Introduction: Nature Of Science
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Introduction: Nature of Science •
Modern science is a process by which we try to understand how the natural world works and how it came to be that way.
“Scientific Method” •
Not all scientific discovery follows this step-by-step procedure
•
Scientific knowledge is based on evidence.
•
Hypotheses need to be potentially falsifiable (testable). This limits scientific study to those processes in the natural world that can be observed and measured.
•
Hypotheses cannot be proven, only disproven
•
Scientific knowledge is provisional, whether developed through experiments in a lab or observations out in nature.
•
Science does not deal with THE TRUTH
•
It is impossible to know if we have observed every possible aspect of a phenomenon, thought of every possible alternative explanation, or controlled for every possible variable.
•
Bias cannot always be eliminated.
•
MODELS approximate the truth and are susceptible to modification
•
MODELS of DNA structure
•
Solving one problem inevitably leads to more questions.
•
Knowing the structure of DNA is only the beginning of figuring out how it functions.
•
Living things display “emerging properties” as systems become more complex. A “living” cell could not be predicted from the individual protein interactions in this fruit fly cell.
Theories in Science •
As close to “truth” as science gets.
•
Theories are models that can explain a broad scope of natural phenomena and are supported by a large body of evidence.
•
Evolution: An example of a scientific theory
•
Darwin’s two big ideas in The Origin of Species
•
Organisms are all related, sharing common ancestors (explains the unity in diversity)
•
Natural Selection, the mechanism of adaptation
•
Darwin’s idea of Natural Selection was based on two observations
•
Populations have much greater reproductive potential than the environment can support. This leads to a competition for resources.
•
Individuals in a population vary in many heritable traits. Some of these traits may result in some individuals leaving more offspring than others.
•
Darwin made the connection that some of a population’s natural variations could result in variable reproductive success.
•
Some individuals leave more offspring than others.
•
“Survival of the fittest”
•
“Fitness” is defined as an ability to leave genes in the next generation
•
Measured in numbers of offspring
•
From an evolutionary standpoint, longevity means nothing if you produce no offspring.
•
We now recognize that there are other factors in addition to natural selection that can result in the evolution of populations. Only natural selection is adaptive.
•
Evolutionary Adaptation: An inherited characteristic that enhances an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection can be used to make predictions in many fields. •
Biochemistry
•
Cell biology
•
Developmental biology
•
Genetics
•
Infectious disease
•
Anatomy
•
Molecular biology
•
Paleontology
•
Other Theories in Biology
•
Atomic Theory
•
Cell Theory
•
Gene Theory
Chemistry •
Atomic models
•
Electrons travel around the nucleus at a great distance. If the nucleus of an atom were the size of an apple, the electrons would be more than a mile away.
•
Helium: Atomic number = 2 Atomic Mass = 4
•
The chemistry of an atom is determined by the number and arrangement of its electrons.
•
Fig. 3.5
•
PET scans use radioactive isotopes to detect areas of high metabolic activity.
•
Electron arrangements of elements common in biological systems.
•
Bonds form when electrons are transferred or shared between atoms.
•
Ionic bonds: electrons are transferred between atoms
•
Covalent bonds: electrons are shared between atoms
•
Many of the elements common in biological systems can form multiple covalent bonds.
•
Polar covalent bonds: the sharing is not equal
•
¾ of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.
•
Humans are 50-65% water.
•
On a warm winter day, you can splash in a puddle, slip on ice and breathe air containing water molecules all at the same time.
•
Water can form multiple hydrogen bonds with other water molecules.
•
Cohesion: water sticks to itself
•
Adhesion: water sticks to other polar or charged molecules
•
Cohesion and adhesion move water through trees
•
Water resists temperature change.
•
Evaporative cooling power of water.
•
If solids are more dense than liquids, why does ice float?
•
Water can dissolve charged molecules.
•
Water can dissolve polar molecules.
•
Common methods for measuring the concentration of solutions
•
“Percent” solutions: g of solute / 100 ml of water
•
Molarity: Moles of solute / L of water
•
1 molar solution = 1 mole of solute / L of water
•
What is a mole?
•
6.02 X 1023 molecules
•
Is equal to the molecular mass of the molecule
•
1 mole of sucrose (C6H12O6) weighs 342 g
•
1 mole of ethanol (C2H6O) weighs 46 g
•
Water molecules can dissociate.
•
Buffers help to maintain a constant pH in living systems.
•
On average, Americans use 100 gallons of water per person each day. In Africa, it’s less than 3 gallons.
•
One billion people lack access to safe water.
Modern science is a process by which we try to understand how the natural world works and how it came to be that way.
“Scientific Method” •
Not all scientific discovery follows this step-by-step procedure
•
Scientific knowledge is based on evidence.
•
Hypotheses need to be potentially falsifiable (testable). This limits scientific study to those processes in the natural world that can be observed and measured.
•
Hypotheses cannot be proven, only disproven
•
Scientific knowledge is provisional, whether developed through experiments in a lab or observations out in nature.
•
Science does not deal with THE TRUTH
•
It is impossible to know if we have observed every possible aspect of a phenomenon, thought of every possible alternative explanation, or controlled for every possible variable.
•
Bias cannot always be eliminated.
•
MODELS approximate the truth and are susceptible to modification
•
MODELS of DNA structure
•
Solving one problem inevitably leads to more questions.
•
Knowing the structure of DNA is only the beginning of figuring out how it functions.
•
Living things display “emerging properties” as systems become more complex. A “living” cell could not be predicted from the individual protein interactions in this fruit fly cell.
Theories in Science •
As close to “truth” as science gets.
•
Theories are models that can explain a broad scope of natural phenomena and are supported by a large body of evidence.
•
Evolution: An example of a scientific theory
•
Darwin’s two big ideas in The Origin of Species
•
Organisms are all related, sharing common ancestors (explains the unity in diversity)
•
Natural Selection, the mechanism of adaptation
•
Darwin’s idea of Natural Selection was based on two observations
•
Populations have much greater reproductive potential than the environment can support. This leads to a competition for resources.
•
Individuals in a population vary in many heritable traits. Some of these traits may result in some individuals leaving more offspring than others.
•
Darwin made the connection that some of a population’s natural variations could result in variable reproductive success.
•
Some individuals leave more offspring than others.
•
“Survival of the fittest”
•
“Fitness” is defined as an ability to leave genes in the next generation
•
Measured in numbers of offspring
•
From an evolutionary standpoint, longevity means nothing if you produce no offspring.
•
We now recognize that there are other factors in addition to natural selection that can result in the evolution of populations. Only natural selection is adaptive.
•
Evolutionary Adaptation: An inherited characteristic that enhances an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection can be used to make predictions in many fields. •
Biochemistry
•
Cell biology
•
Developmental biology
•
Genetics
•
Infectious disease
•
Anatomy
•
Molecular biology
•
Paleontology
•
Other Theories in Biology
•
Atomic Theory
•
Cell Theory
•
Gene Theory
Chemistry •
Atomic models
•
Electrons travel around the nucleus at a great distance. If the nucleus of an atom were the size of an apple, the electrons would be more than a mile away.
•
Helium: Atomic number = 2 Atomic Mass = 4
•
The chemistry of an atom is determined by the number and arrangement of its electrons.
•
Fig. 3.5
•
PET scans use radioactive isotopes to detect areas of high metabolic activity.
•
Electron arrangements of elements common in biological systems.
•
Bonds form when electrons are transferred or shared between atoms.
•
Ionic bonds: electrons are transferred between atoms
•
Covalent bonds: electrons are shared between atoms
•
Many of the elements common in biological systems can form multiple covalent bonds.
•
Polar covalent bonds: the sharing is not equal
•
¾ of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.
•
Humans are 50-65% water.
•
On a warm winter day, you can splash in a puddle, slip on ice and breathe air containing water molecules all at the same time.
•
Water can form multiple hydrogen bonds with other water molecules.
•
Cohesion: water sticks to itself
•
Adhesion: water sticks to other polar or charged molecules
•
Cohesion and adhesion move water through trees
•
Water resists temperature change.
•
Evaporative cooling power of water.
•
If solids are more dense than liquids, why does ice float?
•
Water can dissolve charged molecules.
•
Water can dissolve polar molecules.
•
Common methods for measuring the concentration of solutions
•
“Percent” solutions: g of solute / 100 ml of water
•
Molarity: Moles of solute / L of water
•
1 molar solution = 1 mole of solute / L of water
•
What is a mole?
•
6.02 X 1023 molecules
•
Is equal to the molecular mass of the molecule
•
1 mole of sucrose (C6H12O6) weighs 342 g
•
1 mole of ethanol (C2H6O) weighs 46 g
•
Water molecules can dissociate.
•
Buffers help to maintain a constant pH in living systems.
•
On average, Americans use 100 gallons of water per person each day. In Africa, it’s less than 3 gallons.
•
One billion people lack access to safe water.
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