BIO 181 Chapter 1 - The Study of Life: Nature of Science and Biology

Flashcards covering the nature of science, hypotheses and theories, falsifiability, reasoning (inductive/deductive), experimental design (variables and controls), statistics (p-values), and the eight characteristics of life, plus contemporary biotech applications.

What is science?

Science is a way to find explanations for natural events by testing ideas, observing, and using reasoning. It's always open to new evidence, not completely certain.

What does falsifiability mean in science?

A scientific idea must be testable and able to be proven wrong. If you can't test or disprove it, it's not science.

What is a hypothesis?

It's a testable idea or explanation for a natural event or observation. We test it to gather proof.

Do scientists prove hypotheses?

No. Scientists gather strong evidence to support ideas, but they don't 'prove' them absolutely. Results are likely, not 100% certain.

What is a scientific theory?

A strong, well-supported idea that explains many facts and has been tested a lot. It has good predicting power and is widely accepted, not just a guess.

What does a p-value < 0.05 indicate?

This means there's less than a 5% chance the results happened by random luck. It suggests the results are real, but it's not a final proof.

What is the linear view of the scientific method, and how is it different in practice?

The basic idea is: question → research → guess → test → check → tell. But in real science, it's often messy, with many guesses and repeated tests.

What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?

The independent variable is what you change on purpose. The dependent variable is what you measure and see changes because of what you did.

Why must an experiment vary only one variable at a time?

If you change more than one thing, you won't know which change caused the result. It keeps things clear for testing.

What are positive and negative controls?

A positive control shows what a successful test looks like. A negative control shows what happens when nothing works, making sure you don't get false good results.

What is sample size?

It's how many times you do a test. Doing it more times (larger sample size) makes you more sure about your results.

What are the eight requirements for something to be considered living?

To be alive, something needs: sensitivity, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation, homeostasis, energy processing, and order.

What is homeostasis?

It's how an organism keeps its insides stable (like body temperature) even when its outside environment changes.

What does energy processing mean in biology?

Organisms take energy (from food or sunlight) and use it to power everything they do.

What does “order” mean in biology?

Living things are highly organized, from tiny molecules to cells, tissues, and full organ systems.

What are chemotrophy and phototrophy?

These are ways organisms get energy: chemotrophy uses chemicals, and phototrophy uses light.

What are some examples of modern applications of biology mentioned in the notes?

Examples include new gene treatments (for eyes, blood cancer), non-browning apples, using gene drives in mosquitoes, and making basic cell parts through synthetic biology.