survey of life the nature of science and the scientific method

Survey of LifeThe Nature of Science and the Scientific Method

What is the cartoonist trying to

communicate?

Science is knowledge gained from observing with the senses and experiments .

Topics studied in a scientific way must have 3 characteristics:

1.Measurable: you can measure it.

2.Observable: you can use your senses to

“feel” it.

3.Objective: it is a FACT.

Check the boxes of the topics that are OBJECTIVE.

NOT IN NOTES! Which items below that can be

studied by Science?

Earthquakes Viruses Angels

Cells Stars Mind Reading

Flowers Beautiful Music

Delicious Food

Summary: Decide whether each question below can be answered by science.

What is the most beautiful type of

Flower?

Are Fish afraid of the Dark?

How does temperature affect

the growth of bacteria?

Place a check mark next to the topics which can be studied

scientifically?

What is the most beautiful type of flower?

Observable? Measurable? Objective?

How does temp. affect the growth of bacteria?

Observable? Measurable? Objective?

Are fish afraid of the dark?

Observable? Measurable? Objective? ✓

✓✓✓

✖✓✖✖

✖✖✖✖

Tools & Precision

Scientists use the metric system whenever they measure. a. Scientists measure length by

using a _______. The unit is the __________.

b. Scientists measure _________ by using a graduated cylinder. The unit is the __________________.

ruler Meter (m)

Volume

Milliliter (mL)

Tools Continued

Gram (g)

c. Scientists measure mass by using a ___________________. The unit is the ___________.

Prefixes used with the Metric System.

d. __________ means 1000 times

e. __________ means 1/1000th

f. __________ means 1/100th

balance

kilo

milli

centi

Measurements need to be PRECISE.

close1. Precision:

a. How ________ the measured values are to _______ other.

b. ___________ units (increments) allow for more precision.

c. The tool that measures the __________ amount and with the most _____________ .

eachSmalle

r smallest

increments

How Do Scientists Discover Truth?

Click icon to add picture

How do scientists study things scientifically?

Remember: To scientifically study something, it must be--

1.M -- ______________

2.O -- ______________

3.O -- ______________

MeasurableObservableObjective

The Scientific Method is A approach to problem

solving. There are not a set number of steps. One possible set of steps is shown below:

1. State the 2. Gather

3. Form a 4. Perform.

systematic

Problemwhat is the question you will answer?

Informationwhat is already known about the problem?

an educated guess based on what is known.

HypothesisExperiment

testing the hypothesis.

The Scientific Method (Cont’d)

5. Record and Analyze

(observations, measurements, times, etc.)

6. Form a

7. Share results and Repeat!

Data

Conclusion

The information that is gathered

A statement based on data from your experiment stating whether or not your hypothesis was supported

•A hypothesis must be _____________. ___________ are performed to test

hypothesis. Therefore it must have the following

characteristics:• •

•

Experimentstestable

ObservableMeasurable

Objective

Making Good Hypotheses

Keywords often associated with hypotheses

Believe, expect, think, predict

Write a Hypothesis about different liquids to water

plants. Ex: If plants are watered with koolaid, then they will not grow as well as plants with water, because there is added sugar. .Is this hypothesis testable?

“Scientists think that acid rain decreases the ability of a plant to grow because plants don’t like acids.” Is this hypothesis testable?

ConclusionsI. A conclusion is a logical decision based on _______. Data is information or ____________ taken from experiments.

dataobservations

IV. Words that are associated with conclusions include:

Conclude

Decide

Find Out

Infer

Deduce

Look at the example in your notes…

What do you think is the cause?

Is this based on observations or data?

Is this a valid conclusion?

Why is it important for scientists to be objective when it comes to examining scientific data?

Scientific Conclusions should be based on facts not opinions or

beliefs so that the outcomes are reliable.

Recall the steps of the scientific method

1._________________2._________________3._________________4._________________5._________________6._________________7._________________

Problem/questionGather infoHypothesizeExperimentRecord/analyze dataForm a conclusionShare results and repeat

* Stop here for practice *

Complete the practice scenarios of the scientific method. Keep these as part of your notes.

All Living things share 7 primary characteristics. In order to be

considered alive, all seven characteristics must be present.

Characteristics

of Life

BIO =Life

1. Living Things are made up of:

CellsBasic unit of life; collection of living matter surrounded by a barrier

2. Living things —

Producing new organisms similar to parent

Reproduce

3. Living things are based on universal genetic code carried in a molecule called -

Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA

4. Living things _____ and ________. grow

develop

5. Living things obtain and use __________ and __________ (metabolism). material

s

Click icon to add picture

energy

6. Living things maintain a _______ internal environment (homeostasis).

Balanced internal conditions (ex: water content, temperature, pH)

stable

7. As a group living things ______________________ (evolve).

Change over time

***Circle the items below that are LIVING:

Tornado Mushroom Flower Fire

Rock You

Fish CarVolcano Bacteria

Computer Ant

History of Biological Classification

Classification – The Process of ______________ organisms based on ________________. Scientists classify organisms to help them determine _____________ between organisms. Scientists use the same criteria to choose characteristics to classify organisms as they use to determine what science can study: the characteristics must be _______________, Measurable, and _____________.

GroupingSimilarities

Relationships

ObservableObjective

Example:

If you want to classify members of your biology class it would NOT be good to group them as “tall” and “short.” Why not?

What could you use instead?

***Circle all of the terms below that would be appropriate criteria for classification.

Height in cm Number of legs Most beautiful

Under 5’6” an over 5’6”

Taxonomy—the science of __________ and _________ living

things.

How are relationships between living things determined?

Physical Similarities—

Chemical Similarities—

Behavior—

Classifying

Naming

external and internal anatomy

DNA and other molecules

how organisms react to their environment

How are living things classified?

Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), a __________ botanist developed a system called binomial nomenclature. In this system each species is assigned a two part scientific name. This system includes seven levels or taxa.

Why is it important for scientists to have a universal naming system?

Swedish

Since there are many different languages, this provides a common way for all scientists to discuss organisms. Also avoids confusion due to slang.

TAXA Example

Kingdom Animalia

PhylumChordata

Class Mammalia

Order Primate

FamilyHominidae

Genus Homo

Species sapiens

General/Broad

Specific/Inclusive

Scientific Names

According to Linnaeus’ system, every species has a Latin _______________ composed of the genus and species names. The first letter of the _________ is always capitalized. The first letter of the ________ is lowercase. The entire scientific name is italicized or ___________.

Species—group of living things that are capable of producing fertile offspring

scientific name

genus specie

sUnderlined

Human Cat Lion Dog

Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia

Phylum Chordata Chordata Chordata Chordata

Class Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia

Order Primate Carnivora Carnivora Carnivora

Family Hominidae Felidae Felidae Canidae

Genus Homo Felis Panthera Canis

Species sapiens domesticus leo familiaris

1. Which 2 organisms are the most closely related?   Cat and Lion2. Which organism is least similar to the others?  Human3. What is the scientific name for a cat? A dog? A lion? 

Felis domesticus Canis familiaris Panthera leo

The Six Kingdoms of Life

Objective 15

Today organisms are grouped into ____ kingdoms based on the following characteristics:

Cell Type

All living things are made of one or more ______. All cells are made of ___________ (mostly water) and are surrounded by a barrier called a _________________. All cells also have _______ which stores genetic information and ____________ which are structures that make proteins

6

CellsCytoplasm

DNAribosomes

Cell Membrane

1. Cell Type:Prokaryotic—

cells that do not contain a Nucleus ;

DNA is found floating in the cytoplasm

Draw an arrow to point to the DNA.

1. Cell Type cont.

Eukaryotic—cells that contain a nucleus; the nucleus is the control center of the cell and contains the DNA.

Draw an arrow to point to the nucleus.

6 Kingdoms

1.Archaebacteria or Archaea

2.Eubacteria

3.Protista

4.Fungi

5.Plantae

6.Animalia

Prokaryotic Kingdoms

1. Archaebacteria

2. Eubacteria

Eukaryotic Kingdoms

1.Protista

2.Fungi

3.Plantae

4.Animalia

Discovery Video