Quiz one: Review
Topic One:
Scientific method
- A scientific inquiry always begins with an observation.
- In an observation you can look for both quantitative and qualitative factors.
- Now you proposes a hypothesis to explain your observations.
- You may infer, looking at your observations, a possible cause and effect relationship.
Points about a hypothesis
- It must be testable
- It must be a tentative explaination of observed phenomena
- As a formal hypothesis, it should include the word “if” for the independent variable and “then” for the dependent variable.
- A hypothesis can be supported by testing that hypothesis
The process of the scientific method includes:
- Observation
- Hypothesis
- Experiment
- Theory
- Law
All experiments are subject to change and can have experimental error.
In a controlled experiment, there is no experimental variable.
Within the scientific community experiments are given to scientific journals for peer review.
We will need to be aware of four theories
- Evolutionary theory
- Gene theory
- Abiogenesis
- Cell Theory
Classification
The study of how organisms are classified is called taxonomy.
- A binomial name includes both the genus and the species.
- A binomial name begins with the genus and then the species, much like your last name then your first.
- In order from many organisms to specific species is :
- Kingdom: Example Animal Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Genus
- Species: note that species are defined by the fact that they reproduce with each other.
- Levels of organization
- Cells can be classified as:
- Prokaryote: an organism that has no nucleus, no organelles, no cytoplasmic streaming .
If we start off with a cell being the lowest level of organization, then levels of complexity and interaction are:
Cell to tissue
Tissue to organ
Organ to system
Now we are looking at specific species.
A number of individual species is a population
A number of population with other populations is a community.
If we consider both living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) factors we are now considering an ecosystem.
Several ecosystems together is referred to as a biome.
No comments