Welcome

Biochemicals (medicine, metabolism)

Cells-the smallest unit of life! How they work is how we work b/c we are made of a LOT of them

DNA & Genetics (the coding for all known life & how it’s passed on)

Evolution (how all organisms cam about according to science!) and Diversity of organisms

Ecology (how organisms interact with other organisms and the environment) & energy

What is Science?

• Survey- not for grade, just answer to the best of your knowledge

• After we’ll have a class discussion.

Fish Tank-What’s going on?

• How can we figure this out?• What do we see?• What are some differences between the 2

drinks?• What are steps we can follow?

What makes a good experiment?1. Only 1 independent variable: aka the thing you

are changing• WHY? So you know that what you are changing

(manipulating) is causing the “data”– Ex: Does amount of fertilizer effect the growth of

plants? • OR

– Ex: Which fertilizer is the best? – For both of these examples there is only 1 independent

variable…the fertilizer.

2. controlled (constant) variables : as many as possible. Everything is kept the same or treated the same.

• WHY? The link between your data and independent variable is stronger, not some other factor.– EX: fertilizer exp- amount of water, amount of sun light,

amount & type of soil, type of plant & size of plant….etc.

3. Trials…as many as logistically possible. • Why? To reduce error!

– What if the fertilizer was mixed wrong? You wouldn't know unless there was more then 1 trial to see the data that didn’t match the rest.

– You should see consistency in data for all trials or something is wrong.

4. Sample Size: as many as possible. • Why? Again to reduce error.

– Ex: Only one plant per type of fertilizer? What if the plant dies due to human error? That would skew the results giving a possible incorrect conclusion.

5. Length of exp: how long will the study go on? 6. Data: the dependant variables (as many as can be

collected) how is it collected, measured, etc…7. Replicate: can others follow your procedure and get the

same results?8. Baseline: THE CONTROL GROUP, or what you compare

your test subjects to.9. Who is conducting/funding it?

Ted talk

• Ted Talk: Ben Goldacre- Author of “bad science”

• http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_battling_bad_science

• to 9:35• If there’s time

Bad Science• Bad Science uses the scientific method

but…– Relies on “authority” only, speculative– Watch for proper evidence: tests on

bacteria same results in humans, small sample size

– Uncontrolled design– Skews the data to benefit the

author/company– Financial interests– improper experimental set up: built to

fail or succeed• Ex: Drug manufactures putting drugs on the

market

The consequence of Wakefield• Check out this graph. What is it’s story? Any

issues?

Consequences cont

• Time and $ lost refuting the paper• Parents not vaccinating- lose herd immunity• Harm the cause of science?

Key Point

• Always question the science you read/hear about in the media AND even the journals that publish information.

• This is a strength of science, that we question and try to replicate other scientists.

• Questions?

Bad Science• Bad Science uses the scientific method

but…– Relies on “authority” only, speculative– Watch for proper evidence: tests on

bacteria same results in humans, small sample size

– Uncontrolled design– Skews the data to benefit the

author/company– Financial interests– improper experimental set up: built to

fail or succeed• Ex: Drug manufactures putting drugs on the

market

The consequence of Wakefield• Check out this graph. What is it’s story? Any

issues?

Consequences cont

• Time and $ lost refuting the paper• Parents not vaccinating- lose herd immunity• Harm the cause of science?

Does this study support or refute Wakefield?

Pseudoscience• Pseudoscience does not use the scientific method• makes claims in the name of “science”.

– Ex: advertisement that exploits “science”• no find scientific evidence

on medical databases to substantiate terms used in the ad such as "BioPromise", "Biocrystals" and "Far Infra Red Rays".

• "It's clearly pseudoscience designed to give an extra sales gimmick."

Key Point

• Always question the science you read/hear about in the media AND even the journals that publish information.

• This is a strength of science, that we question and try to replicate other scientists.

• Questions?

What is Living?• What does it mean to be alive?• On your own/ silently:• Make a quick list of all of the characteristics you

think are common to all living things. (between 7-10!)

• HINT: you are living, what makes you alive?(5 minutes)

Think?

Move?

Looks alive?

The fuzzy line of life…viruses

Characteristics of Living Things

• In order to be considered living, you must have ALL of these characteristics:– G: Grow and Develop– O: Organization

– H: Homeostasis– A: Adapt/Evolve– M: Metabolism– R: Reproduction– R: Response to Stimuli

Living things are called ORGANISMS.

Growth

• Growth = an increase in the number of new cells

Organized

Organized• Living things have certain parts that

perform certain functions

• Ex: We are organized into systems (nervous, digestive, circulatory)

• Each part has a specific function!

Respond• Living things can RESPOND to STIMULI• Stimulus = anything that causes a change in an

organism

• Stimulus = action that causesa response

Homeostasis

• Homeostasis = the ability to maintain a stable internal environment no matter what the external environment is like

• Ex: temperature, pH, water balance

Homoeostasis is the internal reaction that tries to keep balance. The see-saw is the balance of homeostasis.Response is the outcome of the stimuli which caused the homeostasis imbalance. The stimuli upsets the balance , the response returns to balance. Check out the diagram!Keep in mind this happens at a cellular level that you cannot see…is not as obvious as your hand being burned, that’s organs/organism

Adapt and Evolve• Adaptations: any structure or behavior that

allows an organism to survive better• Evolution: gradual change in a population over

time– Ex: desert plants can survive in the hot and dry

weather because they have adaptations like shallow roots and no leaves

Reproduction

• Living things are able to make more of their own species

• Species: a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Exception!

Metabolize

• Living things need and use energy to survive.• They can build up and break down molecules

• Biology covers an enormous amount of information so we organize it. • Side bar:The blue whale is the largest living individual

organism on Earth EVER (including bigger then the biggest dinosaur, be impressed)

• We also study organisms relationships to: each other, other organisms, their non-living environment & as an entire planet.

Emergent Properties: the concept

• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/emergence.html

• (11 minutes)

The whole has different characteristics than the sum of it’s parts.

Emergent property example 1

ElementalCharacteristicsVsCompoundcharacteristics

Key Principle

• If you don't understand the structure of a difficult problem, then you can't solve the problem.

Graphing!

Graphs Tell a StoryWhat story does this graph tell?

What story does this graph tell? – Without Labels and units, it is difficult to know

the story….

Water Depth

inches

Time minutes

It is also important to include a title to specifically describe what the data pertains to.

Water Depth

inches

Time minutes

Water level in a bathtub

Why is This Graph Misleading?

Why is this Graph Misleading?

Why is this graph misleading?

Why is this Graph Misleading?

0 5 10 15 20 250

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Money Made per Hour Worked

Rule #1

• Play close attention to the axes!!!!

Why is this Graph Misleading?

Why is this Graph Misleading?

Rule #2

• Be wary of pictograms or images used in a graph– Are they scaled properly?

Why is this Graph Misleading?

Why is this Graph Misleading?

Rule #3

• Be wary of 3-d graphs!– Are they trying to make it look cool, or are they

distorting the information?

Why is this a Bad Choice of Graph?

# of people playing

Claim, Evidence, and ReasoningHow to write a scientific explanation

Claim

Your claim is a declariative statement that is similar to a thesis.

● The claim is usually one sentence in length.

● It must be accurate, specific, and completely answer the question.

Evidence

The evidence is all of the information that supports your claim.

● Evidence must be sufficient and relevant to your claim. Not all information is considered evidence!

● Most evidence is specific data/information. T

Evidence

The evidence is all of the information that supports your claim.

● It can come from other sources such as: computer simulations, websites, textbook, class notes, personal experience, etc.

● It is important to have numerous pieces of evidence in order to prove your claim!

Reasoning

Reasoning is the explanation that connects your claim to the evidence that supports it.

● It shows why the information you chose counts as evidence.

• It shows a detailed understanding of the concepts involved and uses correct science vocabulary.

• The reasoning should be thorough abd to the point.

Reasoning

Reasoning is the explanation that connects your claim to the evidence that supports it.

● It shows a detailed understanding of the concepts involved and uses correct science vocabulary.

● The reasoning should usually be at least a few sentences in length.

Thomas Huxley quote

How do I Study for the Test?• Make sure you know your definitions. • Review your exit/bell & quizzes.

– If it was a 3 great. If it was not a 3 go through and see if the rest of the answers were ok.

– You can do this by finding students with those questions correct or see me during class today.

– Questions that need to be corrected should be corrected. • Look up emergent properties on-line and watch professors explain

it.– One if the 1st ones that pops up on youtube is done really well. I can log

you onto youtube if you want • Look up homeostasis an reaction examples. • Make sure you understand CER.