Biology ConceptsBio 100Haberkorn

Tuesday/Thursday5:30-6:45

E116

Introductions

• On a sheet of paper, tell me about your self…

• Name, where you are from, what is your major, what concerns you have about BIO 100, and anything else you want to tell me about yourself…

Syllabus

• Best time to talk to me is before or after class.– Or call/e-mail me to set-up an appointment for

a time that works for you.• Matt.haberkorn@pcmail.maricopa.edu• Phone: 602-285-7109

Book

• Essential Biology with Physiology– Campbell, Reece, and Simon

Attendance

• Attendance is required. – No make-up classes– No make-up exams– Let me know as far a head of time as possible

if you must be gone.

Grading

• Final grade = 50% lecture + 50% lab• Course is designed for your success

– If you turn in your work and take all the exams you will probably get an A, B, or C.

– I am here to clarify, re-explain, direct, and answer questions.

Class website• www.pc.maricopa.edu/Biology/mhaberkorn/100/100.html

– You will want to look at this website frequently for updates and due dates.

• Everything you need for class will be posted on this website.– Assignments, exam dates, due dates, and powerpoint presentations– Will be posted as needed

Exams

• 4 exams– Exam will be taken as an individual– Identical exam will be given next class period

for groups which I assign. • Must take the exam first as an individual and turn

in the corresponding assignment to take group exam.

• Optional final exam

Other stuff

• Don’t cheat or plagiarize!! If caught you will fail at least that exam, essay…– Don’t help others cheat…

• Be respectful of instructor and other students

First Quiz

• September 2nd

– Will only cover the first two lectures

Scientific method

Science

• Cannot answer all questions• Has limitations• Moral, political, theological, realms can

answer questions science cannot• In this class we will focus on science

• Science is: Physical and Observable

Train exercise

• A passenger train has lost its breaks and is about to crash, likely killing or injuring all on board

• On the next set of tracks are several maintenance works.

• You are the only person near a relay switch that would divert the passenger train onto the open track, saving the passengers but killing the maintenance workers.

Do you throw the switch?

Question 2: Would you push a person onto the tracks to divert the

train?

Science can’t tell us which choice is right

• But can ask the very interesting question, “why do we change our minds between option A and B?”

What do scientists do?

• Scientists make observations, ask questions about what they observe, and systematically go about answering these questions.

• Who are scientists?– You are

Scientific Method

• The scientific method is a process that tests possible answers to questions about nature that have been formulated from careful observations.

• Answers supported or not supported by the results of these tests are then added to the scientific record.

Attributes of the Method

• The scientific method is used by scientists to insure that the answers to their questions are based on objective evidence and verifiable.

• Ideas must be testable and cannot deal with things that are supernatural or non falsifiable, because they are not testable.

Common Elements

1. Observing nature2. Asking a question3. Proposing a hypothesis4. Designing a test5. Making Predictions6. Conducting the test7. Analyzing the results8. Drawing conclusions

Observing Nature

• Gathering information using the raw senses or using equipment

• Keeping careful records of observations• Observation=an aspect of a phenomenon

that can be witnesses and recorded

What are the differences between A and B?

A B

Asking a Question

• Why does stream A have more algae than stream B?

• In other words, what causes stream A to have more algae than stream B

Proposing a Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is a tentative explanation which answers the original question and can be supported or refuted when tested.

• What caused the algae (similar to aquatic plants) to die off?– ?– ?– ?– ?

Designing a Test

• Scientists design experiments to test their hypothesis

• Experiment=empirical test that provides data to test the validity of a hypothesis

• Add nutrients (fertilizer) to one stream and add nothing to an other. Then compare amounts of algae.

Making Predictions

• Often in the form of an “if/then” statement: “If the hypothesis is true, then such-and-such will occur”

• Draws a specific conclusion from the planed experiment (or test)

• “The stream with more nutrients will have more algae”

Conducting the Experiment

• Performing the experiment and collecting data, that will support or refute the hypothesis

Analyzing the Results

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Before Fertilization After Fertilization

gram

s al

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Drawing Conclusions• The data does/does not support the hypothesis• The data acts as additional observations for

asking new questions and proposing new hypotheses

• In this case the Hypothesis was not supported. Added nutrients did not result in more algae

The hypothesis was not supported, so what happens next?

• Give up?......

• We can re test, maybe we made a mistake with the experiment. Many things can go wrong with experiments and analysis.

• Test a new hypothesis.

The Relevance of ScienceDo you have other questions?

• How do new resistant bacteria come about?

• Why is it so hard to develop a vaccine for HIV?

• What is causing Honeybees to disappear? Why is this problem for humans

• What are the consequences of Global Climate Change?

The Scientific Method

• The scientific method can be thought of simply as the formalization and application of basic critical thinking skills.

• It is made up of the actual steps that you routinely go through in any critical thinking process.

• This is how ALL of science works. • Without probably thinking about it consciously,

you use the scientific method all of the time.

Assumptions of Science• FIRST: It assumes that the Universe is REAL Its not

the “Matrix”.

Assumptions of Science

• SECOND: Science assumes that all phenomena that can be observed reflect the EFFECTS of CAUSES, and that those causes can also be observed and known.

• Note: this is a very important assumption that prohibits recourse to supernatural powers; it is the critical assumption that sets science distinct from religion

Assumptions of Science• Third: it assumes there is unity in nature. In

other words, the same set of rules operates (more or less) everywhere in the universe.

• In other words, the basic "laws" of nature are universal, not ever changing and site specific.

• So the speed of light in Phoenix is not faster than the speed of light in Tempe

Hypotheses

• An untested possible explanation to the observations

• Can have many possible hypotheses• Must be testable (experiment)

Theory

• Tested hypotheses that remain after testing

• A theory can also be used to predict• Not an idea or a guess. A scientific

theory is very different from how people talking casually use the word.

Biology: The study of life

Biological science is the application of basic scientific principles to biological

questions, applies to all scales

Biological Science

Definition of life

• Intuitive• Difficult to define specifically

– Different fields of study will define differently

Biological definition of life:Self-sustaining biological (chemical) processes

Very ‘small’

Cells

Tissues

Organs and Organ Systems

Organismal

Populations

Communities

Ecosystems

Ecosystems

Urban Ecosystems

A Very ‘large’ ecosystem