Science Basics

What is the methodical approach that makes it science?

Observation - measure in the metric system
Question - be curious!
Hypothesis - convert question to a falsifiable educated guess to be tested
Prediction - if hypothesis is true then certain event should take place
if hypothesis is false then that event should not take place
[then the dependent variable will respond]
when I manipulate some factor [the independent variable]
Experiment - a manipulated condition (treatment) is observed
next to unmanipulated condition (control)
with replication in each condition!
Analysis - mean, standard deviation, other statistical testing...
allow 5% for error due to chance alone
Decision - hypothesis is rejected or not (note: not ever proven)

Theory: a hypothesis never rejected in spite of thorough testing from every perspective

A quick review of the Metric System

	Metric	English (many base units omitted!)
length	meter	inch foot yard mile nautical mile furlong fathom
weight	gram	ounce pound ton long ton
volume	liter	t T C pt qt gal bbl (which one?)
time	sec	sec
temp	°C 0-100	°F 32-212
many others in plant physiology!

prefixes	multiplier	descriptor	sci notation
kilo-	1000	one thousand	10³
centi-	¹/₁₀₀	one hundredth	10^-2
milli-	¹/_1,000	one thousandth	10^-3
micro-	¹/_1,000,000	one millionth	10^-6
nano-	¹/_{1,000,000,000}	one billionth	10^-9
some others in plant physiology!

Plant Physiology is a subdiscipline of Biology

Biology - the study of life

What is Life?

cell structure - one or many!
homeostasis - metabolism - e.g. photosynthesis and respiration
growth - cell - body - irreversible change in size
movement - intracellular - organs - locomotion?
reproduction - response to death to avoid extinction
responsiveness - acclimation - behavior to stimuli
adaptation - evolution of species

Notice how these properties of life involve organismal functions.
Physiology is the study of function.
So what is a plant in biology?

Plant Physiology is a subdiscipline of Botany

Botany = Plant Biology = Plant Science

the study of plant life

Biological Classification

Kingdom Plantae (not Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Chromista, Rhodophyta, Fungi, or Animalia)

Division Anthophyta (historically less focus on: Chlorophyta, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Coniferophyta, etc.)

Class Dicotyledonae (less focus on Monocotyledonae)

Order

Family

Genus----------------------------> Latin

Species epithet--------------> Binomial

Variety (cultivar) Lactuca sativa 'Tango'

Plant Physiology is a subdiscipline of Science

Science: a methodical approach to the acquisition of knowledge