Biology – Study of Life
Characteristics of Living Things:
• Organization – all living things have an orderly
structure made of CELLS.
• Reproduction – essential for continuation of the
species. Individuals can survive without
reproduction.
• Change during lifetime:
• Growth – adds more cells
• Development – maturation
• Adjust to surroundings (environment):
• Stimulus - response
• Homeostasis regulation of the
internal environment
• Adapt and Evolve:
• Individual
organisms adapt
• SPECIES evolve
(change over time)
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Scientific Method
Common steps used to gather information and answer questions.
1. Problem
2. Collect Information
3. Hypothesis – If ….then form
• Variable follows the If
• Expected results comes after “then”
4. Controlled Experiment
• Control is for COMPARSON – left alone
• Variable – the ONE thing that changes
1. Independent variable – affects dependent variable
• Goes on the X axis of a graph
2. Dependent variable –
what you measure
• Goes on the Y axis of
a graph
• Data – usually in the form of a graph or chart.
• Conclusion – refers back to the hypothesis
• Can only conclude if HYPOTHESIS was
correct or incorrect.
• Report
1. Would be published by a scientist
2. This is what students turn in to teacher.
• Repeat – by others for VALIDITY
Quantitative Data:
• Numbers
• Experiments have this type of data because you
must MEASURE in an experiment
Qualitative Data:
• Written descriptions
• NO NUMBERS
Technology – application of scientific research to
society’s needs and problems.