Nature of Science
Explain the difference between a theory, a hypothesis, and a law
Theory: Broad explanation of a large set of set a observations backed testing and empirical evidence
Hypothesis: a proposed explanation or prediction, generally lacks evidence/support but it is Testable and potentially falsifiable
Law: describes what creation/nature does under certain conditions; generalizations related to the way some aspect of the natural world behaves under certain conditions. Often expressed in a mathematical representation
What is the difference between energy flow and nutrient (chemicals) flow in an ecosystem?
Energy flow in an ecosystem is an open system. Energy flows up and out through the trophic levels.
Nutrients (chemicals) cycle through an ecosystem. They are in a closed system.
What are the three types of biodiversity?
Genetic, species, and ecosystem
What makes origin science different from other kinds of science?
It is different because the processes that make it work must be inferred instead of tested and checked.
What is the main driver of biological diversity?
Habitat heterogeneity
Calvin (for the Calvin Cycle of photosynthesis)
List the 6 aspects of science
Aspect #1: Science is characterized by its demand for empirical evidence for its conclusions.
Aspect #2: Science is characterized by its demand for logical reasoning.
Aspect #3: Science given tentative or contingent knowledge.
Aspect #4: Science has an epistemological framework which includes a set of presuppositions.
Aspect #5: Science as a Human activity has limits
Aspect #6: Science takes place within the values and norms of the culture and is subject to the biases of its practitioners.
What is NPP? How is it measured? What factors effect it?
Net primary production is the energy captured by plants as chemical energy after accounting for energy lost to respiration. It is measured in terms of biomass. Temperature and precipitation have a positive effect on NPP.
What value does biodiversity have?
Its provides goods, services, information, and psycho-spiritual benefits.
What are arguments that cannot be used against evolution?
Evolution is just a theory. It violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics.
What is the goal of science?
The creation of theory
What is the best kind of candy?
List the 6 shared properties of living things
Organisms are constructed of ... the same kinds of atoms/molecules, according to the same laws of energy.
Organisms consist of ... one or more cells
Organisms use ... energy and raw materials from the environment to survive & reproduce. Metabolism
Organisms sense and make controlled responses to the conditions in their external and internal environment to regulate Homeostasis
All organisms have the capacity to reproduce & pass genetic information to future generations from parents to offspring
Living organisms adapt to the environment
Explain how nitrogen in the air travels through different parts of the nitrogen cycle
N2 in the air is turned into NO3 or NH4 by atmospheric fixing (from lightning) or biological fixing (by bacteria). It is then absorbed by plants that use it to make proteins and DNA. The plant are consumed by primary consumers and the nitrogen is transferred to them. Nitrogen returns to the soil when producers and consumers die and decompose (by detritovores) or excrete waste.
What are the four commands that God gives to Adam in Genesis related to the Earth?
Subdue (tread down), have dominion (rule), Dress (serve), keep (keep guard for another).
Explain the evidence of embryology. What are its criticisms?
The basic idea is that embryos all look the same at different points in their development therefore they belong to a common ancestor. However, the embryos are only similar at the middle stages not not a the beginning or end. This is not consistent with evolution.
What are the elements of that make an ecosystem?
The biota (plants, animals, microbes)
The abiotic factors (soil, water, temperature, minerals, air, sunlight)
What is Dr. Jones natural hair color?
This is an example of what:
Sadie Science is looking at the effect of Taylor Swift music on mental health. She notices a positive correlation between amount T Swift played in public and reports of mental health break downs.
This is an example of ex post facto research design
Give an example of a trophic cascade.
When wolves were introduced to Yellow Stone the killed back the elk population. This in turn caused the tree population to recover which allowed birds and small mammals that relied on the trees to grow in population. This in turn caused small predators that relied on the small mammals to grow in population.
Explain the difference between intrinsic and instrumental value. What kind does the environment have?
Intrinsic value is value in and of itself (because God created it).
Instrumental value is value from its usefulness to us (it helps make life better).
Creation has both. We need to treat it as such.
Explain the evidence of the fossil record. What are its critiques?
The fossil record should show intermediate links between organisms (like cows and whales).
However, there are no links and we see no gradual introduction of species, but instead all of the species occurring at once in the record.
Describe the Biblical metanarrative and how it relates to science
Creation, fall, redemption, restoration
As Christians we can use knowledge from science to help improve the world helping with the restoration of creation.
We must understand our world to steward it well (creation stewardship mandate)
Identify the control group, experimental group, treatment, independent variable, and dependent variable in this experiment: Harry Hypothesis wants to research the effect energy drinks have response time. He has 10 college student drink a cup of water each and then sit for 10 minutes. At a randomly selected point during the 10 minutes an alarm goes off and the students must react as fast as possible to hit a button to stop the alarm. The time from the alarm sounding to hitting the button is measured. He gives another 10 students each a cup of "Heart Problems In A Can Energy" and puts them through the same test.
Control Group - Water Drinkers
Experimental - Energy Drink Drinkers
Treatment - Energy Drink
Independent Variable - The Drink
Dependent Variable - The Response Time
How does the industrialized agriculture effect biogeochemical cycles and the environment?
Continual harvest on the same crop, depletes the soil of nitrogen. Fertilizers are added. Nitrogen fertilizer runoff causes eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. Pesticides used on plants can kill unintended animals. (law of unintended consequences)
What is IPAT? Explain how to use it.
Impact=Population x Affluence x Technology (or divided by tech).
It can be used to determine the environmental impact humanity will have on the world. The larger the population and the greater their standard of living the more negative impact. Technology can either increase the impact or it can reduce the impact.
Explain the evidence of morphology. What are its critiques?
It is the idea that organisms have similar structures for different functions. The thought is that they developed from the same embryological pathway. Inferring a common ancestor.
However, this must be inferred it cannot be tested.
What does HIPPCO stand for? What are some examples of each letter?
Habitat destruction (fragmentation), Invasive species, Pollution, Population (overpopulation of humans), Climate change, Overexploitation.
Roads diving wildland, brown snakes in Guam, agricultural runoff, the affluenza of Americans, glaciers melting, overfishing off cod in the Artic Atlantic.
Can the Principles of Biology tutor throw straight?
Yes, every time.