Diversity in the Living World

BY:-N.ADITYA
IX:-A 1
 Science
• Astronomy
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Geology
• Biology
– Cell biology
– Botany
– Anatomy
– Physiology
– Ecology

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 Science

• What do the Sciences have in common?

– Why are they “science”?
• Use “Scientific Method.”
– Rational, organized procedure for discovery,
understanding of nature.
– Empirical = based on experience
– Factual information = data
– Repeatable

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Scientific Method

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 EXPERIMENT:
• Controlled process for testing a hypothesis
– Experimental variable = subject of hypothesis
– Controlled variables = ALL other effects that could
influence outcome
• Held constant across all treatments
• Example: Redi's experiment
– Hypothesis: Maggots come from flies (not
spontaneous generation).

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Redi's experiment

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A hypothesis may be verified,
but never proven!

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Proof (Geometry)

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 Biological hypothesis

• Homunculus hypothesis:
– Reproduction by fully formed
embryo
• in father or mother ??
– Discovery of sperm & ovum
= verification !
• living cells could contain
homunculi

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 Biological hypothesis

• Homunculus hypothesis:
– Sperm & ovum later shown
NOT to contain homunculi
– Chromosomes, DNA
instead
– Hypothesis FALSIFIED !

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 LIMITS of SCIENCE:

• Science studies phenomena that are

– observable,
• objectively
– quantifiable,
• measurable
– repeatable.

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 LIMITS of SCIENCE:

• Science can NOT address questions of Religion,

Philosophy, Arts.
– Religion.
• Is there a god? What is nature of God?
– Philosophy.
• What is justice? Is capital punishment "cruel and unusual?"
– Arts.
• Is jazz good music?
• Should DaVinci have painted a background in the Mona Lisa?

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