BIO 181 F2005,  Dr. Lisa Werner

Introduction to Biology; The Process of Science

Understand and be able to use the following terms as they relate to the process of science:

hierarchy

evolutionary adaptation

biosphere

ecosystem

community

population

organism

organ system

organs

tissues

cells

molecules

DNA

eukaryotic cell

prokaryotic cell

emergent properties

reductionism

domain Bacteria

domain Archaea

domain Eukarya

evolution

natural selection

discovery science

hypothesis-based science

inquiry

data

deductive reasoning

inductive reasoning

observations

questions

hypothesis

prediction

control group

experimental group

independent variable

dependent variable

scientific literature

peer review

skepticism

scrutiny

model

theory

 

 

 

1.       Describe the unique characteristics of living things.

2.       Describe the hierarchy of biological organization

3.       Describe the fundamental differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

4.       Explain what is meant by “the emergent properties of systems” and give examples.

5.       Describe the power and limits of reductionism.

6.       List the three domains of life and give the key characteristics of organisms in each domain.

7.       List the four eukaryotic kingdoms and give the key characteristics of organisms in each kingdom.

8.       Describe the role of natural selection and evolution in bringing about the unity and diversity of life.

9.       Explain the two approaches to science

10.    Explain the purpose of each of the following steps of the scientific method: Observations, questions, hypothesis, prediction, test, and interpretations.  Distinguish between independent and dependent variables.

11.    Be able to use the scientific method to formulate and answer questions.

12.    Be able to design a controlled experiment to test a hypothesis.

13.    Explain the roles of replication in the scientific process.

14.    How is scientific information shared?  What is the scientific literature? Describe the process of peer review.

15.    Explain how the outcome scientific inquiry becomes accepted as "fact".  Why do we say that we can disprove, but not prove a hypothesis? Describe the role of skepticism and scrutiny.

16.    How do scientists use models to understand the natural world?

17.    Why are theories important in science?   How is a theory different from a hypothesis?

These learning objectives will be assessed on the quiz, midterms and final.