Essential Content

A. What is Biology?

          1. Science vs. Pseudoscience

          2. Scientific Investigations: Experimental Design

          3. Characteristics of Living Things

          4. Big Ideas in Biology

B. Science in the Real World

          1. Exploration and Discovery: Where Ideas Come From

          2. Communicating Results: Reviewing and Sharing Ideas

          3. Scientific Theories

          4. Science and Society

Objectives

· Explain the role science plays in the study of life. 

· Identify the criteria that differentiate science from non-science and pseudoscience. (ALD)

· Identify what is science, what clearly is not science, and what superficially resembles science (but fails to meet the criteria for science).

· Design and evaluate a scientific investigation using evidence of the scientific thinking and problem solving.

· Develop a problem statement and hypothesis for an original idea (objective should be embedded and repeated throughout the year). 

· Evaluate data and assess sources of information for reliability. (ALD)

· List the characteristics of living things.

· Identify the central themes of biology.

· Describe how scientific inferences are made. 

· Apply knowledge of the development of a scientific theory and/or recognize the differences between theories and laws. (ALD)

· Describe the importance of peer review.

· Identify and correlate the relationship between science and society.

Vocabulary:

 science, observation, inference, hypothesis, control group, controlled experiment, data, independent variable, dependent variable, theory, Biology, sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction, stimulus, bias, homeostasis, metabolism, DNA, control group, biosphere. 

WHAT IS SCIENCE?

1.1 What Is Science?

Science is a process—an organized way of observing and asking questions about the natural world. The goal of science is to provide natural and testable explanations for events in the natural world. Science also aims to use these explanations to make useful predictions about natural events.

Scientific methodology involves observing and asking questions, forming hypotheses, conducting controlled experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

In science, the word theory applies to a tested, highly-reliable scientific explanation of events in the natural world that unifies many repeated observations and incorporates durable, well-supported hypotheses that enable scientists to make accurate predictions

Science begins with observations- 

data - the information gathered from observations

quantitative data = numbers

qualitative data = descriptive categories

inference - a logical interpretation based on prior knowledge or experience

hypothesis - a proposed scientific explanation 

***Science is and ongoing process***

HOW SCIENTIST WORK

Scientific Method:

1) Ask questions, make observations

2) Gather information, research 

3) Form a hypothesis

4) Set up a controlled experiment:

Control group-experiment in which one variable is changed

Independent variable- the variable that is deliberately changed (the manipulated variable) 

Dependent variable is variable that is observed ( the responding variable)

5)Record and analyze results 

6)Draw a conclusion

7)Repeat

***Field studies, models ***

Theory - In science the word theory applies to a tested highly reliable scientific explanation of events in the natural world that unifies many repeated observations and incorporates durable, well-supported hypotheses that enable scientists to make accurate predictions.NOT ABSOLUTE

1.2 Science in Context

Often the testing of ideas in science begins with observations and questions. Curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, and creativity help scientists and engineers ask new questions and define new problems.

Technology provides new opportunities to ask questions and to gather new forms of data with greater accuracy and quantity. Technologies developed by scientists have proved helpful to society.

Publishing articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals allows researchers to share ideas. It also allows other scientists to evaluate and test the data and analysis.

Science and society

Scientists, engineers, and scientific information interact with society, economy, laws, and moral principles:

• Scientific data helps provide answers to questions that affect everyday lives.

• Society can limit the application of scientific ideas, especially if new scientific ideas conflict with prevailing cultural beliefs.

  • •  For example, it used to be legal to smoke cigarettes in public places. Scientific studies proved second-hand smoke was dangerous, and people started to see cigarettes differently. Eventually laws changed, banning cigarettes from most public indoor areas. 

1.3 Patterns of Life

The 8 Characteristics of Living Things:

1) Cell - smallest unit of life 

unicellular = single celled multicellular = many celled

2) Reproduction 

sexual reproduction -DNA from two different parents

asexual reproduction - single parent (cloning, budding)

3) Genetic Code - directions for inheritance (DNA)

4) Growth and Development 

growth = getting larger

development = changing shape and structure

differentiation = cells that look different and perform different functions

5) Obtain and use energy

metabolism - chemical reactions plants - photosynthesis Animals - eating

6) Response to the Environment

stimulus - a signal to which we respond response - a reaction to a stimulus

Ex: school bell rings, we move to next class

7) Internal Balance

homeostasis -internal conditions remain constant

Ex: lizards sun themselves

8) Evolution - Change over time

BIOLOGICAL LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

• ATOM (Protons, neutrons, electrons) --- smallest part of an element 

• MOLECULE --- Smallest part of a compound with unique properties

• MACROMOLECULE (Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids) --- polymers of biological molecules

• CELL --- smallest unit of any living thing --- LIFE BEGINS!

• TISSUE --- group of similar cells performing a job or function

• ORGAN --- Tissues organized into brain, heart, lungs, stomach, etc.

• SYSTEM --- Organs working together (Circulatory, digestive, etc.)

• ORGANISM --- Individual living thing (person, dog, plant, etc.)

• POPULATION --- group of one kind of organism (species) in an area that can interbreed & make fertile offspring --- (cardinals at the bird feeder)

• COMMUNITY --- Several populations of organisms in an area --- (animals in the zoo)

• ECOSYSTEM --- All the living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) parts of an environment --- (Tropical rain forest, grassland, etc.)

• BIOME --- Large areas of the world with similar climates and organisms

• BIOSPHERE --- All the living and nonliving things on Earth

TUTORIALS

What is Science (and what is NOT science)

Laws vs. Theories

Observations vs. Inferences