1. GENERAL BIOLOGY AND
FUNDAMENTALS OF
ECOLOGY
Lecture Review for NORSU LET Takers,
Sept 1, 2012
Reviewer: Ana Carla Trinidad-Villarmente

2. I. INTRODUCTION
 A. Opening Prayer
 B. Levelling of Expectations
 C. Objectives of the Review

3. COURSE OUTLINE
 I. Nature and Scope of Science
 II. Life Sciences

4. I. NATURE AND SCOPE OF SCIENCE
 What is SCIENCE?
 Latin, “scientia”- to
know
 Scientia et veritas =
Knowledge and truth
 A body of dynamic,
growing knowledge
about the principles
that govern natural
phenomenon

5. DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF SCIENCE
 1. Natural sciences – study of the natural world
 2. Social Sciences – systematic study of human
behaviour and society
 3. Applied Sciences – scientific knowledge put
into practical use

6. NATURAL SCIENCE
 1. Physical Sciences –
focus on the nature
and behaviour of
matter and energy

7.  2. Earth Sciences
http://www.slideshare.net/jessica_villarmente/
mgb-guihulngan-report

8. 3. LIFE SCIENCES
(Biology) – study of
the development,
distribution,
evolution, function,
origin and structure of
living things

9. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
 Scientist search for
answers to problems
using the scientific
method
 To explain
phenomena, to search
for truth, to formulate Thomas Edison experimented with
more than 1,000 materials before
new concepts and successfully making the electric
light bulb work!
theories and to solve
some problems

10. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
STEP1 :IDENTIFYING AND CLEARLY
DEFINING THE PROBLEM:
 The scientific problem to
be solved, best
expressed as an “open-
ended” question, not
just a mere yes or no.
 Example: Which corn
variety gives the highest
yield? (Bisaya tiniguib,
IPB Var-6, Improved
Tiniguib)
 Example: What is the
effect of adding organic
fertilizer on rice yield?

11.  Example: Which
corn variety gives the
highest yield?
(Bisaya tiniguib,
IPB Var-6, Improved
Tiniguib)

12. 2. GATHERING OF PRELIMINARY DATA
OR PERTINENT PRELIMINARY
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM

13. 3. FORMULATING A HYPOTHESIS
ON HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
 Should be measurable
 Should answer the
original question

14. 4. DESIGNING AN EXPERIMENT TO
TEST THE HYPOTHESIS ON HOW TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM
The experimental
design is used to test
the hypothesis
Which corn variety gives the highest yield?
(Bisaya tiniguib, IPB Var-6, Improved
Tiniguib)
Hypothesis: (Variety)
IPB Var-6 will give
the highest yield in
comparison to Bisaya
Tiniguib, IPB Var-6
and improved tiniguib
in field trials.

15. 5. ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING
THE EXPERIMENTAL DATA
 Which corn variety gives the highest yield?
(Bisaya tiniguib, IPB Var-6, Improved Tiniguib)
Corn Variety Yield, per plot Yield, per
(in kilos) hectare (in
tons)
Bisaya Tiniguib 0.5 0.5
IPB Var 6 2.1 2.1
Improved 1.8 1.8
Tiniguib

16. 6. DRAWING OF GENERALIZATION
OR CONCLUSION
 Which corn variety gives the highest yield? (Bisaya tiniguib,
IPB Var-6, Improved Tiniguib)
 All conditions being equal (same location,
same sunlight availability, same water,
same fertilizer:
IPB Var 6 gives the highest yield
for corn.

17. 7. VERIFYING CONCLUSION BY
APPLYING IT TO SIMILAR
SITUATIONS
 Using the same scientific design, the experiment
can now be conducted in another location or
locality, or another season for verification.

18. SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDES
1. Objectivity
2. Critical –mindedness
3. Suspended judgment
4. Open-mindedness
5. Curiousity
6. Patience
7. Perseverance
8. Accepting authority
9. Truthfulness
10. Humility

19. “If science is an unfinished
project, the next stage will be
about reconnecting and
integrating the rigor of
scientific method with the
richness of direct experience to
produce a science that will
serve to connect us to one
another, ourselves and the
world...”
Betty Sue Flowers