Lesson 2 Slides

Drill 1: 1. What major changes in the field of medicine changed what people died from most in the U.S.? 2. What values are important to science and scientists? 3. What role might you play in preserving the Earth? How will a knowledge of biology help you?

Objective: Discuss the development of modern science.

List the general procedures for a scientific study.

A. How Science Works - A Case Study

scientific method - a general procedure used to study an observed phenomenon

In 1887, Dr. RonaldRoss worked in India with malaria patients. Malaria is the biggest human killer outside the U.S.

Ross followed a general pattern to study malaria:

1. Observations - Ross observed that patients in open wards contracted malaria.

2. Hypothesis - Ross proposed Anopheles mosquitoes carried malaria. A hypothesis is a possible explanation for an observation or a possible answer to a scientific question.

3. Predictions/ Experiment Design - Ross predicted mosquitoes carried a parasite called Plasmodium found in the blood of all malaria patients and designed an experiment to test whether they were carrying the parasite from patient to patient..

4. Test/ Gather Data - Ross tested mosquitoes that had bitten malaria patients and also tested newly hatched mosquitoes that had not bitten anyone. He found live Plasmodium in the group that had bitten malaria patients and none in the newly hatched group.

control group: something to compare against --> the group or part of the experiment not experimented on What is the control group in this experiment? What did Ross’ results mean?

5. Conclusions/Theory - Ross concluded mosquitoes carried the Plasmosdium parasite which caused malaria. He theorized malaria could be prevented by destroying mosquito populations.

A theory is an explanation of a collection of facts. A theory is never absolutely proven as a fact, but in science, a theory is regarded as true unless proven false. All experiments and scientifically collected facts have backed up the theory. For example, gravitational force is a theory.

6. Verification - All hypotheses must be rejected if even one study proves the results are false. Results must always be continually tested.

The procedure that Ross followed is called the scientific method. It is a general procedure that all scientists use. Sir Ronald Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work in finding the cause and carrier of malaria.

B. The Origins of Modern Science 1. A.D. 410 - Augustine the Bishop of Hippo Taught that belief was more important than earthly knowledge. Led to the strong religious beliefs of the Dark Ages. 2. Medieval Europe - People relied solely on their own or close friends’ personal experiences for information. Most information was local, word of mouth, hearsay. The word of authority was absolute truth.

3. Middle Ages - Church is highest authority. First to challenge the church was Pierre Abelard (1079-1142). Showed contradictions in religious texts. Developed four basic rules for argument and investigation: ! - Question everything. ! - Learn the difference between statements of proof and those of merely persuasion. ! - Be precise in the use of words. ! - Watch for error (even in Holy Scripture).

4. Modern Science a. 1500-1558 - Pomponazzi of Padua - said “It is possible to justify any experience by natural causes and natural causes only...there is no point in introducing supernatural agents.” b. 1600 - Giordano Bruno is burned at the stake by the Catholic Church for saying nature is the mother of all things. c. 1633 - Galileo condemned to house arrest until his death, by Catholic Church because he said the Earth revolved around the Sun.

d. The Reformation ! - 1517 - Martin Luther rejects the authority of the Catholic Church. ! - 1528 - Henry the VIII rejects the authority of the Pope and founds the Church of England with himself as head. ! - reformers believed life should be lived in the modern world and include modern science ! - 1662 - Royal Society of England - “Take nobody’s word for it; see for yourself.”