INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I
 SCIENCE DEFINED
The intellectual and practical
activity encompassing the
systematic study of the
structure and behavior of the
physical and natural world
through observation and
experiment.
 THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Scientists make progress by using the scientific method, a process of
checking conclusions against nature. After observing something, a
scientist tries to explain what has been seen. The explanation is called
an hypothesis. There is always at least one alternative hypothesis.
A part of nature is tested in a "controlled experiment" to see if the
explanation matches reality. A controlled experiment is one in which
all treatments are identical except that some are exposed to the
hypothetical cause and some are not. Any differences in the way the
treatments behave is attributed to the presence and lack of the cause.
If the results of the experiment are consistent with the hypothesis,
there is evidence to support the hypothesis. If the two do not match,
the scientist seeks an alternative explanation and redesigns the
experiment.
When enough evidence accumulates, the understanding of this
natural phenomenon is considered a scientific theory. A scientific
theory persists until additional evidence causes it to be revised.
Nature's reality is always the final judge of a scientific theory.
 THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND
ATTITUDE
This chapter on scientific method and scientific attitude is divided
into four parts. Our main concern in this chapter is therefore to
explain, as clearly as we can in limited space, the scientific
attitude, and to point out the obstacles and contrasts to it in the
popular mind. Some of the most significant elements in the
scientific attitude cannot well be understood apart from reference
to scientific method. We shall not need, however, to give, even
from an elementary standpoint, a full statement of the steps and
characteristics of the scientific method. We will limit our discussion
to such a statement as will bring out the salient characteristics of
the scientific attitude, and give us a glimpse into the processes
and problems of scientific method, as related to the investigation
of social phenomena and the solution of social problems,
especially that of conflict of interests.
 The first part considers the relation of scientific method to interest
conflicts.
The second part covers the general features of scientific method.
The third section discusses the characteristics of the scientific
attitude.
The final section examines difficulties and obstacles.
The difficulties in the way of applying the scientific method to the
evaluation of conflicting interests and the solution of social issues
may be treated in two groups,
(1) difficulties due to subjective interests and biases
(2) difficulties which would be encountered even if we were free
from subjective biases and personal interests and were all of
normal physical temperament. "We shall consider first the
difficulties due to subjective biases, inasmuch as they involve a
contrast, which it is needful to analyze at this point, between the
scientific attitude, the elements of which we have just outlined,
and the non-scientific or popular attitude.
 BIOLOGY AS A SCIENCE

Biology is a natural science

concerned with the study of life
and living organisms, including
their structure, function, growth,
evolution, distribution,
identification and taxonomy.
Modern biology is a vast and
eclectic field, composed of many
branches and subdisciplines.
We are going to discuss three
Elements of Biology as a Science

Characteristics of life
Divisions and related sciences to
biology
Classifications of living things
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE
Biologists have developed a list of eight
characteristics shared by all living organisms.
Characteristics are traits or qualities. Here is
the list of characteristics shared by living
things:
1. Cellular organization
2.Reproduction
3.Metabolism
4.Homeostasis
5.Heredity
6.Response to stimuli
7.Growth and development
8.Adaptation through evolution
CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING
THINGS
End of slide