Biology 115-Lecture 1

Biology

Study of Life

Bio

Living, Alive, Life

Logy

To study

Organism Characteristics

• Regulation

• Order

• Growth/Development

• Energy Processing

• Response to Environment

• Composed of Cells

Biosphere

Includes all life & places where life exists, ex: Earth

Ecosystem

All living organisms & nonliving components

Communities

All organisms in an ecosystem

Populations

Groups of interacting individuals of one species

Ogranisms

Individual

System Order Cont.:

• Organ Systems & Organs

• Tissues

• Cells

• Organelles

• Molecules & Atoms

Flow of Information

DNA & Genetics

Transformation of Energy and Matter

Structure, Function, System Integration

Connections through Time & Space

Scientific Method

• Observation

• Research

• Hypothesis

• Test w/Experiment

• Analyze Data

• Report Conclusions

Hypothesis

Proposed explanation for set of observations & testable/falsifiable

Theory

Broad, comprehensive, and well substantiated explanation (Broader in scope than a hypothesis)

Fact

• Piece of information considered to be objectively true based on all current evidence, can be verified (Not Opinion)

• Not primary goal of science

Science

Knowledge that covers general truths/laws, acquired & tested through scientific method

Natural Sciences

Field of science related to the physical world, its phenomena and processes (ex.: physics)

Life Sciences

Studies living things, ex: biology

Physical Sciences

Studies nonliving matter, ex: geology

Quantitative Data

Numerical Data, ex: speed, time, & distance

Qualitative Data

Descriptive data, qualities/characteristics, ex: flower colors

Inductive Reasoning

• Related Observations —> General Conclusion

• Inferring Conclusions

• Zebras drink water and get sick —> water must make them sick

Deductive Reasoning

• General Idea —> Specific Case

• All mammals have hair —> Whales are mammals —> Whale have fair

Descriptive Science

Aims to observe, explore, discover, discover & mostly inductive reasoning

Hypothesis Based Science

Begins w/specific question & potential testable answers

Falsifiable

Able to be disproven by experimental results

Variable

Any part of the experiment that can be changed or variable

Control Group

Part of an experiment that doesn’t change

Basic Science

Seeks to expand knowledge & understanding regardless of the short-term application of that knowledge

Applied Science

Aims to solve real-world problems

Serendipity

Fortunate accident/surprise

Peer Reviewed Manuscripts

Scientific paper that a scientist’s colleagues, review

Abstract

Opening section of scientific paper, summarizes the research & conclusions

Plagiarism

Using other’s work/ideas w/o proper citation

Materials & Methods

Section including complete description of substances, methods, techniques used

Discussion

Where author’s interprets experimental results, describes relationship of variables & attempts explanation

Conclusion

Section that summarizes the importance of the experimental findings

Review Article

Paper that summarizes & comments on findings that were published as primary literature

Order of Paper

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

• Conclusion

• References