Biology is the scientific study of living organisms. The scientific method involves making observations, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. The key properties of living things include organization, metabolism, response to stimuli, homeostasis, reproduction, growth and development, adaptation and evolution. While viruses share some characteristics with living things, they are not considered living because they lack cells and cannot reproduce without a host. The scientific method provides a framework for gaining knowledge through observable, measurable, and falsifiable means.

1. Chapters 1 - 3
Biology Basics
Scientific Method
and Chemistry

2. Biology is a science
• Science
– c.1300, "knowledge (of something) acquired by study," also "a
particular branch of knowledge," from O.Fr. science, from L.
scientia "knowledge," from sciens (gen. scientis), scire "to know,"
probably originally "to separate one thing from another, to
distinguish,"
– Modern sense of "non-arts studies" is attested from 1678.
– Main modern (restricted) sense of "body of regular or methodical
observations or propositions ... concerning any subject or
speculation" is attested from 1725; in 17c.-18c.
• Harper On-line Etymology Dictionary
**One of my FAVORITE resources for better understanding of terms**

3. • Since biology a science, it is about
knowledge based on methodical
observation
• Biologists attempt to exclude subjective
measures such as opinion and emotion
from their studies

4. • Pseudoscience
– is defined as a body of knowledge,
methodology, belief, or practice that is
claimed to be scientific or made to appear
scientific, but does not adhere to the scientific
method, lacks supporting evidence or
plausibility,or otherwise lacks scientific status.

5. • How to identify pseudoscience
– Use of vague, exaggerated or untestable
claims
– Over-reliance on confirmation rather than
refutation
– Lack of openness to testing by other experts
– Lack of progress
– Personalization of issues
– Use of misleading language

6. Examples of Pseudoscience
See Web Task – Week 1
– Apollo moon landing hoax accusations
– Astrology
– Creation science
– Crop circles
– Crystal healing
– Dianetics
– Dogon people and Sirius B
– Face on Mars
– Homeopathy
– Lunar effect
– Paranormal subjects
• Channeling, Dowsing,
Electronic voice phenomenon ,
Extra-sensory perception, Levitation,
Materialization Psychic surgery Séances
Psychokinesis
– Therapeutic touch
– Perpetual motion
– Quantum mysticism
– Ufology
– The Bermuda Triangle
– Pseudoarchaeology
– Animal mutilations
– Tutankhamun's curse
– Tunguska event
– Graphology
– Phrenology
– Primal therapy
– Subliminal perception
– Anthroposophic medicine,
– Applied kinesiology
– Attachment therapy
– Bates method for better eyesight
– Biorhythms
– Brain Gym
– Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)
– Faith healing
– Hypnosis
– Iridology
– Magnetic therapy
– Maharishi's Ayurveda.
– Radionics
– Scientific racism
– Traditional Chinese Medicine.
– Shroud of Turin
– Hongcheng Magic Liquid
– Laundry balls
– Stock market prediction

7. Biology is the study of life
• So, what does it mean to be “alive”
– Our next discussion will be the properties of
living things
• What things are living?
– Bacteria, amoebas, algae, fungi, plants,
corals, sponges (in the ocean), animals,
viruses (maybe)

8. Properties of Living Things
• Life is surprisingly difficult to define
– Many characteristics of life also exist in some nonliving things
– Wind can “move under its own power”
– Crystals and fire can “grow”
– Water “responds to its environment”
• Ludwig von Bertalanffy’s cell “experiment”
– If I take a living cell and blend it in a blender, it is no longer alive
– However, chemically nothing has been added or deleted
• All the chemicals are the same, but the cell is no longer alive.
– Life is not the components but the organization of the
components
– A system where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
– Life is an emergent property whose behaviors cannot be
predicted solely from the lower level components that make it up

9. 1: Organization
• Living things are separated from their environment by a
lipid (fat) based membrane
– Living things are cells, or are made of cells
– Therefore in the list below, the smallest level that is truly living is
the cellular level
• Living things show organization
– Organization Hierarchy of living things
• Atoms, Molecules, Macromolecules, Organelles, Cells, Tissues,
Organs, Organ Systems, Organisms, Populations, Communities,
Ecosystems, Biomes, Biospheres
• Organization is partly about division of labor which
provides efficiency and allows organisms to grown larger
than would otherwise be possible

10. 2: Acquire & metabolize nutrients and
assimilate & use energy
– Nutrients
• Oxygen and other gases
– Depends on the organism***
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
– Some of which are known as fats
• Proteins
• Nucleic Acids
• Vitamins & Minerals
• Water
– The most commonly omitted nutrient
– Metabolism has 2 parts
• Anabolism – building of molecules from component parts
• Catabolism – breaking down molecules into their components
• Organisms catabolize nutrients to get the building blocks for
anabolism of substances they need

11. 3: Irritable -
Respond to stimuli and the environment
• Organisms move toward water, food and
shelter
• Organisms move away from dangerous
conditions such as predators and
environmental hazards (heat, cold,
chemicals, sun)
• Organisms react to changes in their
environments

12. 4: Maintain homeostasis
– A relatively constant or unchanging internal
environment
– Change is monitored and controlled by means
of feedback loops
– Variables that are regulated to maintain
homeostasis include
• Nutrient content (see #2 for examples of nutrients)
• Temperature
• On a larger scale – blood flow, heart rate,
breathing rate, etc.

13. 5: Reproduction and
Genetic Material
• Living things contain genetic material called
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and/or RNA
(ribonucleic acid)
• Living things reproduce by copying of their DNA
and division of their cells
– DNA provides the instructions for making all the
proteins found in living things
• Reproduction is the ultimate goal of all living
things – it is their driving force and influences all
their other functions

14. 6: Growth and Development
• Living things get larger over time
• Living things go through phases of change
over time as they prepare for reproduction

15. 7: Adaptation and Evolution
• Individuals can undergo small changes to acclimate to
their environment
– These changes are NOT passed on in their genes
– For example: leaves on the sunny side of a tree are typically
thicker than the leaves on the shady side
• Populations adapt through changes in their gene pool as
some genetic strains survive better than others
– For example: when the industrial revolution occurred localized
populations of grey moths survived more often than white moths
• Species evolve over time as certain populations adapt,
survive, and reproduce better than others

16. Viruses – living or non-living?
• Viruses are made of DNA or RNA
surrounded by a protein coating
– They have no cell membrane (and therefore
are not cells)
– They cannot reproduce by themselves
• They must use the machinery of their host’s cells
– They don’t metabolize or use energy
– They don’t maintain homeostasis

17. Studying Science Using the
Scientific Method
• The scientific method provides a common set of
rules through which we can gain knowledge.
• In order to be able to use the method your
research must meet these conditions:
– Observable: given the proper equipment anyone
should be able to see the same results as the
researcher
– Measurable: results must be able to be
OBJECTIVELY counted
– Verifiable: the results must be repeatable
– Falsifiable: there must be a way to be proven wrong

18. The Process of the
Scientific Method
1. Observation
– Researchers are aware of the world around them
and CURIOUS
– They are thinking “hmmm…how does that work,
why did that happen, what if I did this differently?”
– These curiosities do NOT have to be biologically
mind-blowing, just thoughtful
– Mary’s examples
• I noticed that my pet turtle eats more fish in the summer
than in the winter
• I notice that my son is more energetic after a long night of
sleep than a short one
• I notice that more people order chicken nuggets if they
have kids with them than if they are alone in the car

19. 2. Forming a Hypothesis
– This is an EDUCATED guess
• You must either do some research or have some
experience with the subject you have observed
• Your guess should only suggest a SINGLE explanation for
the phenomenon you observed
– Mary’s examles
• My turtle eats more in the summer because his tank is
hotter (and this somehow affects his metabolism so he
needs more food)
• The amount of time my son has the energy to play is
controlled by the amount of time he sleeps
• The more kids that are in a car the more orders of chicken
nuggets they will purchase

20. 3. Experiment
– To set up an experiment you need to
consider several variables (changeable
factors)
– You will create at least 2 groups when you
generate the idea for an experiment
• The control group and the experimental group(s)

21. • CONTROL GROUP – the “norm”, it serves as a
basis for comparison
– Mary’s examples
» My turtle’s eating habits when his tank is 70°
» My son’s playing time when he has slept for 8 hours
» The number orders of chicken nuggets per car when
no kids are in the car
• EXPERIMENT GROUP(S) – you change the main
or INDEPENDENT variable to test your hypothesis
– Mary’s examples
» My turtle’s eating habits when the tank is 80° (group
1); My turtle’s eating habits when the tank is 90°
(group 2); etc. (try not to boil the turtle )
» My son’s playing time when he has 6 hours of sleep
(group 1); 5 hours of sleep (group 2); etc.
» The number of order of chicken nuggets per car
when there is/are 1 kid; 2 kids; 3 kids; etc.

22. – The Variables – things that could possibly change in your
experiment either through your action or without your action…
you need to consider them all
• Independent variable
– This is the thing you are changing and it is your explanation from your
hypothesis
– My examples:
» The temperature of the tank
» The number of hours of sleep
» The number of kids in the car
• Dependent Variables
– This is the thing you will measure…researchers hope their
INDEPENDENT variable will influence their DEPENDENT VARIABLE
as expected – that means they were right!
– My examples:
» How many fish turtle eats (hopefully more as it gets warmer)
» How much playing time my son can tolerate before he falls asleep
(hopefully more when he gets more rest and less when he gets
less rest)
» How many orders of chicken nuggets are requested per car
• continued on the next slide…..

23. • Control Variables
– Since we want to FOCUS on the independent and dependent
variables we want to try to eliminate all the confounding factors
that could get in the way of our understanding – we want to
control these outside influences
– My examples:
» I will use all MALE turtles, they will always be OFFERED
10 fish, they will always get 1 INCH GOLDFISH, they will
all live in a 5 gallon TANK, they will always have a 10 hour
DAY LENGTH, etc.
» I will use only my son as a study SUBJECT, he will always
have 3 days of NORMAL sleep patterns before I start an
experimental day, he will always start by eating 1 cup of
CHOCOLATE CEREAL, he will always have 10 minutes of
ACTIVE TIME per hour (jumping jacks or running), etc.
» I will always observe cars at McDonalds (LOCATION), I will
observe them from 11 am – 1 pm (TIME), I will only
observe vehicles with female drivers (GENDER), I will only
observe vehicles with drivers from the AGE of 30-40, etc.

24. 4. Data analysis
– This usually involves some statistics to allow
you to objectively compare the data you
have collected
• It is not based on the researcher’s perceptions of
the data
• Data is often represented graphically
– The independent variable should be placed on the X-
axis (along the bottom)
– The dependent variable should be placed on the Y-axis
(along this side

25. Turtle Feeding Habits
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
60 65 70 75 80 85
Temperature
FoodEaten(#ofFish)

26. 5. Conclusions
– If your data does not support your
hypothesis
• Reject your hypothesis – you are wrong
– If your data does support your hypothesis
• Do not reject your hypothesis – you are not
wrong
• But you aren’t necessarily right either
– Remember, you have to be able to verify or repeat
these results so you have to continue to research to
make sure you have good confidence in your
hypothesis

27. Levels of Confidence
• Hypothesis
– An educated guess, keep working!
• Theory
– A well supported hypothesis (a proposed explanation of an observed
phenomenon)
– Generally a theory has some unanswered questions, potential flaws, or other
concerns
– Examples of theories
• Cell theory, biogenesis theory, atomic theory, big bang theory, global climate change,
theory of relativity
• Law
– A description of an observed phenomenon
– Usually scientific laws refer to rules for how nature will behave under certain
conditions. Scientific theories are more overarching explanations of how nature
works and why it exhibits certain characteristics. (Wikipedia – “theory”)
– A common misconception is that scientific theories are rudimentary ideas that will
eventually graduate into scientific laws when enough data and evidence has
been accumulated. A theory does not change into a scientific law with the
accumulation of new or better evidence. A theory will always remain a theory, a
law will always remain a law.
– Examples of laws
• Law of gravity; laws of conservation of mass, energy, and momentum; laws of
thermodynamics; gas laws; electromagnetic laws

28. From But it's "JUST a THEORY"
Version 1.0
Copyright 1999 by Ken Harding
[last update August 24, 1999]
• Is Evolution a fact or a theory?
– The theory of evolution explains how life on earth has changed. In scientific
terms, "theory" does not mean "guess" or "hunch" as it does in everyday usage.
– Scientific theories are explanations of natural phenomena built up logically from
testable observations and hypotheses. Biological evolution is the best scientific
explanation we have for the enormous range of observations about the living
world.
– Scientists most often use the word "fact" to describe an observation. But
scientists can also use fact to mean something that has been tested or observed
so many times that there is no longer a compelling reason to keep testing or
looking for examples. The occurrence of evolution in this sense is a fact.
Scientists no longer question whether descent with modification occurred
because the evidence supporting the idea is so strong.
– Why isn't evolution called a law?
Laws are generalizations that describe phenomena, whereas theories explain
phenomena. For example, the laws of thermodynamics describe what will
happen under certain circumstances; thermodynamics theories explain why
these events occur. Laws, like facts and theories, can change with better data.
But theories do not develop into laws with the accumulation of evidence. Rather,
theories are the goal of science.
– WATCH FOR AN UPCOMING EXTRA CREDIT DISCUSSION ON THEORIES
AND LAWS!!!