Chapter 1. Scientific Method

Experimental Design

Explore Biology: Interactive Online Lab
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Welcome to Explore Biology: Interactive Online Labs. In this lab, we will explore various aspects of the biological sciences, including cell theory, genetics, energy processing, and evolution, among other topics. We will explore the world around us and inside us, and you will learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

Are you ready to begin?

Background Info

Scientific method
Scientific method.

In order to learn the answer, the biologist first needs to develop a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a possible explanation for a previously observed phenomenon. In order for a hypothesis to be useful, it must be testable. This means that the hypothesis makes a prediction. Often this prediction can be phrased as an “If…then” type of statement. In this example, the biologist might hypothesize that longer days make the plant grow faster because the plant gets more sunlight. If more sunlight causes faster growth, then less sunlight should cause less growth. This is a testable statement with a yes/no answer. A variable is a factor or trait that changes in a predictable way when another condition changes. In this example, light and growth are both variables, and a change in one is predicted to cause a change in the other. The biologist can set up an experiment that will show whether this hypothesis is supported by quantitative data. This process of generating a hypothesis and testing it is called the scientific method.

Control vs. experimental groups
Control vs. experimental groups
  • Ecosystems vary from mountain to rainforest to deciduous forest to grassland to desert.
  • Over most of the continent, average temperature is higher than 20° C (68° F) year round. However, the mountains and grasslands can get significantly colder.
  • Rainfall and humidity range from very high in the rainforests to very low in the deserts.

So, there are many potential conditions these insects could have lived in. What conditions are the best for specimen habitat and diet? That is what you are going to determine, using the scientific method.

Pre-lab Quiz

Question 1.1

Choose whether each of the following represents qualitative or quantitative data.

Weight of an animal in kilograms iY4P9pCBnKBeuU01EeYthLMgalIBeZ08EORWBQ==

Describing the behavior of chickens in response to different light levels LregB5uxCK4vntIT8wZvsBk13G1u5e0HmLybOw==

Height of a tree in meters iY4P9pCBnKBeuU01EeYthLMgalIBeZ08EORWBQ==

Patterns of flight in different species of butterflies LregB5uxCK4vntIT8wZvsBk13G1u5e0HmLybOw==

Correct.
Incorrect.

Question 1.2

Choose ALL of the following statements that represent testable scientific hypotheses.

bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk If bees cannot see the color red, then they will not be attracted to red flowers.

wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ If life exists on Earth, then there must be life on other planets.

wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ If you eat all the right foods, then you can prevent getting all types of disease.

bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk If birds use the stars to navigate when they migrate, then putting the birds in unfamiliar areas should affect their migration patterns.

wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ If your DNA contains all your genetic information, then a person’s genes completely determine the type of life they will lead.

Correct!
Incorrect. The following are the only testable scientific hypotheses: "If bees cannot see the color red, then they will not be attracted to red flowers," and "Birds can use the stars to navigate when they migrate."

Question 1.3

Which is the independent variable?

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Correct.
Incorrect.

Question 1.4

Which of the following describe the animal you will be studying today? Select multiple correct answers.

wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ Bird

bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk Insect

wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ Has eight legs

bI0LPa9lfHQ+dYqk Has wings

wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ Is blue

wCfH0QtRgXJ8o+c+ Is able to control its body temperature internally

Correct! The organism we're studying today is an insect with wings.
Incorrect. The organism we're studying today is an insect with wings. All of the other criteria listed here do not apply.

Experiment Notebook

Question

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In the next section, you are going to design and run your own experiment to test a hypothesis. To help you with this, you can choose from the various stimuli listed below:

Hot water Banana
Metal Paperclip Shade
Cold water Milk
Warm Oatmeal Ammonia
Slice of Pear Raw Pasta
Heat Lamp Iodine
Cold Air Ice
Cooked Macaroni Meat
Hydrochloric Acid Chopped nuts
Apple Juice Paper

Question

What will you use as the control in your experiment?

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Your choice has been saved.
Your choice has been saved.

Your three test substances and control substance are now available for you to use. Before you begin, though, record your predicted responses. If your hypothesis is true, what response do you expect to see from the animal? Record it in the table below.

Question

Predicted Response
Meat p64NsXEMBKE9Dwbp
Slice of Pear p64NsXEMBKE9Dwbp
Banana p64NsXEMBKE9Dwbp
Paper p64NsXEMBKE9Dwbp
Your responses have been saved.
Your responses have been saved.

We will want to test these conditions at the same time to see how they interact. For example, 20oC might have a different effect on our organism in bright light than it would in low light.

Question

Were the results you recorded in this experiment qualitative or quantitative data?

6O8ApitipYybqglNUNA/ntfULdZrO6yMXR99jA==

Correct.
Incorrect.

Brazil has a diverse array of habitats. Some of its ecosystems include:

Question

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Okay. Your answer has been recorded.
Incorrect.

Lab Report

Question

To complete this section of the lab report, choose the correct response from the drop-down menus.

In the first experiment, the general traits and behaviors of this organism were determined. In the first round of testing, the organism seemed to respond well to vJKvr2Y4aNFZiaUlSFa+mTyWHd16+LXssX52ABr1YEMYR0mtzuqmk5QvDwC1FNvVAaJdPA== but the 8dnnzuWfiwiw2Qee1YVlTjLUIjLHPrcIFKla/AllaB1f3WgtqBDuOg== had a negative effect. After testing all the starting substances, a new yUJMmrpKJSInjYrzJmeLlexzo6MVlWGhYN0riFmiI6xgvZwLyL8QdEmGPTOoiUHC was created and tested. The organisms were exposed to different substances; this was the 4QeUq9fN5TNHpe8PhsrBlEwX4M909VPccmdWyLyW5EZmtP1ia9P2kAqnORY=. The organisms’ responses to the substances were recorded; this was the f/zkVMKyYU2mKxdQ3Uc9wZNNDfYdcyc4SEaihGho1B1OEL8lJ1TZwuWwkJ4=.

In the second experiment, 1sRAnmeBoPJdWqpwnpC8Ow== different combinations of temperature and light-level were tested to see which was the optimal environment for this organism. Temperature choices ranged from 10oC to wo2SN6tNoiswab+O/ZQckg==oC, and the tested light levels were low, medium, and high. The /XaUbd4KKVsdud8WR5uFHUmzCbgJhV+3quutApeFOCI= data collected at each temperature/light combination seemed to indicate that the optimal environment seemed to be 4Z1LcbinasdIAIXCjTv0UvxBpMg= light and pb5l1ev0UQHx5BxGekWuwgwhYuA=oC. Because of this, it was theorized that the organism’s native environment was a mMjVj4xunR35+iZPpPE4p1mGXF5kDHvPeozHfb7u+Uxpo7eXugTa/O5HJ8ws3bp4akPlNNlyNs0= habitat.

In the final experiment, gIe16U15WjsSAaQV different diets were tested over a period of ymPJZA1t8Tibcvk5 weeks. 99zjpISjzkz+gtYPdlilrChsaCzNthNKAaCPIQ== data averaged from pacBQlCSTqCDJ0Ox different individuals for each diet indicated that the kP7tEOneL45ELpEOgXs+oYNwge2FNDyslp1zRvvwcz4DyXm/57OVwQkH4Ftijj6ryKcchzsTEY0= diet was best for this species. The data for this diet is shown in the graph below.

The data also indicated that EuhdS7XUG80fLAjueze8lXDThq5dh3L85PR8Zq1GilEWzYKvMRm9tAmJckS6Q/0mF0PVdEzN8VlNlDuxhUmqNQ== was the worst diet for this species from those tested.

Correct.
Incorrect.

Results

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