Chp 1

1.2 What is science?

A. is a body of knowledge about natural world
* Theory: a general set of principles, supported by evidence, that explains some aspect of nature
* Scientific fact = an isolated piece of information, while scientific theory has an explanatory
power

B. is a process: arriving at scientific insights

* Scientific method: a means of coming to understand the natural world through observation
and the testing of hypotheses
* Scientific procedure:
- observation
- question: typically a "what", "why" or "how"
- hypothesis: a tentative, testable explanation for an observed phenomenon
- experiment: to test hypotheses' correctness
- conclusion

C. Scientific Method at work: Pasteur and Spontaneous

generation
* The lab
- instrument used: the S-shaped flask
- observation: When u start with a sterile flask of sterile meat broth, a growth of new living
material appears in the broth
- question: What is the source of living things?
- hypothesis:
1. Living things are derived from non-living things (spontaneous generation)
2. Living things are derived from living things outside the flask
- conclusion: No growth appears in the broth unless the dust goes in from outside
environment. Thus, reject hypothesis 1
* Elements of Pasteur’s Experiments
- Usually, to prove hypothesis through experiments, keep the same procedures with exact
same steps; may have something changed to adjust to the test
--> variable: an adjustable condition in an experiment.
- control condition: an experimental condition that exists before the introduction of any
variables tested.
- In an experiment, all conditions were held constant over trials except a single variable

D. When is a Theory Proven? Nearly NONE

* Provisional Assent to Findings: Legitimate Evidence and Hypotheses
- Every finding is given only provisional assent, meaning that it’s true for now, but will wait for
any additional evidences
* Three important scientific principles in relate with scientific process:
1. Every assertion regarding the natural world is subject to challenge and revision based
on evidence
2. Any scientific hypothesis or claim must be falsifiable = open to negation through
scientific inquiry.
3. Scientific inquiry concerns itself only with natural explanations for natural phenomenon
<==> no “supernatural” elements

1.3 The Nature of Biology = study of life

A. What is/are living thing(s)?
* Living things can/are:
- take & use energy
- respond to environment
- maintain a relatively constant internal environment
- have DNA = an inherited information base, that allow them to function
- reproduce through DNA
- made of 1 or more cells
- evolved from other living things
- highly organized

B. Life is highly organized in Hierarchical manner

* Hierarchical manner: one level of organization are integrated to make its upper level
* Level of Organization in Living things (from base to top):
1. atom. Ex: hydrogen
2. molecule. Ex: water
3. organelle. Ex: nucleus
4. cell
5. tissue
6. organ. Ex: brain, lung …
7. organ system. Ex: nervous system
8. organism. Ex: lion, cat, dog…
9. population.
10. community
11. ecosystem. Ex: Newport beach
12. biosphere = the Earth

1.4 Special Qualities of Biology

- Biology comes from life science = a set of disciplines that focus on varying aspects of the
living world
- Bio didn’t become a science on its own by 19th century
*Evolution: the gradual modification of populations of living things over time. In other
words:
“Living things changed and modified by time”