Scientific Method 2

 BIOLOGICAL METHOD

The scientific method in which biological problems are solved, is termed as biological method. It comprises the steps a biologist adopts in order to solve a biological problem.

Biological method has played an important part in scientific research for almost 500 years. From Galileo's experiment (in the 1590s) to current research, the biological method has contributed to the advancements in medicine, ecology, technology etc

Biological method also ensures the quality of data for public use.

BIOLOGICAL PROBLEM, HYPOTHESIS, DEDUCTIONS AND EXPERIMENTS

In solving a biological problem, biologist takes following steps:

•  Recognition of biological problem

•  Observations

•  Hypothesis formulation

•  Deductions

•  Experimentation

•  Summarization of results (create tables, graphics etc)

•  Reporting the results

The details of these steps are as under

1.  Recognition of the Biological Problem

Biologists go for adopting biological method when they encounter some biological problem. A biological problem is a question related to living organisms that is either asked by some one or comes in biologist's mind by himself.

2.  Observations

As the first step in solving a biological problem biologist recalls his/her previous observations or makes new ones. Observations are made with five senses of vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch Observations may be both qualitative and quantitative Quantitative observations are considered more accurate than qualitative ones because the former are invariable and measurable and can be recorded in terms of numbers .

3.  Formulation of Hypotheses

Observations do not become scientific observations until they are organized and related to a question. Biologist organizes his/her and others' observations into data form and constructs a statement that may prove to be the answer of the biological problem under study.This tentative explanation of observations is called a hypothesis .It may be defined as a proposition that might be true. A hypothesis should have the following characteristics

•  It should be a general statement.

It should be a tentative idea

•  It should agree with available observations

•  It should be kept as simple as possible.

•  It should be testable and potentially falsifiable. In other words, there should be a way to show the hypothesis is false; a way to disprove the hypothesis.

4.  Deductions

In the next step, biologist draws deductions from hypotheses. Deductions are the logical consequences of hypotheses. For this purpose, a hypothesis is taken as true and expected results (deductions) are drawn from it.

Generally in biological method, if a particular hypothesis is true then one should expect

(deduction) a certain result. This involves the use of "if-then" logic

5.  Experimentation

The most basic step of biological method is experimentation Biologist perform experiments to see if hypotheses are true or not. The deductions, which are drawn from hypotheses, are subjected to rigorous testing. Through experimentations, biologis learns which hypothesis is correct

The incorrect hypotheses are rejected and the one which proves correct is accepted. A accepted hypothesis makes further predictions that provide an important way to furthe test its validity.

What is "Control" in experiments?

In science when doing the experiment it must be a controlled experiment. The scientist must contrast an "experimental group" with a "control group" The two groups are treated exactly alike except for the one variable being tested. For axample, in an experiment to test the necessity of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, one can contrast the control group (a plant with freely available carbon dioxide) with an experimental group (a plant with no carbon dioxide available). The necessity of carbon dioxide will be proved when photosynthesis occurs in the control group and does not occur in the experimental group.

6.  Summarization of results

Biologist gathers actual, quantitative data from experiments. Data for each of the groups are then averaged and compared statistically. To draw conclusions, biologist also uses statistical analysis.

7.  Reporting the results

Biologists publish their findings in scientific journals and books, in talks at national and international meetings and in seminars at colleges and universities Publishing of results is an essential part of scientific method It allows other people to verify the results or apply the knowledge to solve other problem.

(THEORY?)

When a hypothesis is given a repeated exposure to experimentation and is not falsified. it increases biologists' confidence in hypothesis. Such well-supported hypothesis may be used as the basis for formulating further hypotheses which are again proved by experimental results. The hypotheses that stand the test of time (often tested and never rejected), are called theories Atheory is supported by a great deal of evidence.

Productive theory keeps on suggesting new hypotheses and so testing goes on. Many biologists take it as a challenge and exert greater efforts to disprove the theory.

(LAW?)

If the theory survives such doubtful approach and continues to be supported by experimental evidence, it becomes a law or principle A scientific law is a uniform or constant fact of nature. It is an irrefutable theory.

Examples of biological laws are Hardy-Weinberg law and Mendel's laws of inheritance

2.2 DATA ORGANIZATION AND DATA ANALYSIS

Data organization and data analysis are important steps in biological method Data can be defined as the information such as names, dates or values made from observations and experimentation.

Data organization

In order to formulate and then to test hypotheses, scientists collect and organize data .Prior to conducting an experiment it is very important for a scientist to describe data collection methods. It ensures the quality of experiment. Data is organized in different formats like graphics, tables, flow charts, maps and diagrams

Data analysis

Data analysis is necessary to prove or disprove a hypothesis by experimentation.It is done through the application of statistical methods i.e ratio and proportion.

RATIO:When a relation between two numbers e.g. a and 'b' is expressed in terms of quotient

(a/b), called the ratio of one number to the other. Ratio may be expressed by putting a division (÷) or colon (:) mark between the two numbers .For example the ratio between 50 malarial patients and 150 normal persons is 1:3. PROPORTION:

Proportion means to join two equal ratios by the sign of equality (=). For example, a:b= c:d is a proportion between the two ratios. This proportion may also be expressed as a:b::c:d. When three values in a proportion are known the fourth one (X) can be calculated.

For example, a biologist can calculate how many birds will get malaria when he allows infected mosquitoes to bite 100 healthy sparrows. In the previous experiment he noted that when he allowed mosquitoes to bite 20 sparrows, 14 out of them got malaria .

MATHEMATICS:

AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SCIENTIFIC PROCESS

Biological method also involves the use of applied mathematics to solve biological problems .Major biological problems in which knowledge of mathematics is user include gene finding, protein structure, and protein-protein interactions etc Bioinformatics refers to the computational and statistical techniques for the analysis of biological data.