Biological Hierarchy and the Scientific Method Flashcards
the study of life, including the anatomy, physiology, and development of living organisms
Biology
a method of dividing and organizing living things based on emergent properties
Biological Hierarchy
What are the 13 Hierarchical Levels of Organization in Biology from smallest to largest?
- Atom
- Molecule
- Cell Organelles
- Cell
- Tissue
- Organ
- Organ System
- Organism
- Population
- Biocenoses - aka communities
- Ecosystem
- Biome
- Biosphere
properties observed that aren’t present in the preceding level of the hierarchy and are caused by increasing complexity
Emergent Properties
created when a population interacts with other populations and plants
Ecosystem
The study of interactions of each part of the environment with the others as well as how a change in one part affects another
Systems Biology
the fundamental unit of any organism
Cells
consisting of only one cell
Unicellular
consisting of many cells
Multicellular
What are the 5 characteristics of living things?
- Cellular Composition
- Reproduction
- Response and Adaptation
- Metabolism
- Evolution
What are the 2 types of reproduction?
- Asexual
- Sexual Reproduction
Reproduction that only requires one parent
Asexual Reproduction
Reproduction that requires two parents
Sexual Reproduction
the stability of an organisms internal conditions
Homeostasis
the processing of food in order to create the energy used to drive the chemical reactions required to maintain life
Metabolism
What is the key part of homeostasis?
Maintaining the chemical reactions that the organism undergoes daily
random changes within DNA
Mutation
a systematic method of research that includes specific steps to test a hypothesis and solve a problem
Scientific Method
What are the 6 steps of the Scientific Method?
- Making Observations
- Asking Questions
- Formulating Hypotheses
- Developing Testable Predictions
- Designing an Experiment and Collecting Data
- Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions
something that describes a phenomenon
Observation
statement that uses previous experience or understanding
Inference
Give an example that demonstrates the difference between an Observation and an Inference?
Observation - “the moon is red”
Inference - “the moon is red because it’s hot” > understanding that red objects are hot
a factor, condition, or relationship that can be changed in an experiment and can influence the outcome of an experiment
Variable
a group that continues under existing conditions
Control Group
a group exposed to something that’s being tested in the experiment
Experimental Group
the factors or conditions in the experiment that don’t change between the control and experimental groups
Controlled Variables
a variable that is purposely changed in an experiment
Independent (Manipulated) Variable
How many independent variables do you change at a time in an experiment?
One
Which axis is the independent variable vs the dependent variable on in graphs?
Independent = X-axis
Dependent = Y-axis
the result of the change in the experimental group due to the manipulated variable
Dependent (Responding) Variable
a proposed explanation for a phenomenon or problem being studied
Hypothesis
What are the 2 types of hypotheses?
- Null Hypothesis
- Alternative Hypotheses
How is the Hypothesis written vs how is a Prediction written?
Hypothesis - written as a declarative sentence
Prediction - written as an if/then statement
What are the 2 methods of reasoning?
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
examines the big picture data (very general observations) and predicts a very specific answer
Deductive Reasoning
takes a very specific observation and draws broader conclusions from it
Inductive Reasoning
observations that are made or measured using numbers
Quantitative Data
describes, approximates, and characterizes observations in (often) non-numerical ways
Qualitative Data
the papers and journals that contain published experimental results
Scientific Journals (Primary Literature)
the process of subjecting experiments and their results and conclusions to scrutiny by other scientists in the same field of study
Peer Review
What is a key component of reliable, high-quality science?
Repeatedly achieving the same results
the interpretation, simplification, and presented conclusions by science writers that is used to make science accessible to the general public
Secondary Literature
sources that are a distillation of information and are a good place to find general information about a topic
Tertiary Literature
What are 5 other places where scientific info is communicated?
- Textbooks
- Internet
- Videos
- Blogs
- Podcasts
a thoroughly tested and confirmed explanation for a set of observations or phenomena and is the foundation of scientific knowledge
Scientific Theory
a socially learned behavior
Culture
copying behaviors observed in others or acquiring behaviors through being taught be others
Social Learning
Why do scientists share their findings?
So other researchers can:
1. expand
2. build upon
3. build support for
their discoveries
Can theories be proven over time?
NO - common misconception is that “true” theories mature into facts
describe how elements of nature will behave under certain specific conditions
Scientific Laws
What is an example of a scientific law vs a scientific theory?
Scientific Law - The First Law of Thermodynamics
Scientific Theory - Dual Inheritance Thoery
