Chapter 1: The Scientific Method and Study of Life Flashcards
What is science?
Evidence-based, hypothesis driven way of understanding.
What is the scientific method?
A process of finding evidence that supports/conflicts with hypothesis.
Steps of the Scientific Method
Observation, Hypothesis, Prediction, Experiment/New Observation, Theory
What must a hypothesis have?
It has to have the ability to be tested
What is a prediction?
a measurable/observable result that must be correct if the hypothesis is valid
Scientific Theory
broad in scope and represents a large body of evidence
How does a hypothesis become a theory?
if results are consistent over multiple experiments; if not, hypothesis is rejected/revised
Cell Theory
all organisms are made of cells and all cells come from preexisting cells
Brood Parasitism
when mothers lay eggs in other mothers nests
What are controlled experiments?
An experiment in which ONE component in a system is manipulated and you observe the effects of this change; compares an experimental group with a control group
Independent Variable
factor that is manipulated
Dependent Variable
measure that judges the outcome, depends on the independent variable
What are some other types of controls?
Experimental conditions, repeating test, using large sample size
What are the 5 defining characteristics of life?
Cells, Replication, Information, Energy, Evolve
- Cells
All organisms are made of membrane-bound cells
- Replication
All living things are able to reproduce
- Information
All living things can process information encoded in genes and from the environment
Ex: light, temp, other stimuli
- Energy
All living things acquire and use energy
- Evolve
All living things have the capacity to evolve, adapt, and change
Chromosome Theory of Inheritance:
genes are located on chromosomes and patterns of inheritance are determined by the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis
Central Dogma
the scheme for information flow in the cell: DNA –> RNA –> protein
Evolution
a change in the characteristics of a population over time
Population
a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time
What are the two conditions of natural selection?
- Individuals within a population vary in characteristics that are heritable—meaning, traits that can be passed on to offspring.
- In a particular environment, certain versions of these heritable traits help individuals survive better and reproduce more than do other versions.
