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The Nature of Science

The Nature of Science. What is Science?. The root sci - means “ to know ”. Science is 1 way of investigating the world in which we live! Science strives to: Explore & understand the natural world Explain events in the natural world Use those explanations to make useful predictions.

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The Nature of Science

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  1. The Nature of Science

  2. What is Science? • The root sci- means “to know”. • Science is 1 way of investigating the world in which we live! • Science strives to: • Explore & understand the natural world • Explain events in the natural world • Use those explanations to make useful predictions

  3. Things that are not science: • Art • Religion • Literature • Opinion Is science better than these things? NO! It’s simply another way of exploring the world we live in.

  4. Science can only concern itself with testable things and/or observable things!

  5. Is scientific knowledge a set truth? NO! • In our scientific explanations, we explain natural phenomena & how things work using the knowledge we have! • When our knowledge base changes, our explanations may change! Scientific knowledge changes all the time!

  6. Flat Earth Theory • During the Middle Ages, it was widely accepted that Earth was flat! • The idea that Earth was spherical has been around since as early as the 9th century BC. • HOWEVER, it was only accepted as true by learned society (very few scientists). • Pythagoras, a great mathematician (Pythagorean Theorem!), proved the Spherical Earth Theory mathematically in the 6th century BC. Flat Earth Theory Video

  7. Flat Earth Theory • Even though Pythagoras disproved Flat Earth Theory with math around 570 BC, it was still accepted that Earth was flat! • 1519 – Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, was recruited by Spain to sail the distance around Earth. • If Earth was flat, Magellan’s ships would fall off the edge of Earth!

  8. Flat Earth Theory • Magellan’s ships set sail in 1519. • Magellan died in 1521 in the Philippines, but his crew continued the journey & returned to Spain in 1522. • The ships had successfully circumnavigated Earth, proving the Spherical Earth Theory!

  9. What are genes made of? • It was once thought that proteins were the inheritable molecules that carried your genes… • It wasn’t until the 1950s that we discovered that the hereditary material is actually DNA!

  10. What is biology? • The study of life!

  11. So… what is life? • In order to be considered living, an organism has to have some characteristics: a. It is made up of units called cells. These are red blood cells. Fun Fact! A single drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells!

  12. Characteristics of Living Organisms b. Reproduce Some living organisms reproduce sexually, while some reproduce asexually.

  13. Characteristics of Living Organisms c. Has a universal genetic code DNA or RNA!

  14. Characteristics of Living Organisms d. Grows & develops

  15. Characteristics of Living Organisms e. Responds to the environment

  16. Characteristics of Living Organisms f. Obtains & uses materials & energy

  17. Characteristics of Living Organisms g. Maintains a stable internal environment This is called homeostasis!

  18. Characteristics of Living Organisms h. As a group, change over time (evolution)

  19. Life can be explored on many different levels! A. Molecules: built by atoms, the building block of all matter

  20. Life can be explored on many different levels! B. Organelles: perform specialized functions within cells

  21. Life can be explored on many different levels! C. Cells: the smallest functional unit of life

  22. Life can be explored on many different levels! D. Groups of cells: tissues, organs, organ systems

  23. Life can be explored on many different levels! E. Organism: individual living system

  24. Life can be explored on many different levels! F. Population: group of organisms of 1 type that live in the same area

  25. Life can be explored on many different levels! G. Community: populations that live together in an area

  26. Life can be explored on many different levels! H. Ecosystem: community & its non-living surroundings

  27. Life can be explored on many different levels! I. Biosphere: the part of Earth that contains all ecosystems

  28. What is science? • With your group, create an illustration of something that represents science. • You may only use 3 colors, but the colors have to be meaningful! (Don’t choose red just because you like it!) • There must be 5 meaningful components to your illustration! • These posters will be displayed at open house!

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