The use of one or more of the senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, and sometimes taste—to gather information.

manipulated

variable

A factor in an experiment that a scientist purposely changes; a.k.a. independent variable

responding

variable

A factor in an experiment that a scientist wants to observe, which may change in response to the manipulated variable; also known as a dependent variable

theory

A well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.

evidence; information gathered from observations.

A possible explanation for a set of observations or possible answer to a scientific question.

A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience.

Researchers tested 10 small samples of water from a reservoir & found them safe to drink; the researchers conclude that all the water in the reservoir is safe to drink.  Is this an observation or an inference?

Observations that involve characteristics that cannot be easily measured or counted, such as color or texture; the bird has a red head.

Observations that involve numbers, for example, counting or measuring objects; there are seven birds at the feeder.

An organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world; also, the body of knowledge built up after years of using this process.

To investigate and understand nature, to explain events in nature, and to use those explanations to make useful predictions.

A test of the effect of a single variable by changing it while keeping all other variables the same.

The hypothesis (disproven) stating that life could arise from nonliving matter.

• Predicted that keeping flies away from meat would prevent the appearance of maggots.
• Controlled all variables except one—whether or not there was gauze over each jar.
• The gauze was important because it kept flies off the meat.

Key Concept 1-2A:

The number of variables that should be changed from one experimental setup to another during a controlled experiment.

• claimed that spontaneous generation could occur under the right conditions.
• To prove his claim, he sealed a bottle of gravy and heated it. He claimed that the heat had killed any living things that might be in the gravy.
• After several days, he examined the contents of the bottle and found it swarming with activity.
• However, he just didn't boil it long enough.

• He throughly boiled two containers of gravy, assuming that the boiling would kill any tiny living things, or microorganisms, that were present.
• He sealed one jar immediately and left the other jar open.
• After a few days, the gravy in the open jar was teeming with microorganisms. The sealed jar remained free of microorganisms.
• Spallanzani concluded that nonliving gravy did not produce living things.

1864: Louis Pasteur

• He designed a flask that had a long curved neck.
• The flask remained open to the air, but microorganisms from the air did not make their way through the neck into the flask.
• He showed that as long as the broth was protected from microorganisms, it remained free of living things.
• About a year after the experiment began, he broke the neck of the flask, and the broth quickly became filled with microorganisms.
• His work convinced other scientists that the hypothesis of spontaneous generation was not correct; that all living things come from other living things.

Field Study

An alternative to a controlled experiment which is done under natural conditions in which there are a large number of variables.

BIOLOGY

A science that seeks to understand the living world.  Zoology, botany, genetics, cytology (cells), and mycology (Fungi) are all a part of this science.

Cell

• A collection of living matter enclosed by a barrier that separates it from its surroundings; basic unit of all forms of life.
• Includes Prokaryotic (bacteria) and Eukaryotic types.

sexual

reproduction

A process by which two cells from different parents unite to produce the first cell (zygote) of a new organism.

asexual

reproduction

A process by which a single parent reproduces by itself.

Budding & fragmentation are two examples.

Metabolism

A set of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes (cell respiration, protein synthesis, photosynthesis).

Homeostasis

A process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment.

EVOLVE (Evolution)

The change in frequencies of traits/characteristics in populations over time.

• Living things are made up of units called cells.

• Living things reproduce.

• Living things are based on a universal genetic code.

• Living things grow and develop.

• Living things obtain and use materials and energy.

• Living things respond to their environment.

• Living things maintain a stable internal environment.

• Taken as a group, living things change over time.

Biosphere

The part of the earth that contains all ecosystems.

Ecosystems

The community and its nonliving surroundings.

ex. rocks, air, stream, snake, bison, prairie dog, & grass.

Community

Populations

Group of organisms of one type that live in the same area.  For example, all of the Orcas that live off the coast of California.

Organism

Tissues

Groups of similar cells that help to perform certain functions.

Nervous Tissue

connective tissue

A main type of tissue that binds or supports other types of tissue and is often fibrous.  For example; bone, blood, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

epithelial tissue

A main type of tissue that lines the surface or the inside of hollow organs.  For example, the epidermis of the skin consists mainly of this type of tissue.

muscular tissue

Excitable, contractile tissue that connects to bone to help us move, causes our heart to pump blood, or moves food through our digestive tract.

1668, Francesco Redi, an Italian physician

1864: Louis Pasteur

Biosphere

Ecosystems

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community

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Population

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Cell

Macromolecule

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Molecule

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Tissue

organ

organ system

decimal system of measurement based on certain physical standards and scaled on multiples of 10