What Do Biologists Do

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What Do Biologists Do?
James Watson and Francis Cricke
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Biology

• Biology is a field of science that can be
  broken down into its word parts to determine
  what it means.
• BIO _________________?
• OLOGY ______________ ?

Answers
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Crucial Scientific Vocabulary

• Theory hypothesis supported after many
  observations and trials becomes a theory an
  explanation of how nature acts NOT currently
  known to be TRUE.
• Law a fact of nature called laws or principles
  that are generally known to be true. (ex
  Gravity, Reflection, Speed of Light)

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Types of Research

• Quantitative Research research that results in
  counts or numbers. Data is analyzed by
  comparing number values. Usually involves a
  graph or table.
• Qualitative Research research that results in
  the comparing of properties and descriptions of
  what happens in research. (Also called
  descriptive research)

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What is Technology?

• Technology
• The application of scientific research to
  societys needs and problems.
• Goal improving human life

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Components of a Research Project

• Use the 6 steps to scientific method.
• Set up a controlled experiment.
• Control the group in which all the conditions
  are kept the same.
• Use an independent variable to measure a change
  in the dependent variable.
• Independent Variable the one thing you change
  in an experiment.
• Dependent Variable what happens because of the
  change.

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Practice Problems

• In each of the following research examples,
  try to list the control, independent and
  dependent variables. Also, form a conclusion of
  your own based on the example. Click the (Test)
  button to see how you do.

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• Johnny is testing pesticide effectiveness. He
  takes two field plots and plants the same kind of
  corn in both. He sets aside a third plot
  untreated and plants it. In plot A he applies
  brand A pesticide. In plot B he applies brand B
  pesticide. In plot three he leaves it untreated.
  He continues this for 4 weeks during the height
  of the infestation (pest viral, fungal or insect
  borne) season. He tabulates his data and
  prepares the following graph.
• (Is this quantitative or qualitative
  (descriptive) research?)

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Test
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Jeanie Jensen is a world famous diver. She is
looking to test different molecules as a shark
deterrent. She has 3 different molecules she
will test. She will conduct this test by
releasing a black dye containing each of the
three molecules and measure the distance of each
shark after 3 minutes.
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Test
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Biology means

• BIO Life
• OLOGY Study of (Science of)
• Biologists study the components of life and
  relationships among the living creatures of the
  earth.

Back
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Answers

• Independent Variable Pesticide
• Dependent Variable the change in infestation
  between the two fields.
• Control Plot 3 that went untreated in every
  instance
• This was an example of quantitative research.
  Why?

Back
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Answers

• Independent Variable Molecules
• Dependent Variable distance from the diver 2
  minutes after dispersal
• Control Sugar water
• This was an example of quantitative research.
  Why?

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