1.1 THE
METHODS OF SCIENCE
Science is an
organized system for the systematic study of particular aspects of the natural
world. The scope of
science is limited to those things
that can be apprehended by the senses (sight, touch, hearing, etc.). Generally,
science stresses
an objective approach to
the phenomena that are studied. Questions about nature addressed by scientists
tend to emphasize
how things
occur rather than why they occur. It involves the application of
the scientific method to problems formulated by
trained minds in particular
disciplines. In the broadest sense, the scientific method refers to the working
habits of practicing
scientists as their curiosity guides
them in discerning regularities and relationships among the phenomena they are
studying. A
rigorous application of common sense
to the study and analysis of data also describes the methods of science. In a
more
formal sense, the scientific method
refers to the model for research developed by Francis Bacon (1561-1626). This
model
involves the following sequence:
1.
Identifying the problem
2.
Collecting data within the problem area (by observations, measurements, etc.)
3. Sifting
the data for correlations, meaningful connections, and regularities
4.
Formulating a hypothesis (a generalization), which is an educated guess that
explains the existing data and
suggests
further avenues of investigation
5. Testing
the hypothesis rigorously by gathering new data
6. Confirming, modifying, or rejecting the hypothesis in light of
the new findings
1.2.WHAT
IS A LIVING ORGANISM ?
A living
organism is primarily physicochemical material that demonstrates a high degree
of complexity, is capable of
self-regulation, possesses a
metabolism, and perpetuates itself through time. To many biologists, life is an
arbitrary stage in
the growing complexity of matter, with
no sharp dividing line between the living and non-living worlds.
Living substance is composed of a
highly structured array of macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids, nucleic
acids,
and polysaccharides, as well as
smaller organic and inorganic molecules. A living organism has built-in
regulatory
mechanisms and interacts with the
environment to sustain its structural and functional integrity. All reactions
occurring within
an individual living unit are called
its metabolism. Specific molecules containing information in
their structure are utilized
both in the regulation of internal
reactions and in the production of new living units.
1.3 WHAT
ARE THE ATTRIBUTES OF LIVING ORGANISMS?
Living organisms generally
demonstrate:
1. Movement:
the motions within the organisms or movement of the organisms from
one place to another (locomotion)
2. Irritability:
the capacity of organisms to respond in a characteristic manner to
changes-known as stimuli-in the
internal and external environments
3. Growth:
the ability of organisms to increase their mass of living material
by assimilating new materials from the
environment \
4. Adaptation:
the tendency of organisms to undergo or institute changes in their
structure, function, or behavior that
improve their capacity to survive in a
particular environment
5. Reproduction: the ability of organisms to produce
new individuals like themselves
►11. ATOM. All matter is built up of
simple units called atoms. Although the word atom means something
that cannot be cut (a =
“without,”
tom = “cut”),
these elementary particles are actually made up of many smaller parts, which are themselves further divisible.
Elements are substances that
consist of the same kinds of atoms. Compounds
consist of units called molecules, which are intimate
associations of atoms (in
the case of compounds, different atoms) joined in precise arrangements.
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