INQUIRY SCIENCE
a year long, one (lab) credit, science course
for sophomores at
Tahoma High School
begins with
The Scientific Method
through the lens of
Microbiology:
The study bacteria & viruses
First, you need
which
aka
means
a TESTABLE
it is… measurable
question
Once you’ve decided on your
question, design/carry out
your experiment
paying close attention to its
validity & reliability
Recognizing that the process
of scientific investigation is
CIRCULAR
(“non-linear “… a neverending process!!)
SUPPORTED
by
data
CONTRADICTED
NOT SUPPORTED by data
Following in the footsteps of
Ignaz Semmelweis,
Tahoma Investigation:
But WHY Herr Doktor, must
ve vash our handz before
every surgery!????
Where,
on campus,
do microbes
THRIVE!?
CHAPTER 1 Major Concepts
MC #1
Scientific investigations include...
-a testable question
-a design that leads to valid and reliable results (conclusions)
-observations and measurement
-an appropriate way of communicating and defending a scientific
argument
MC #2
Scientific inquiry is a systematic, nonlinear process that increases our
chances of solving certain types of problems
The remainder of 1st semester will focus on answering one question…
where
did I
come from?
Chapter 6…
Every branch of science has its “GUT”
EVOLUTION
GRAND
Geology has the Theory of Plate Tectonics
Physics is working on its String Theory
& Chemistry has the Molecular Theory
UNIFYING
but Biology has the Grandest GUT of them all…
THEORY
THE THEORY WITH MORE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
THAN ANY OTHER THEORY IN THE HISTORY OF MAN!!!
For example, let’s begin with…
The fossil record
S
T
R
A
T
I AND RADIOMETRIC DATING
G
R
A
P
H
Y
OOPS
!!?
from
Hmmmm…
the
the
lizard?
pig?
Can you
Here’s
tell
or
the
athere’s…
few
chicken?
human
hints…
embryo?
Then
Then
there’s
the…
!?
But this one has…a 2-chambered (fish) heart, eyes on
the SIDE of its head, gill slits (& gills!), a tail, a swim
bladder… it’s a FISH for cryin’ out loud!!
?
Natural
Selection
aNd
survival of
And sexual
reproduction
Which
Leads to
Variation
among species
The
fittest
And
It
Starts
All
Over
again
The HMS
Beagle and
the voyage
of
Charles Darwin
Geologic
Time & the
History of Earth
And so much more evidence!!...but that will require additional chapters…
CHAPTER 6 Major Concepts
Evolution explains the diversity of life on earth;
1) organisms change across time
2) natural selection explains how species change (across time)
3) multiple lines of evidence confirm evolution
4) physical properties (of the earth) change (across time)
Hmmm…offspring
Ah,inyes,
PREDICTABLE
the Tahoma
INHERIT traits from
HSratios!!!
yeast lab.
their parents
CHAPTER 7: Basic (Mendelian)
Genetics
Which
color
pea is
recessive?
Non-Roller
Down’s
Syndrome
Tongue-Roller
Chromosomes
Genes
& Karyotypes
Which is DOMINANT?
r
CHAPTER 7 Major Concepts
Traits are transmitted from parent to offspring through
gametes
Meiosis results in the formation of gametes that contain half
the genetic information of other cells
Cells contain two copies of each chromosome and therefore
two copies of each gene
Variations in the traits of different generations are explained
by the fact that each individual gets two copies of each gene
Chapter 8
The
Secret
Of Life
P
R
A
R
D
“the embers that feed the O
M
flame of EVOLUTION” N
T
I
E
N
A
IO
N
The code must first be copied…
Then translated into a new language…
Which is made of…
acids
DNA sequencing technologies
And finally, the
most powerful,
most convincing
EVIDENCE of
biological
evolution ever
discovered…
CHAPTER 8 Major Concepts
DNA is found in all living things and carries the genetic code
for their characteristics
DNA can replicate to pass its genetic information to new cells
DNA serves as a template for making proteins
Proteins are substances essential to life
Mutations in DNA result in changes in proteins that can be
advantageous, neutral, or detrimental to individual organisms
(and their species)
Similarities in DNA (or amino acids) show relatedness of
organisms
Just because
we can,
SHOULD we?
And if we don’t,
what’s to stop
your
competition?
C
The
L
ComO
mercialN
Genetic ally-modified
Determinism
I
ization
Organisms
N
of
G
Genetic
Genes
Discrimination
(GMOs)
Second semester will focus on answering this question…
where
am I
headed?
…in terms of the
Environment…
CHAPTER
11
Major
Concepts
Chapter 11: Carbon on the Move
And witness the
consequences
•Some substances with carbon can be analyzed with simple tests
•Earth has a fixed amount of carbon; that moves along several main
Upsetting the balance…
reservoirs
•Carbon transfer involves chemical reactions with changes in atomic
structure and properties of the material
•Simple reactions simulate carbon cycling in nature
•Some carbon sinks in the past are now sources of fossil fuels
Converting sinks to active…
…like
…and “Mutualism”
“Parasitism”
CHAPTER 14: Interactions Among Populations
It’s all about the Food Web
Mind if I park it here for a bit?
…andof…
the
Like the moose and wolves
Be my
guest
transfer
of
energy from
one level to
another.
…and
understanding
the various
…or the
classic “Predator/Prey”
relationships among living things
How
CH
15:
our
Earth’s
increasing
Capacity
…or
…so,
Dodo
YOU
do
you
you
take
continue
Threaten
So
face
…like
action
REALISTIC
we
the
REDUCING
search
along
to
problem
ourlive
very
the
for
solutions!
a
path
SUSTAINABLE
solutions
existence
ornumbers
your…
deny
of self-destruction?
its existence?
life…
To the one species at
the top of every
pyramid, web, or chain
So we wrap up the year by providing each student with the TOOLS
to solve man’s problems…namely…
…using SCIENCE to solve problems.
But realizing…
…there’s no such thing as a “perfect” solution
(there are ALWAYS “trade-offs”)…
…and there are ALWAYS unintended consequences
That being said…how did Greensburg, Kansas decide to
“engineer” its future?