Chapter 1

Studying Life

1.1 Lesson 1.1: The Nature of Science

Lesson Objectives

• Understand that science is a system based on evidence, testing, and reasoning.


• Describe what the life sciences are and some of the many life science specialties.


• Describe the scientific method and why it is important.


• Define the words ”fact,” ”theory,” and ”hypothesis.”


• Describe some of the tools of life science.


• Know that scientists are required to follow strict guidelines.

Check Your Understanding

• What do you expect to learn from this class?

Introduction

Before proceeding through this class, you need to realize a number of fundamental concepts
of science. You need to:

• Know that science is a way of knowing about the physical world, based on observable
  evidence, testing predictions, and reasoning


• Understand that, in science, theories and knowledge are constantly tested and ques-
  tioned.


• Know that, when new information conflicts with existing explanations, scientists mod-
  ify their explanations to be consistent with all evidence.