Introduction to Biology and the Scientific Method

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering the basics of biology, the steps of the scientific method, and a specific experimental case study on snake mimicry.

Biology

The Scientific Study of life

Scientific Method Steps

1. Question or Problem, 2. Observation, 3. Hypothesis, 4. Conduct an experiment, 5. Analyze Your data, 6. Report your results

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a set of observations

Requirements of a Good Hypothesis

1. Testable and 2. Falsifiable

Observation

To watch and question the world around you

Prediction

A testable idea generated from the hypothesis

Controlled Experiment

An experiment that has two or more groups

Control Group

Unaltered and as unaffected as possible; used for comparison

Experimental Group

Differs from the control group by at least one variable

Independent Variable

The factor changed or prepared by the scientist

Dependent Variable

The outcome of the experiment that is measured as the response of the system; it depends on the independent variable

Snake Experiment Observation

Venomous animals are bright colored and imposters resemble poisonous species but are actually harmless

Snake Experiment Hypothesis

Mimics benefit because Predators confuse them with the harmful species

Snake Experiment Prediction

How the presence or absence of coral snakes will affect how predators interact with King Snakes

Snake Experiment Control Group

Brown Snake

Snake Experiment Independent Variable

Painted or not painted

Snake Experiment Dependent Variable

Number of attacks