Unit 1 Test - Nature of Science

Science

An organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world

Science is not

bias, influenced by public opinion, never changing

Scientific methodology

a general style of scientific investigation used to ask questions and solve problems

spontaneous generation

the creation of living things from non-living things; life from nothing

an observation

All scientific experiments start with _________________

Observation

Involves collecting data using your senses

Inference

A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge

Observations or inferences

Ask questions based on ____________________________________

hypothesis

a proposed answer to a scientific question that can be tested

testable

hypotheses must be ____________

experiment

a procedure designed to support or refute a hypothesis

Parts of an experiment

variable, constant, independent variable, dependent variable, control group, experimental group

variable

any part of an experiment that can change

constant

any part of an experiment not changed

independent variable

the variable that is manipulated and changed

dependent variable

changes in response to independent variable

control group

not manipulated to simulate original

experimental group

manipulated to test hypothesis

data

detailed records of experimental observations

quantitative data

involves numbers, counting, or measuring

qualitative data

involves characteristics that cannot be counted

tables, charts, and graphs

data is organized into __________________________________

supports or refutes hypothesis

data either _______________________________

learn, evaluate, scrutinize compare, and test new hypotheses

sharing results allows the scientific community to _______________________________

peer-reviewed article

results that have undergone expert scrutiny to assess the quality

theory

a well tested scientific explanation of natural events that unifies a broad range of observations and is supported by evidence

absolute truth

No theory is viewed as _________________ because science is always improving

how

Theory tries to explain ______ things happen

what

Law predicts ______ will happen

biology

the study of the living world

all characteristics

in order to be considered living an organism must meet ________________________________ of life

made of cells, reproduce, genetic code, evolve, grow and develop, require energy, respond to stimulus, maintain internal balance

Characteristics of living things

cells

smallest units of an organism that is considered alive

unicellular

made of only one cell

multicellular

made of more than one cell

prokaryotic

unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus (bacteria)

eukaryotic

unicellular or multicellular organism whose cells contain a nucleus (plant, animal, fungi)

reproduction

the process by which organisms make more of their own kind

genetic material; DNA

Organisms pass their ____________________________ to offspring

Asexual reproduction

reproduction one parent produces an offspring that is identical to itself

sexual reproduction

two cells from different parents unite to produce the 1st cell

inheritance

organisms contain directions for ________________ carried by DNA

adapt

organisms can _________ and become more suitable to environment

evolve

over generations, groups of organisms __________, or change over time

well-adapted

________________ individuals survive and reproduce

growth

increase in amount of material in an organism

development

series of changes an organism undergoes in reaching its final form

grow, develop, and reproduce

Organisms take in materials and energy to __________________________________

metabolism

combination of all chemical reactions that build up or break down materials while carrying on life processes

respond

organisms constantly need to ______________ to changes in their surroundings

stimulus

anything (signal) in an organism’s environment that causes a reaction/response

negative or positive feedback loops

two ways organisms react to stimuli

negative feedback loop

any metabolic process that changes the direction of the stimulus

positive feedback loop

any metabolic process that maintains the processes of the stimulus and possibly accelerates it

homeostasis

process by which organisms keep their internal conditions