Theory, Law, Hypothesis
Written as a testable explanation in an "If... then..." format, this is a precursor to an experiment that has not yet been proven
What is a hypothesis?
This is the smallest, most basic unit of structural organization that can carry out all of life's processes and is considered living
What is a cell?
This is the very first step a student should take to begin a strong scientific investigation after noticing an interesting natural pattern
What is an Observation
This type of footwear is strictly required on all lab days to protect against spills and broken glass.
What is close-toed shoes (preferably ones that cover the whole foot)?
This is what science fundamentally relies on to construct testable explanations and predictions, unlike personal opinions or history
This scientific concept describes relationships under certain conditions in nature—explaining what happens—such as Newton's ___ of motion or Mendelian Genetics
What is a scientific law?
North American birds migrating south in the winter where food is more plentiful is an example of this key characteristic of life
What is responding to environmental stimuli
In an experiment, this is the factor that the scientist deliberately changes or manipulates (for example, testing different types of fertilizer)
What is an Independent variable
According to the Process Safety Triangle, this is our absolute last line of defense to protect ourselves from hazards
To allow other researchers around the globe to easily replicate and verify an experiment, scientists must use this system of measurement when sharing results
What is the metric system or a universal measuring system?
This is a broad, highly-tested explanation of how a natural phenomenon works that unifies many observations and hypotheses, such as evolution
What is a scientific theory?
This term describes how an organism regulates its internal conditions to maintain a stable balance necessary for life, such as a lizard basking in the sun or moving to the shade
What is homeostasis?
This is the measured outcome or response that the scientist observes to collect data (for example, the change in plant height over two weeks)
What is a Dependent Variable
Replacing fragile glass beakers with durable plastic beakers is an example of this highly effective safety control level
What is Elimination or Substitution?
This term describes a discipline like astrology or crystal healing that mimics science but does not welcome critical questioning or peer review
What is pseudoscience?
If a long-standing, well-tested scientific theory cannot explain a newly observed event, this is what must happen to the theory
What is being revised or updated to include the new evidence?
An individual organism does not need to be observed doing this during a study to be classified as living, though the species must do it over time to survive
What is reproducing / passing down genetic information?
To turn an experiment into this kind of fair test, a scientist must keep factors like light, water, and soil constant, changing only the independent variable
What is a controlled experiment?
Access to the safety data sheet and protocols put in place on how to handle materials are examples of this safety control level
What are Administrative Controls?
This is a question science cannot answer (name 2 types)
- Proving a negative (soap does not impact bacteria growth?)
- Moral Questions (What is the meaning of life?)
- Ethical questions (Is it ethical to use antibiotics in farm animals?)
- Aesthetic/opinion questions (What is Beauty?)
Of the following statements, this one is classified as a scientific law: "All living things are composed of cells" or "Matter cannot be created nor destroyed"
What is "Matter cannot be created nor destroyed"
Arrange these structural levels of organization in a multicellular organism from simplest to most complex: Organs, Tissues, Cells, Organisms, Organ Systems
What are Cells --> Tissues --> Organs --> Organ Systems --> Organisms?
When a scientist wants to publish their work, it goes through this process to evaluate its validity.
What is a peer review?
Fume hoods or biological safety cabinets that physically isolate students from chemical fumes or biological materials represent this level of safety control
What are engineering controls?
Researchers proved that coffee consumption did not lead to a higher risk of lung cancer when accounting for the people who smoked. What did this prove? (___ =/= ____)
What is Correlation does not equal causation