Biology Miller and Levine Chapter 1 Quiz

Science

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

Providing natural explanations for events in the natural world, and using those explanations to understand the patterns of nature and to make useful predictions about natural events

What is the goal of science?

Observing and asking questions

Making inferences and forming hypotheses

Conducting controlled experiments

Collecting and analyzing data

Drawing conclusions

What are the processes of scientific methodology?

Experiment

A scientific procedure used to test a hypothesis

Observation

The process of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way

Inference

A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience

Hypothesis

A proposed scientific explanation for a set of observations in ways that support or reject it

Controlled Experiment

An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time

If several variables are changed in the experiment, researchers can't easily tell which variable is responsible for any results they observe

Why is it important to control variables?

Independent Variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment, the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

The Variable that is measured

Control Group

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Constant

Any thing that can stay the same in an experiment

Data

Information gathered from experimental observations

Quantitative Data

Numbers obtained by counting or measuring

Qualitative Data

This is descriptive and involves characteristics that cannot usually be counted

Organizing data

What are charts and graphs used for?

Because there is always variation among individuals in control and experimental groups. The larger the sample size, the more reliably researchers can analyze that variation and evaluate the differences between experimental and control groups.

Why should experimental and control groups be large?

They create a hypothesis that can be tested by observations

If experiments are not possible, how do scientists test their hypothesis?

Law

Concise, specific descriptions of how some aspect of the natural world is expected to behave in a certain situation

Theory

Well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations that has been throughly tested

Bias

A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation

This can make scientists misinterpret data because they want to prove a certain point

Peer Review

Checks by anonymous, independent experts where the experts look for any oversights, unfair influences, fraud, or mistakes in techniques or reasoning

No, because science is always changing, and new evidence is always being uncovered

Are all theories considered absolute truths? Why or why not?

Made up of basic units called cells

Based on a universal genetic code

Obtain and use materials and energy

Grow and develop

Reproduce

Respond to their environment

Maintain a stable internal environment

Change over time

What characteristics do all living things share?

Biology

The science that studies living organisms

The study of biology revolves around several interlocking big ideas: The cellular basis of life; information and heredity; matter and energy; growth, development, and reproduction; homeostasis; evolution; structure and function; unity and diversity of life; interdependence in nature; and science as a way of knowing.

What are the central themes of biology?

Unicellular organism

An organism that has only one cell

Multicellular organism

An organism that has multiple cells

DNA

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

Stimulus

A signal to which an organism responds

Sexual Reproduction

The process by which cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism

Asexual Reproduction

The process by which a single parent reproduces by itself

Homeostasis

The process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

Metabolism

Set of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes

Biosphere

The regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist

Global Ecology, Biotechnology, Building the Tree of Life, Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, and Genomics and Molecular Biology

What are the fields of biology?

The Metric System

A decimal system of measurement whose units are based on certain physical standards and are scaled on multiples of 10