Science of Biology Notes

What is Science? (1-1)

The root ­sci- means “to know”. Science is
one way of investigating the world in which
we live. Science strives to:
 explore and understand the natural

world,
 explain events in the natural world, and

 use those explanations to make useful

predictions.
• Are some things unpredictable?
Things that are not science include
things like…
 Art
 Religion
 Literature
 Opinion
 Science can only concern itself with
testable things and\or observable things
Is scientific knowledge a set truth?
 No!
 In our scientific explanations, we explain how
things work using the knowledge we have to
explain natural phenomena
 When our knowledge base changes, our
explanation may change
 What is Science?
Scientists use observations based on facts
to gather data.

They also use known data to make

inferences (a logical interpretation of the
data based on past experiences).
Determine in the picture if it is an observation (O)
or an inference (I)
O
1. _____ There are 2
doors.
2. I
_____ The people are
fighting because
someone ate their
cookies.
3. O
_____ One door is
closed.
4. I
_____ They are hitting
each other hard.
5. O
_____ Glass is broken.
 How Scientists Work
 “The” Scientific Method
Scientists solve problems, but the method
may vary based on the problem
The three types of investigations:
• Experimental Research Design
• Correlation
• Investigation
 Descriptive Investigations - involves describing and/or
quantifying parts of a natural system

 Comparative Investigations - involves collecting data on

different populations/organisms, or under different
conditions (e.g. time of year, locations, temperature), to
make a comparison

 Experimental Investigations - involves a process in which a

"fair test" is designed in which variables are manipulated,
controlled and measured in an effort to gather evidence to
support/refute a relationship
 Steps to Experimental Scientific
Investigation (The Scientific Method):
 1. Observe – make an observation of
the world around you. There are two
kinds of observations:
 Qualitative observation – descriptive
observation
• Ex: The plant is green.
 Quantitative observation – a numerical
observation.
• Ex: The flask contains 12.45 ml. There are 4
pennies.
Determine if the statement is qualitative
(A) or quantitative (B).
 A
_____ The sky is blue.
 B
_____ There are 4
clouds.
 B
_____ There are 3
hills.
 A
_____ The first hill is
small.
 A
_____ The clouds are
small.
 B
_____ There are a
total of 38 birds.
• 2. Ask a question – based on your
observation, ask a question to investigate.
• Ex. Redi asked the question “How do new living
things, or organisms, come into being?”
• 3. Research - Look in books, journals and
the internet to make additional observations
and research about the questions you made
from your observation.
• 4. Formulate a hypothesis: - Propose
a scientific explanation to the question
being observed and researched. The
statement must be testable. (“Which is
best?” does not lend itself to being
tested). At the end of the investigation,
you will either accept or reject your
hypothesis.
• Ex. If meat is left uncovered, then flies will
leave eggs on the meat, creating maggots.
 5. Perform a controlled experiment -
Develop and use the experimental design
to test your hypothesis. Whenever
possible, the hypothesis should be tested
by an experiment in which only one
variable is changed at a time. All other
variables should be kept unchanged, or
controlled.

Testing fertilizers on
plant growth? Keep all
other factors constant!
 Variables: Factor being tested
• Controlled- Variables that are kept constant
• Independent- Variable being manipulated (in
a graph found on the x-axis or the horizontal
axis)
• Dependent- Variable that responds (in a
graph found on the y-axis or the vertical
axis)
• Control Group – the group where the
independent variable is NOT applied.
Meaning, nothing is changed. Used for
comparison.
A way to remember variables
Dependent
Responding
Y - axis

Manipulated
Independent
X - axis
 Repeat your experiment!
 The more times you do it, the more
accurate your data and results will be!!
 6.Observe again - Collect data
(measurements) and perform analysis on
the data using graphs and charts
 7. Draw conclusions - State whether or
not the evidence supports the hypothesis
based on your data and analysis.
 Please notice that we do not prove
hypotheses! Proof exists when the chance
for error is 0. There is always some chance
for error (no matter how small it is) and this
existence of chance error means we cannot
prove anything in true, honest, science.
 8. Report back to
the community –
Experiments’ results
can be used by other
to help them with their
own experiments.
This is what keeps
science progressing.
What is the difference between a
hypothesis, a theory, and a law?
 A hypothesis is a possible explanation
for a set of observations. It has not yet
been thoroughly tested.
What is the difference between a
hypothesis, a theory, and a law?
 A theory is a well tested explanation that unifies
a broad range of observations.
 A theory explains observations simply and clearly,
and predictions can be made from them.
 It is widely accepted by the scientific community.

Theory of Plate Tectonics

What is the difference between a
hypothesis, a theory, and a law?
 A law is a summary of
observed natural
events: they are less
comprehensive than
theories and normally
are associated with a
mathematical
expression. It is also
widely accepted by
the scientific Law of Universal Gravitation

community.
Tools and Procedures
Biologists use metric measurement (the SI
system) to gather and interpret data.
SI is the universal measurement system.
Tools and Procedures (1-4)
 Conversions
 The metric system is
universal
measurement system
based on the number
10. The meter is the
distance value, the
gram is the mass
value, and the liter is
the volume value.
Graphing- how a scientists shows
patterns in data collected.
 There are several kinds of graphs; not all
of them are useful for data communication.
Which type of graph is appropriate for
which situations?
 Line Graph
 Line graph - compares two things in which
items on one axis affect the items on the other
axis. If you are comparing anything to time, it
is usually a line graph.
• (Ex. Amount of CO2 in the atmosphere over the
last 6 decades)
Line Graph
 Bar graph - compares two or more values.
(Ex. Number of students with red hair in each
class)
Bar Graph
 Pie Chart- effective in showing proportions or
percentages of a whole thing. (Ex.
Comparing the percentage vote that each
candidate received in the election)
Pie Chart
 Graphing
 Always draw lines with a ruler, use pencil, and
use map pencils when necessary. Make sure
your graph contains all components:
 Title – tell what you are comparing or displaying (be
descriptive).
 X-axis – label and give scale.
 Y-axis – label and give scale.
 Key – give meanings of the symbols and colors used
on the graph.
 Data points – clearly marked, and label them if you do
not have grid lines.
1) Light microscope – produces magnified images by
focusing visible light rays. This microscope can be used to
magnify up to 1000 times
2) Electron microscope – produce magnified images by
focusing beams of electrons. This kind is used to magnify
tens and hundreds of thousands of times for extremely
small object like a virus.

The hair on the leg of a

fly
(magnified by a factor
of 1000)

Salt crystals on the

antennas of an insect
(magnified by a factor
of 5000)