1.5
BIOLOGICAL METHOD
A biological method is a scientific approach used to resolve a biological problem related to or produced by a living organism. In order to resolve a specific biological problem a biological method is adopted, which consists of following steps.
(i) Observation (ii) Hypothesis (iii) Deduction
(iv) Experiment (v) Result (vi) Law or theory
1. Observation:
Most of the biological investigations start with an observation. After selecting, specific biological problem, observations are made to collect relevant information. For example; take the case of malaria. Malaria is a the greatest killer disease of man for centuries. Malaria was the one among many other diseases for which a cure was needed.
In 1878, a French physician, Laveran, studied the blood sample of malaria patient under microscope and observed tiny creatures in it. These creatures were later named Plasmodium.
2. Hypothesis:
In the light of observed facts and previously collected information (data) biologists make 'intelligent guesses' as to what may be the possible answer to this particular question. This intelligent guess in a form of a statement is called hypothesis. So, the hypothesis is a statement made by scientists about a certain phenomenon, on the basis of available information. For example, an observation was made that Plasmodium is present in the blood of malaria patients. So a question was raised, is Plasmodium the cause of malaria? It would be a good guess to say 'yes' but it is only a guess which can be presented as a hypothesis that:
"Plasmodium is the cause of malaria”.
3. Deduction:
To test the hypothesis certain deductions that are logical prediction are made. In other words deduction is the logical explanation of a hypothesis. It does not require any type of experimentation. For example, to test the above hypothesis the following deductions were made.
"If Plasmodium is the cause of malaria, then all the patient suffering from malaria should have malarial parasite in their blood while healthy people should not have".
A number of deductions can be made to explain the hypothesis. These deductions can be tested and verified by experiments.
4. Experiment:
The next step is to test each deduction (prediction) practically to find out whether or not the hypothesis is correct. In testing the deduction we are actually testing a hypothesis. This is where the scientist shows his skill as an experimenter. For this purpose, scientist performs two types of test i.e. control and experimental groups. Control group means a group of healthy people and experimental group means group of malaria patients. Both groups were kept in identical conditions. In order to find out the real cause of malarial, scientists examined the blood of about 100 malaria patients and also examined the blood of 100 healthy persons.
5. Result:
From above experiment it was found that all the malarial patients had Plasmodium in their blood, where as the blood of healthy persons were free from Plasmodium. These results verified the deduction and finally the hypothesis i.e. "Plasmodium is the cause of malaria".
6. Theory:
It is not always possible to confirm a hypothesis immediately. The validity of a hypothesis rests on a gradual accumulation of indirect evidences. As more and more evidence come to hand, the hypothesis gain increasing acceptance and eventually is promoted to the rank of a theory: A theory is a set of scientific assumptions consistent with one another and supported by evidence, but not fully proved e.g. theory of evolution
Thus a biologist studies a problem in a sequential manner through observations, questions, hypothesis, deduction, testing or experimentation. A set of data taken from experiment, proves or disproves the hypothesis. A cautious attitude expressed in the form of criticism and further tests are performed until a satisfactory answer is obtained.
The results of observations and experiments are published in scientific journals or presented in conferences, where they can be examined by all. These results must be repeatable that is they should be obtained by any one doing the same procedure.
A biological method is a scientific approach used to resolve a biological problem related to or produced by a living organism. In order to resolve a specific biological problem a biological method is adopted, which consists of following steps.
(i) Observation (ii) Hypothesis (iii) Deduction
(iv) Experiment (v) Result (vi) Law or theory
1. Observation:
Most of the biological investigations start with an observation. After selecting, specific biological problem, observations are made to collect relevant information. For example; take the case of malaria. Malaria is a the greatest killer disease of man for centuries. Malaria was the one among many other diseases for which a cure was needed.
In 1878, a French physician, Laveran, studied the blood sample of malaria patient under microscope and observed tiny creatures in it. These creatures were later named Plasmodium.
2. Hypothesis:
In the light of observed facts and previously collected information (data) biologists make 'intelligent guesses' as to what may be the possible answer to this particular question. This intelligent guess in a form of a statement is called hypothesis. So, the hypothesis is a statement made by scientists about a certain phenomenon, on the basis of available information. For example, an observation was made that Plasmodium is present in the blood of malaria patients. So a question was raised, is Plasmodium the cause of malaria? It would be a good guess to say 'yes' but it is only a guess which can be presented as a hypothesis that:
"Plasmodium is the cause of malaria”.
3. Deduction:
To test the hypothesis certain deductions that are logical prediction are made. In other words deduction is the logical explanation of a hypothesis. It does not require any type of experimentation. For example, to test the above hypothesis the following deductions were made.
"If Plasmodium is the cause of malaria, then all the patient suffering from malaria should have malarial parasite in their blood while healthy people should not have".
A number of deductions can be made to explain the hypothesis. These deductions can be tested and verified by experiments.
4. Experiment:
The next step is to test each deduction (prediction) practically to find out whether or not the hypothesis is correct. In testing the deduction we are actually testing a hypothesis. This is where the scientist shows his skill as an experimenter. For this purpose, scientist performs two types of test i.e. control and experimental groups. Control group means a group of healthy people and experimental group means group of malaria patients. Both groups were kept in identical conditions. In order to find out the real cause of malarial, scientists examined the blood of about 100 malaria patients and also examined the blood of 100 healthy persons.
5. Result:
From above experiment it was found that all the malarial patients had Plasmodium in their blood, where as the blood of healthy persons were free from Plasmodium. These results verified the deduction and finally the hypothesis i.e. "Plasmodium is the cause of malaria".
6. Theory:
It is not always possible to confirm a hypothesis immediately. The validity of a hypothesis rests on a gradual accumulation of indirect evidences. As more and more evidence come to hand, the hypothesis gain increasing acceptance and eventually is promoted to the rank of a theory: A theory is a set of scientific assumptions consistent with one another and supported by evidence, but not fully proved e.g. theory of evolution
Thus a biologist studies a problem in a sequential manner through observations, questions, hypothesis, deduction, testing or experimentation. A set of data taken from experiment, proves or disproves the hypothesis. A cautious attitude expressed in the form of criticism and further tests are performed until a satisfactory answer is obtained.
The results of observations and experiments are published in scientific journals or presented in conferences, where they can be examined by all. These results must be repeatable that is they should be obtained by any one doing the same procedure.
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