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Science As A Way Of Learning

Explore the body of scientific knowledge and the scientific method as a way to acquire knowledge. Discover how science impacts our everyday lives and separates myths from reality. Learn about key scientists and their contributions to scientific theories. Understand the importance of theories, laws, and hypotheses in science.

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Science As A Way Of Learning

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  1. Science As A Way Of Learning BIO 1113/1114 Oklahoma City Community College Dennis Anderson

  2. What is Science? • A body of knowledge • A method of acquiring knowledge

  3. Science as a Body of Knowledge • The unified insights of science are known as theories. • A scientifictheory is a general set of principles, supported by evidence, that explains some aspect of nature.

  4. How Does Science Impact OurEveryday Lives? • Until the mid-1990s, most Americans did not use e-mail, cell phones, or the Internet. • Most of us would not be alive today without modern medicine

  5. Myths To Explain Biological Processes • Disease caused by evil spirits • Brain produces snot • Blood determines heredity • Heart is for emotions

  6. How Does Science Separate Myths from Reality? Scientific Method

  7. Scientific Method • Observation • Hypothesis • Prediction • Test Hypothesis • Experiment • Further Observations • Conclusion

  8. Edward Jenner 1749-1823 • Smallpox • Scientific method

  9. Observation • Smallpox is deadly

  10. Observation • Survivors are immune

  11. Observation • Milkmaids do not get smallpox

  12. Observation • Milkmaids get cowpox from cows

  13. Hypothesis Cowpox Makes You Immune to Smallpox

  14. Prediction • If you are exposed to cowpox, you will be immune to smallpox

  15. Experiment

  16. Results • Boy did not get smallpox

  17. Conclusion • Hypothesis supported

  18. Robert Koch 1843-1910 • Identified the bacterium that causes anthrax • Identified the bacterium that causes tuberculosis

  19. Louis Pasteur 1822-1895 • Developed vaccines for rabies and anthrax • Demonstrated the existence of germs • Invented Pasteurization

  20. A New Scientific Theory Explains the Observations of Many Scientists • Edward Jenner • Smallpox • Louis Pasteur • Rabies and anthrax • Robert Koch • Tuberculosis and anthrax

  21. Germ Theory of Disease • Germs cause disease • Predictions of the Germ Theory • Many diseases are caused by germs • Diptheria • Whooping cough • Measles • Plague • Modern medicine uses the Germ Theory to guide research

  22. Ramifications of Germ Theory • Previous concepts about the cause of many diseases incorrect • Evil spirits • Bad thoughts • Excess blood

  23. Theory vrs Scientific Theory • Theory (as used outside of science) • Guess • Speculation • Has not been tested

  24. Scientific Theory • Principle • Tested many times • Explains many different phenomena • Makes predictions • Falsifiable

  25. Falsify Germ Theory • Smallpox occurs without the smallpox virus • Tuberculosis occurs without the TB bacterium • Discovery of a different type of cause for infectious diseases • Cell phones • Computer screens • Lack of exercise

  26. Jeff’s Lost Dog • Jeff’s beloved dog is missing (observation) • Jeff thinks the dog has run away (hypothesis) • What can falsify his hypothesis? • Jeff finds his dog asleep in the house I love my dog

  27. Testing Hypotheses • Observation • Jeff found his dog asleep in the house • Scientists find the same bacterium in the bodies of people who die of the plague • Experiment • Jenner vaccinates boy with cowpox and later infects him with smallpox. The boy does not get smallpox.

  28. Experimental group 50 People Medicine X Control group 50 People Placebo 100 Sick People

  29. Experimental group 34 Better Medicine X Control group 33 Better Placebo Three Days Later

  30. Experimental group 34 Better Medicine X Control group 5 Better Placebo Three Days Later

  31. Why does this frog have extra legs? • Hypotheses • Genetic mutation • Chemical Pollution • Ultraviolet Radiation • Disease (virus or parasite or...?) • Loud Rock & Roll Music • Aliens from outer space • Something else

  32. Parasite Hypothesis • Frogs were examined under a micrscope • Dark spots were found at the base of deformed limbs • Spots were further magnified and found to be parasites

  33. Conclusion Parasite hypothesis about frog deformities appears to be true

  34. Law vrs Theory • Law • Observation that has been repeated numerous times • Law of gravity • Does not explain the observation • Theory • Explains why or how something in nature happens

  35. Which is most important to a scientist? • Fact • Hypothesis • Law • Theory

  36. Theory is the most important • Theory • Explains laws, hypotheses and facts • Law • States what happens • Hypothesis • Untested theory • Fact • Observation

  37. Major Scientific Theories • Germ Theory of Disease • Germs cause infectious disease • Atomic Theory • Matter is made if tiny atoms • Gene Theory (Chromosomal Theory) • Genes on chromosomes determine heredity • Cell Theory • All living things are made of cells

  38. Theory of Evolution • Biology’s chief unifying principle • Populations of organisms change over time • Changes sometimes result in new species.

  39. Evolution is both a fact and a theory • Fact • Evolution is documented in the fossil record and has been observed in our lifetime. • Theory • How evolution happens

  40. Theory of Evolution • Scientists no longer ask if evolution occurs. They study how evolution occurs. • Evolution is the major theory that guides research in Biology

  41. Science • A body of knowledge gained from studying the natural world • A method of acquiring knowledge • It is tested against the natural world • Does not use supernatural explanations • Its conclusions are not absolute. • New discoveries can revise previous conclusions • It is falsifiable

  42. Limits of Science • Science is confined to the natural world • Only works with things that can be tested or observed in a scientific manner • Does not apply to • Values • Politics • Religion • Supernatural

  43. Pseudoscience • A claim that something presented is scientific when it is not • Biased information often used to sell a product or promote a false idea

  44. Pseudoscience • False claim that consuming shark cartilage will prevent cancer

  45. Pseudoscience and Marketing • Anecdotal information • Testimonies • Endorsement by “experts”

  46. Flat Earth Society • Claim the earth is flat • “Scientific experiments” • People in Australia do not fall off the earth • Look at a lake as far as you can see and the lake is flat

  47. Biology • Scientific study of life • Observations • Hypotheses • Test Hypotheses • Conclusion

  48. What is Life?

  49. Characteristics of Life • Uses energy • Responds to environment • Constant internal environment • DNA • Reproduce • Made of cells • Evolved from other living things • Highly organized

  50. Use Energy • Animals eat food • Plants get energy from the sun

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