Welcome to Biology…

Everyone is a Scientist !

• STEM~ –Science–Technology–Engineering–Mathematics

They are all connected; you can’t have 1 without the others!

• In this class we will be focusing on Science and Engineering (using Technology).

• What is the difference between Science and Engineering?

• Science is a way to test an idea by doing an experiment. You analyze the data, consider alternative explanations, and draw conclusions from what you learn in the experiment.

• Engineering continually checks for alternatives, risks, costs and benefits, so that new designs are better.

Of the 3 labs we have done, the Marshmallow Lab, the Plant Lab, and the Paper Towel Lab, which labs were more science and which were more engineering? Why?

Within Science, What is Biology?

Bio = life

ology = the study of

Biology = the study of life

What are the Characteristics of Life?

There are 7 characteristics that scientists use to classify something as

“ALIVE”

The 7 characteristics of Life

1. Organization 2. Metabolism3. Homeostasis 4. Reproduction5. Growth and Development6. Response to Stimuli7. Change Through Time

Levels of organization

What is classification and why do we need it?

Biodiversity refers to the many different types of organisms on earth.

How many different kinds of living organisms do you think there are on planet earth?

– Scientists have discovered over 2.5 million different kinds of organisms

– There may be over 20 million “undiscovered”

What is this animal called?

Possible names…

• Dog (English)• Siberian Husky• Ayee (Somali) • Perro (Spanish)• Chien (French)• What do you call this

animal?• Some scientists call it

Canis familiaris

Taxonomy• Taxonomy is the science

of naming organisms and assigning them to groups based on shared characteristics.

• Kingdoms or Domains are the largest group

• Each group gets smaller until you end up with a specific species

(Domain)• Kingdom• Phylum• Class • Order • Family• Genus• Species

How do scientists decide how to group organisms?

• Taxonomists try to group organisms in ways that show their evolutionary relationships.

• They do this by studying homologous (similar) features in embryos and adult organisms and comparing DNA.

• Cladograms represent hypotheses about evolutionary relationships. These relationships are based on DNA that has been inherited from a common ancestor.

How do we study the Natural World?

The Scientific Method!!

Scientists use a systematic approach to gain understanding of the natural world.

1. Ask Questions (Observation)

• The scientific method starts when you ask a question about something that you observe: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?

• In order for the scientific method to answer the question it must be about something that you can measure, preferably with a number.

• An inference is a logical conclusion based on observations. If you saw your girl/boy friend kissing someone else in the hall (observation), you could infer that they were cheating on you. You could be wrong, someone may have needed immediate mouth to mouth, but most likely, you are single again.

• Cookie Monster Mystery Box : Video

2. Do Background Research

Rather than starting from scratch in putting together a plan for answering your question, you want to be a savvy scientist using library and Internet research to help you find the best way to do things and insure that you don't repeat mistakes from the past.

Source validity – see language arts handout!

3. Construct Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work:"If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen."

• You must state your hypothesis in a way that you can easily measure, and of course, your hypothesis should be constructed in a way to help you answer your original question.

4. Test with an Experiment• Your experiment tests whether your hypothesis is

true or false. • It is important for your experiment to be a fair test.

You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same.

• You should also repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just an accident.

• You record your steps or procedures in detail so someone else can copy your experiment exactly.

Controlled Experiment

• Consists of one control – the group with no change

• Also consists of one variable– the group where one condition is changed

• Both groups are treated exactly the same except for the one variable being tested

Two types of variables…

• Independent variable – the manipulated variable (or what we change)

• Dependent variable – the responding variable (or what happens) what we measure

5. Collect Data

• Two kinds of data are collected:– Quantitative – refers to numbers (Plant with

added fertilizer grew 5 inched taller than plants without). Quantitative data is always expressed through charts and graphs

– Qualitative – refers to observations that you make (Plants with added fertilizer are greener)

6. Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions

• Once your experiment is complete, you analyze your data to see if your hypothesis is true or false.

• Scientists often find that their hypothesis was false, and in such cases they will construct a new hypothesis starting the entire process of the scientific method over again.

• Even if they find that their hypothesis was true, they may want to test it again in a new way.

7. Reporting Results

• In this class you will always report your lab results!

• Results (also called the Conclusion in a lab write-up) include:– You will explain and interpret the results of your lab

being very careful to explain any errors or problems you encountered.

– The most important part of communicating results is that you demonstrate that you understand the point of the lab and can interpret what you have done in the lab.

Reporting Results cont– Draw conclusions from the results and answer the

question, “So what?” What does this lab mean? What did you learn?

– It is important that you make recommendations for improving the lab

– Never, ever tell me how you feel about the lab, I don’t care if you had fun or not, I want to know what you learned.

– Professional scientists do almost exactly the same thing by publishing their final report in a scientific journal or by presenting their results on a poster at a scientific meeting.

BiasBias~ Some scientists want a certain outcome or result..

• Scientists working for large oil companies will claim that burning fossil fuels does not contribute to increased carbon levels. Should you trust them without question?

• Some scientists might not ask questions that could lead to harmful results for themselves. Scientists working for cigarette companies were fired if they asked about the health risks associated with smoking.

• Money controls a lot. Funding of research can decide what is asked and how it is studied.

Real life Definitions:

Hypothesis - “an educated guess”; a tentative explanation of phenomena.

Theory - a widely accepted explanation of natural phenomena; has stood up to

thorough & continual testing.

Law - a statement of what always occurs under certain conditions.

• MS State Standards Definitions:

• Hypothesis- a testable statement about the natural world that can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations.

• Theory- a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences and tested hypotheses.

• Law-a descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances and that carries the weight of scientific evidence.

•Changes in scientific knowledge generally occur in small steps that build on earlier knowledge. A hypothesis does not become a theory overnight, it can take years or decades.

• Scientific and technological developments, as well as new evidence, can challenge accepted theories including, but not limited to: cell theory, atomic theory, theory of evolution, plate tectonic theory, germ theory of disease, and the big bang theory.

• Theories change! They are not written in stone.

Tiny Quiz1.Should scientists share data and results and try to copy someone else’s experiment?2.Would someone building a bridge consider themselves more of an engineer or a scientist? 3.Is my computer alive? Why? 4.Is a new idea first a law, hypothesis or theory?

5. Which statement describes science?a. It is a mostly American activityb. It is practiced in the Western worldc. People of all cultures do science

6. Green roofs are used because roof drainage is a huge problem when it comes to constructing buildings.   Sometimes engineers need to redesign the roofs.  Match the redesign concern with the best reason for the redesign.

Redesign:                             1. Nutrients for Plant growth   2.Plants ability to keep plant leaves

green       3. Slope of the roof

Reason for Redesign:         a.  Overall plant health ____         b. Storm water controls  ____                

  c. Fire hazard   _____

7. A company is building a dam. The data must be analyzed.  Why might it be difficult to trust the engineers who built it?a. They might not have legitimate degreesb. They might benefit if the project is approved    c. They might not like damsd. They might be foreigners

8.What is an important part of the scientific method?            a. Evidence must be reviewed by other scientistsb. Evidence should not be shared with other scientists c.  Evidence should come from one source only

9. What is something done to help maintain a green roof system?

a.  Deciding which plants are best suited to grow on roofs

b. Clear the gutters

c. Collecting data on how much run off there is from different roof types

10. The misuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance.  Bacteria can evolve and become resistant to certain types of drugs.  Scientists are studying this and seeing how effective antibiotics are.  They give one group of patients  antibitics and another they give a placebo.

• If the scientists used 2 groups, one of adults and one of teenagers, what would be wrong with the study?

a.  They would have too many subjects

b. They would have more than 1 variable that is changing

c. The placebo patients might feel relief just because of the placebo effect

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Biology!! Huzzah!