Chapter 1 Safety Review

Question 1

What are two definitions of science?

Answer 1

a. An organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the NATURAL world.
b. The body of knowledge that scientists have built up over the years.

Question 2

Explain why science cannot answer every question.

Answer 2

Science is limited to the natural world.

Question 3

What are the goals of science?

Answer 3

a. To provide natural explanations for events in the NATURAL world.
b. To understand patterns in nature and make predictions about future events.

Question 4

What is the scientific method?

Answer 4

The Scientific Method is an organized way to solve a problem.

Question 5

List the steps of the scientific method.

Answer 5

1. State the Problem
2. Form a Hypothesis
3. Set Up a Controlled Experiment
4. Record the Results
5. Analyze the Results
6. Draw a Conclusion
7. Publish Results

Question 6

How do you make an observation?

Answer 6

To make an observation you have to gather information through the senses (Qualitative and Quantitative) and make inferences.

Question 7

Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative data.

Answer 7

Qualitative: a description (no numbers)
Quantitative: uses numbers

Question 8

What is the difference between an observation and an inference?

Answer 8

An observation is made using senses. An inference is a logical interpretation based on prior knowledge.

Question 9

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 9

A hypothesis is a proposed scientific explanation for a set of observations or an educated guess and it must be testable.

Question 10

What is a controlled experiment?

Answer 10

A controlled experiment is when you only test one variable.

Question 11

What is a independent variable?

Answer 11

Independent Variable: the variable that changed (manipulated variable)

Question 12

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 12

Dependent Variable: the variable that you observed and that changes (responding variable)

Question 13

What is the group called that has normal conditions in an experiment?

Answer 13

Control Group: exposed to the same conditions except for the independent variable

Question 14

Why is it important to use a large sample size?

Answer 14

to ensure that you get accurate results

Question 15

What are the only two things that your conclusion can state?

Answer 15

Supported or Disproved

Question 16

Why is it important that research is reviewed by peers?

Answer 16

because it ensures that the results were correct

Question 17

Briefly discuss the three scientists and their research that led to disproving spontaneous generation.

Answer 17

Francesco Redi: The two jars with meat in it. One was covered and one was open.

Lazzaro Spallanzoni: Boiled gravy. Closed one. Killed the “Vital Life Force”.

Louis Pasteur: Same as Spallanzoni’s but had curved neck.

Question 18

Why are experiments not always an option?

Answer 18

Some experiments are not always and option because sometimes the experiment isn’t ethical and other times it’s not testable.

Question 19

Distinguish between a hypothesis, theory, and law.

Answer 19

A hypothesis is an idea that hasn’t been tested. A theory is a hypothesis that has been tested many times and the same outcome occurred. A law is an observation that always happens.

Question 20

List the characteristics of life and give an example of each that is shown in humans.

Answer 20

1. Living things contain DNA.
   - The structure of a plant is determined my DNA
2. Living things grow and develop.
   - As we grow older we grow taller and bigger.
3. Living things respond to their environment.
   - When a venus fly plant closes when it senses a fly
4. Living things are made up of cells
   - Our skin contains millions of cells that regrow
5. Living thing reproduce
   - Humans have babies.
6. Living things maintain homeostasis
   - Our body temperature is constant
7. Living things obtain and use material and energy.
   - We eat three meals a day.
8. Living things evolve
   - Insects have grown smaller throughout time

Question 21

List the levels of organization from largest to smallest and define each.

Answer 21

10. Biosphere: the part of Earth that contains all ecosystems
11. Ecosystem: a community and its nonliving surroundings
12. Community: populations that live together in a defined area
13. Population: group of organisms of one type that live in the same area
14. Organism: individual living thing
15. Organ Systems: groups of organs that complete similar tasks
16. Tissues: groups of cells
17. Cells: basic characteristic of life
18. Molecules: groups of atoms
19. Atoms

Question 22

What are the big ideas or theme of biology?

Answer 22

1. Cellular Basis of Life
2. Genetics: Information and Heredity
3. Matter and Energy
4. Growth, Development, and Reproduction
5. Homeostasis
6. Evolution
7. Structure and Function
8. Unity and Diversity
9. Interdependence
10. Science as a Way of Knowing

Question 23

What measurement system is used in science?

Answer 23

International System of Unit (SI)

Question 24

List the prefixes used in the metric system and their meanings.

Answer 24

Kilo     1,000
Hecto  100
Deca   10
Base   1
Deci    0.1
Centi   0.01
Milli     0.001