Module 1 Flashcards
(23 cards)
Steps of the scientific method (6)
- observation
- question
- hypothesis
- experiment
- results
- conclusions
How are steps of the scientific method applied to empirical questions
data gathered through observation and experimentation
How should experiments be designed
limit bias
multiple, alternate, interpretations of the results
Making a good experiment
- limit variables: makes results easier to interpret
- limit bias: blind
- reproducibility: make sure it wasn’t a fluke, or due to some unconsidered variable
Variable
- any factor that can be controlled, changed, or measured in an experiment
- good experiments limit the number of variables
- scientists try to change just one variable per experiment
Experimental group
group getting treatment being tested
Control group
group not getting treatment being tested - serves as baseline, ensures validity of the experiment
* often receives placebo instead of experimental treatment
How are subjects assigned to experiment groups
- randomized , groups should be similar
How is placebo effect controlled by scientists
information withheld from participants (single-blind) or from both participants and experimenter (double-blind)
Hypothesis
- no expectation of the truth
- narrow in scope
- must be falsifiable, can be refuted by contradictory evidence
Theory
- well-sustained and never been shown to be false
- broad in scope
- already supported by a large body of evidence
- must be falsifiable; can be refuted by contradictory evidence
What provides building blocks for our cells and bodes
food
What are we made of (%)
- water (70%)
- organic compounds (24%)
- inorganic compounds (6%)
Organic compounds (what are they)
- large complex molecules that have carbon as their backbone - often with hydrogen and oxygen
- macromolecules
- living organisms are composed of 4 major types of organic macromolecules
What are the 4 organic compounds (macromolecules)
- proteins
- carbohydrates (sugars)
- lipids (fats)
- nucleic acids (DNA/RNA)
Carbohydrates (sugars)
- large polymers made up of sugar monomers
- structure of our cells
- components for making other molecules
- energy storage (glucose)
- communication between cells
- key structural component for plants
Lipids (fats)
- not a polymer
- store excess energy - triglycerides in body as fat
- some hormones also lipids (testosterone, estrogen)
- membranes of our cells
- hydrophobic
- make up membranes of cells (phospholipids)
- steroid hormones (testosterone and estrogen)
Proteins
- made up of amino acids
- perform most tasks in cells and bodies
- diverse
- each protein has a unique shape that dictates its function (what other molecules it can interact with)
- sequence of amino acids determines shape/function of protein
- cells use about 20 amino acids
Nucleic acids
- made up of nucleotides
- DNA and RNA
- hold all genetic information
- DNA uses 4 different nucleotides
- order of nucleotides in DNA determines traits of organism
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins: small organic molecules
Minerals: inorganic molecules (salt, calcium)
* usually in small amount in body but vital for life functions
What is in our food
Macronutrients: proteins, carbs, lipids
Micronutrients: vitamins & minerals
What do the food and drink we consume provide us with
- water
- carbs
- lipids
- proteins
- vitamins
- minerals
Metabolism
sum total of chemical reactions that take place in the body
