3.
The Metric System
Microscopes
America is basically the only country that uses inches, feet, and other types of measurement. If scientists from other countries were to ever desire to compare data or replicate an experiment, someone would need to convert their findings, which is a time consuming and unneeded process. That is one example of why scientist need a common system of measurement. Most scientists use the metric system which is a decimal system, where units are based on multiples of ten and physical standards. A new and improved version of the metric system is called the International System of Units, or SI for short.
Scientist collect data to see if things change or stay the same. The easiest way to spot a pattern is to put the data in a table. Today scientist are able to collect a lot of data, and as a result must use computers to properly and efficiently go through it.
Microscopes are a lot of help when studying the smaller parts of a living organism or bacteria. They are devices that make a magnified image of something too small for the human eye to see alone. There have been many different microscopes to come out, the light microscope is the most commonly used today. Light microscopes let light pass through whatever it wants magnified, and then uses two lenses to make an image. They let scientist study tiny live specimen and can make a clear image of a magnification of about 1000 times. Chemical stains help scientist see specific parts of the organism. Electron microscopes uses beams of electrons to make images and can magnify 1000 times more than light microscopes. There are two type of electron microscopes, the transmission electron microscope, which sends electrons through a thin specimen, and the scanning electron microscope, that makes realistic, 3D images. Electron Microscopes cannot be used to look at living organisms, because it can only be used for dried out specimen.
Scientist make cell cultures, a group of cells made from one original cell, to collect enough data. If they just want to study one part of a cell they use cell fractionation, a process of blending and spinning cells to separate parts of the cell from each other.
Scientist have to go through procedures and training in order to safely study the natural world. The most important thing when being inside a classroom and performing a lab is to follow the instructions exactly and do what your teacher tells you.
We need science to make life for ourselves better, and, through hypotheses and theories, understand our own world. Biology helps us understand our own bodies and the other living thing’s on this planet. Because of biology, we know that all living things share characteristics. We have made mistakes, and know we must have a common unit of measurement, but we have also made advances in technology that help us better study the world around us, like microscopes. Science is one of the most important things in this world.
In your classroom
Bio-Teen/December, 2013