1. Scientific Process and Themes of Biology
Chapter 1
Scientific Process and Themes of Biology

2. 1-3 Scientific Process
Scientific knowledge is acquired using a rigorous process
True science always follows this process
Don’t be fooled by pseudoscience!

3. Steps to Process Collecting observations Asking questions
Forming hypotheses and making predictions
Confirming predictions
Drawing conclusions

4. Observations Using your senses, observe the world around you
Document your observations

5. Asking Questions Ask questions based on your observations
What was causing your observation?

6. Forming Hypotheses and Predictions
Hypothesis-a statement that can be tested by more observations or experimentation
Prediction-expected outcome of a test

7. Confirming Predictions
Use a controlled experiment (must have certain key parts)
Control Group-group in an experiment that receives no experimental treatment

8. Independent Variable-the factor that is varied in the experiment
Dependent Variable-variable that is measured in the experiment

9. Drawing Conclusions Was the hypothesis supported or rejected?
Why did the data support or reject the hypothesis?

10. Publishing Results Most experiments are eventually published
Accumulation of related hypotheses that have been tested many times by many scientists can result in a theory

11. 1-1 Themes of Biology Biology is the study of life
There are 7 properties of life

12. Cellular Organization
Reproduction
Metabolism
Homeostasis
Heredity
Responsiveness
Growth and Development

13. The science of Biology is unified by 7 distinct themes
These are different then the 7 properties of life!

14. Unifying Themes of Biology
(1)Cellular Structure-all living things are made of one or more cells
(2)Reproduction-all living things must reproduce
(3)Metabolism-the sum of all chemical rxns carried out inside an organism

15. (4)Homeostasis-maintaining a stable environment inside of the cell
(5)Heredity-passing characteristics from parents to offspring
Gene-set of inherited instructions for making proteins
Mutation-change in the DNA of a gene

16. (6)Evolution-change in the inherited traits of species over time
Species-group of genetically similar organisms that can produce fertile offspring
Natural Selection-organisms with favorable genes are more likely to survive and reproduce

17. (7)Interdependence-organisms have evolved to interact with other organisms
Ecology-the science that studies the interactions of living organisms with the nonliving part of their environment