[UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY] NOTES OUTLINE Scientific Method 1. Define observation – a. What observation can be made about the grasses? 2. Forming a hypothesis – a. A hypothesis is an _______ guess. b. Define hypothesis: 3. Parts of an experiment: a. Variable – i. What variables are present in the grass scenario? b. How many variables should change in an experiment? c. What does a controlled experiment do? d. There are two types of variables: i. The independent variable is ___________________________. What was the independent variable in the grass experiment? ii. The dependent variable is ____________________________. What was the independent variable in the grass experiment? 4. Experiments are usually divided into two groups: 1 [UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY] NOTES OUTLINE a. The experimental group _________________________________________. b. The control group ______________________________________________. 5. Quantitative data could be ______________________________________________. a. What quantitative data was collected in the grass experiment? 6. What conclusion could be drawn from this experiment? 7. What is the most likely source of error in any experiment? a. How can this be avoided? b. What is the next most likely source of error? 8. What happens next if a hypothesis is not supported by the experimental data? 9. Define qualitative data: 10. All experiments are published and checked for what two things? a. b. 11. Explain bias. 12. Define scientific theory – 13. What two features do all theories have in common? a. b. 14. Give an example of a scientific theory: 2 [UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY] NOTES OUTLINE 15. Define biology – a. All living things are made of ___________ b. All living things have a ____________________ 16. For something to be considered _______________, each of the following must be present: Characteristics of Life 17. Define order – a. Example: 18. Define adaptation – a. Example: 19. Define response – a. Example: 20. Define order – a. Example: 21. Define regulation – a. Example: 3 [UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY] NOTES OUTLINE 22. Define reproduction – a. Example: 23. Define growth / development – a. Example: 24. Define energy processing – a. Example: 25. Biological organization is based on a hierarchy of _____________ _____________. a. Biosphere – i. Example: b. Ecosystem – i. Example: c. Community – i. Example: Population – i. Example: d. Organism – i. Example: e. Organs / Organ systems – i. Example: f. Tissue – g. Cells – h. Organelle – i. Molecule 4 [UNIT 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY] NOTES OUTLINE Major Fields of Biology 26. For each of the fields of biology, define the field and give an example: Field Definition Example 5