CHAPTER 2 SOLVING A BIOLOGICAL PROBLEM 1ST LECTURE

 Question 1

Define a biological method ? Explain its various steps involving this method.

Answer BIOLOGICAL METHOD

Definition

     The biological method refers to bioremediation, in which biological processes (microorganisms) are used to degrade and metabolize chemical substances and restore environment quality. ... The microorganisms assimilate organic molecules into their cell biomass and release carbon dioxide, water, and heat as byproducts.

IMPORTANCE

• Biological method has contributed to the advancements in medicine , ecology, technology etc
• biological method also ensure the quality of data for public use.

DIFFERENT STEPS OF SOLVING A  BIOLOGICAL PROBLEM

In order to resolve a specific biological problem , biologist takes following steps;

1. Recognition of biological problem
2. Observations
3. Hypothesis
4. Deduction
5. Experimentation
6. Summarization of results 
7. Reporting the results

RECOGNITION OF BIOLOGICAL PROBLEM

First step of biological method is identification of biological problem. A biological problem is a question about living organisms which is asked by someone or comes in biologist's mind.

OBSERVATIONS

Observations are made with five senses of vision , hearing, smell, taste and touch.

TYPES OF OBSERVATIONS

Observations may be qualitative and quantitative

COMPARISON OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE

Qualitative observations are considered more accurate than qualitative observations because the former are invariable and measurable and can be recorded in term of numbers

EXPLANATION

FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS

The tentative explanation of observation is called hypothesis

Characteristics & Qualities of a Good Hypothesis

• Power of Prediction. One of the valuable attribute of a good hypothesis is to predict for future. ...
• Closest to observable things. A hypothesis must have close contact with observable things. ...
• Simplicity. ...
• Clarity. ...
• Testability. ...
• Relevant to Problem. ...
• Specific. ...
• Relevant to available Techniques.

DEDUCTION

• It is a logical conclusion drawn from hypothesis
• The deduction are tested through experiments
• Testing one deduction and finding it correct does not mean the hypothesis is correct but the validity of hypothesis is more supported if many deductions confirm the hypothesis.

EXPERIMENTATION

Experiments are designed to test the deduction . Biologists perform experiments to see hypothesis are true or not. For this purpose , experimental and control groups are formed.

An experimental group is the group that receives the variable being tested in an experiment. The control group is the group in an experiment that does not receive the variable you are testing.

SUMMARIZATION OF RESULTS

The biologists gathers actual and quantitative data from the experiments . To draw conclusions, the biologists also uses statistical analysis

REPORTING THE RESULTS

Publishing of results in scientific method. It allows other people to verify the results or apply the knowledge to solve other problems