SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry is commonly based on empirical or measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the scientific method as "a method or procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses."

The scientific method is an ongoing process, which usually begins with observations about the natural world. Human beings are naturally inquisitive, so they often come up with questions about things they see or hear and often develop ideas (hypotheses) about why things are the way they are. The best hypotheses lead to predictions that can be tested in various ways, including making further observations about nature. In general, the strongest tests of hypotheses come from carefully controlled and replicated experiments that gather empirical data. Depending on how well the tests match the predictions, the original hypothesis may require refinement, alteration, expansion or even rejection. If a particular hypothesis becomes very well supported a general theory may be developed.

Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features are frequently shared in common between them. The overall process of the scientific method involves making conjectures (hypotheses), deriving predictions from them as logical consequences, and then carrying out experiments based on those predictions. An hypothesis is a conjecture, based on knowledge obtained while formulating the question. The hypothesis might be very specific or it might be broad. Scientists then test hypotheses by conducting experiments. Under modern interpretations, a scientific hypothesis must be falsifiable, implying that it is possible to identify a possible outcome of an experiment that conflicts with predictions deduced from the hypothesis; otherwise, the hypothesis cannot be meaningfully tested.

The 7 Characteristics of Life:

1. Living Things are Composed of Cells:

Single-cell organisms have everything they need to be self-sufficient.

In multicellular organisms, specialization increases until some cells do only certain things.

2. Living Things Have Different levels of cellular organizationLevels of Organization:

Both molecular and cellular organization.

Living things must be able to organize simple substances into complex ones.

Living things organize cells at several levels:

Tissue - a group of cells that perform a common function.

Organ - a group of tissues that perform a common function.

Organ system - a group of organs that perform a common function.

Organism - any complete living thing.

3. Living Things Use Energy: Earth's energy source is the Sun

Living things take in energy and use it for maintenance and growth.

4. Living Things Respond To Their Environment:

Living things will make changes in response to a stimulus in their environment.

A behavior is a complex set of responses.

5. Living Things Grow:

Cell division - the orderly formation of new cells.

Cell enlargement - the increase in size of a cell. Cells grow to a certain size and then divide.

An organism gets larger as the number of its cells increases.

6. Living Things Reproduce: reproduction

Reproduction is not essential for the survival of individual organisms, but must occur for a species to survive.

All living things reproduce in one of the following ways:

Asexual repoduction - Producing offspring without the use of gametes.

Sexual reproduction - Producing offspring by the joining of sex cells.

7. Living Things Adapt To Their Environment:

Adaptations are traits giving an organism an advantage in a certain environment.

Variation of individuals is important for a healthy species.