The Nature of ScienceThe Nature of Science

Chapter 1Chapter 1

““Science is built up with facts, Science is built up with facts, as a house is with stones. But as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is no more a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of a science than a heap of stones is a house”. stones is a house”.

-Jules Henri Poincare-Jules Henri Poincare

““Science”Science”ScientiaScientia – Latin for “to know” – Latin for “to know”Science may seem like it is a Science may seem like it is a

series of series of factsfacts, or ways to , or ways to explain the universe. explain the universe. HOWEVER, the basis of all HOWEVER, the basis of all science is not the science is not the answersanswers. .

The basis of all science is theThe basis of all science is the

questions.questions.

Goal of scienceGoal of science

The goal of science is to The goal of science is to understand the world around understand the world around usus and the relationships and the relationships among the “players”. Art, among the “players”. Art, history, language, music, and history, language, music, and philosophy also try to do this.philosophy also try to do this.

The difference is The difference is the approachthe approach

used to understand theused to understand the

relationships.relationships.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

The The processprocess (or system) of (or system) of questions, tests, questions, tests, observations, deductions, observations, deductions, and conclusions.and conclusions.

Few true scientists rigidly Few true scientists rigidly adhere to this system in an adhere to this system in an orderly manner. In other orderly manner. In other words, there is words, there is no set no set patternpattern to this process. to this process.

Identify the problemIdentify the problemGather informationGather informationDevelop a hypothesis through Develop a hypothesis through

reasoned inductive or reasoned inductive or deductive thoughtdeductive thought

ExperimentExperimentCollect dataCollect dataDraw a conclusionDraw a conclusionVerify and report resultsVerify and report results

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Regardless, scientists all share 3 Regardless, scientists all share 3 characteristicscharacteristics::

1)They have confidence that the 1)They have confidence that the natural world is natural world is explainable in explainable in terms we can understandterms we can understand

2)Descriptions and 2)Descriptions and explanations of the world are explanations of the world are based on based on repeated repeated observations that can be observations that can be changed, or thrown out, by changed, or thrown out, by other observations.other observations.

3)Willingness to accept the 3)Willingness to accept the fact that they could be fact that they could be wrongwrong..

Limitations of scientific inquiryLimitations of scientific inquiry

Because science is limited to Because science is limited to objective (unbiased), objective (unbiased), observable, measurable observable, measurable phenomena; it cannot make phenomena; it cannot make moral or value judgmentsmoral or value judgments. .

For example, science gaveFor example, science gave

us the atomic bomb, butus the atomic bomb, but

science cannot tell usscience cannot tell us

whether or not itwhether or not it

is right or moral to use it.is right or moral to use it.

Science cannot say whetherScience cannot say whether

a painting is beautiful, but ita painting is beautiful, but it

can analyze people’scan analyze people’s

responses to a painting.responses to a painting.

Science is Science is progressive, self-progressive, self-

correcting, replicating,correcting, replicating,

competitive and cooperative.competitive and cooperative.

Types of ScienceTypes of Science

PhysicalPhysical science – chemistry , science – chemistry , physics, geologyphysics, geology

NaturalNatural Sciences – biology, Sciences – biology, physiology, anatomyphysiology, anatomy

SocialSocial sciences – psychology, sciences – psychology, sociologysociology

Ways to do science…Ways to do science…

PurePure science – science for science – science for the sake of the sake of knowledgeknowledge; ;

Ex: learning how plants use Ex: learning how plants use sunlight to make glucosesunlight to make glucose

AppliedApplied science – science – science thatscience that usesuses the knowledge gained in the knowledge gained in pure sciencepure science; ; Ex: using knowledge about Ex: using knowledge about photosynthesis to develop photosynthesis to develop plants that make large plants that make large amounts of glucose using very amounts of glucose using very little sun. little sun.

BiologyBiology

Bio – Bio – “life”;“life”; ology – ology – “study of”“study of”There is a need to study There is a need to study

biology because we need to biology because we need to study thestudy the relationships within, relationships within, and between living systems in and between living systems in order to understand them order to understand them

Themes in BiologyThemes in Biology

EnergyEnergySystem and interactionsSystem and interactionsUnity within diversityUnity within diversityHomeostasisHomeostasisEvolutionEvolutionScience as a processScience as a process

Hypothesis vs. TheoryHypothesis vs. TheoryHypothesis – an Hypothesis – an

“ “educated guess” about educated guess” about

what is likely to occur what is likely to occur

in an experimentin an experiment

Ex. If I add bleach to this bacterial Ex. If I add bleach to this bacterial culture, then the bacteria will die culture, then the bacteria will die because bleach is known to kill most because bleach is known to kill most cellscells

Hypothesis vs. TheoryHypothesis vs. Theory

Theory – a hypothesis that is Theory – a hypothesis that is repeatedly tested and is unlikely repeatedly tested and is unlikely to be disprovedto be disproved

Ex. Germ Theory of Disease – Ex. Germ Theory of Disease – has been shown that “germs” has been shown that “germs” cause many types of diseasescause many types of diseases

Characteristics of LifeCharacteristics of LifeCells are basic units – all living Cells are basic units – all living

organisms are made up of 1 or organisms are made up of 1 or many cellsmany cells

Response to stimuli – all Response to stimuli – all living organisms respond living organisms respond and adapt to the stimuli that is and adapt to the stimuli that is

presented to them in their presented to them in their environmentenvironment

Characteristics of LifeCharacteristics of Life

Growth and development – all living Growth and development – all living organisms grow and develop organisms grow and develop throughout their lifespanthroughout their lifespan

Reproduction – all living organisms Reproduction – all living organisms must have the capability to reproduce must have the capability to reproduce in order to carry on their species; but, in order to carry on their species; but, not not everyevery individual within a species individual within a species must reproducemust reproduce

Characteristics of LifeCharacteristics of Life

Homeostasis – all living organisms Homeostasis – all living organisms must maintain constant internal must maintain constant internal balancebalance-ex. Constant body temperature in -ex. Constant body temperature in mammalsmammals

Need for energy – all living Need for energy – all living organisms require energy to organisms require energy to survivesurvive

Characteristics of LifeCharacteristics of Life

Made up of a genetic code - DNAMade up of a genetic code - DNA