the video
Write down your ideas in your notes as we watch the video
Video (start at 15:50 – 28:46)
Alternate Link:
Can also search for Dark Matters Twisted But True S02E04

14. How many times did the doctor in the video test his hypothesis?
Which test was the most memorable? Why?
What challenges did the doctor run into?
Where the challenges primarily scientific problems?
What types of similar problems might scientists face today?