chapter one notes

chapter 1.1

what is science?

the nature of science

• Uses evidence to construct testable explanations and predictions of natural phenomena

scientific methodology:

• scientific methodology is a general style of investigation

1. observing and asking questions

2. inferring and hypothesizing

   1. inference: a logical interpretation based on what scientists already know

   2. hypothesis: a tentative scientific explanation that can be tested further

3. designing controlled experiments

   1. testing hypotheses often involves designing experiment that measure factors that can or, or variables.

   2. a control group is necessary!

4. collecting data

   1. quantitative data are numbers. qualitative data are descriptive.

5. analyzing conclusions

   1. data analysis in science often relies on the use of statistics

   2. graphs!!!!!

Scientific Theory: scientific explanation of events in the natural world that has been tested and is highly reliable.

chapter 1.2

why is science? || science in context

the process of science

• science is not linear!

• testing ideas // experiments

• exploration and discovery

How do you decide what to test?

• Making observations

• Asking questions

• finding inspiration

• Exploring the literature

• Sharing data and ideas

• community analysis and feedback

• Feedback and peer review

• Discussion with colleagues

• Replication

• Publications

• Coming up with new questions and ideas

• Theory building

benefits and outcomes

• Develop tobacco

• Address societal issues

• Build knowledge

• Inform policy

• Satisfy curiosity

• Solve everyday problems

chapter 1.3

patterns of life

characteristics of living things:

• living things share basic characteristics

• they are made up of cells

• they reproduce

• they are based on a universal genetic code - (A,T,C,G!)

• they grow and develop

• they respond to the environment

• they maintain an internal balance

  • HOMEOSTASIS

• they change over time (evolution)

cross cutting concepts in biology

• cause and effect: mechanism and explanation

• systems and system models

• stability and change

• patterns

• scale, proportion, and quantity

• energy and matter: flows, cycles, and conservation

fields of biology:

• GLOBAL ECOLOGY

• MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

• ZOOLOGY

• MICROBIOLOGY

scientific measurement is metric!