Exam 1: Experimental Design Flashcards
What are the five characteristics of life?
- Cells and organization
- Reproduction/replication
- Information
- Energy use and metabolism
- Evolution
How many steps does the scientific method have?
5
What are the steps of the scientific method?
- Question/observation
- Testable hypothesis
- Experiment
- Data
- Accept/reject hypothesis
What is a hypothesis?
Prediction that can be shown to be correct or incorrect
Why is a hypothesis never really proven?
You may not have found the true explanation for a phenomenon
What is a theory?
Broad explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is substantiated by a large body of evidence
Is a theory ever proven true?
No
What are the two approaches to understanding biology?
- discovery-based science
- hypothesis testing
What is the goal of discovery-based science?
To gather information
What does discovery-based science lead to if successful?
Hypothesis testing
What are the two components of theories?
Pattern and Process
What is pattern?
Something that happens in the natural world
What is process?
Responsible for creating pattern
What are the two types of controls?
Positive and negative
What is a negative control?
One without the expected outcome