Solving a Biological Problem:

In solving a biological problem, a biologist takes the following steps:

1. Recognition of the biological problem
2. Observations
3. Hypothesis formulations
4. Deductions
5. Experimentation
6. Summarization of results (creates tables, graphics, etc)
7. Reporting the results

 

• Recognition of a biological Problem:

Biologists go for adopting the biological methods when they encounter some biological problem. A biological problem is a query that is either asked by someone or comes into a biologist’s mind by himself.

• Observations:

As the first step in solving a biological problem, the biologists recall/her

previous observations or make new ones. Observations are made with the 5 senses vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

       Types of Observations:

Observations may be both qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative observations are considered more accurate than qualitative ones because the former are invariable and measurable and can be recorded in terms of numbers. Examples of qualitative and quantitative observations are given below:

Qualitative Observations	Quantitative Observations
1. The freezing point of water is colder than the boiling point.	1. The freezing point of water is 0oC and the boiling point is 100oC.
2.  A liter of water is heavier than a liter of Ethanol.	2. A liter of water weighs 1000 grams and a liter of Ethanol weighs 789 grams.

Note:

Observations also include reading and studying what others have done in the past because scientific knowledge is ever-growing.

• Construction and Formulation of Hypothesis:

The tentative explanation of observations is called a hypothesis. It may be defined as a proposition that might be true.

Characteristics of Hypothesis:

A Hypothesis should have the following characteristics:

1. It should be a general statement.
2. It should be a tentative idea.
3. It should agree with available observations.
4. It should be kept as simple as possible.
5. It should be testable and potentially falsifiable. In other words, there should be a way to show the hypothesis is false; a way to disapprove of the hypothesis.

Conditions for Hypothesis:

A great deal of creative and careful thinking is necessary for the construction of a hypothesis. Biologists use reasoning to formulate a hypothesis.

Types of Reasoning: 

The reasoning may be of two types.

• Inductive Reasoning:

In inductive reasoning, specific observations are used to draw general hypotheses. For Example; I observed cells in x, y, and z organisms therefore all organisms have cells.

• Deductive reasoning:

Deductive reasoning flows from general to specific. From general observations, a biologist conducts specific hypotheses. For Example; If all organisms have cells and humans are organisms, then humans should have cells.

4. Deductions:

The biologists draw deductions from hypotheses. Deductions are the logical consequences of Hypotheses. Deductions are also drawn through inductive and deductive reasoning. Generally, in a biological method, if the particular hypothesis is true then one should expect a certain result. This involves the use of “if-then” logic.

5. Experimentation:

In most basic steps of biological methods, biologists perform experiments to see if the hypothesis is true. An experiment involves an alternative hypothesis. A successful experiment is that which demonstrates one or more alternative hypotheses as incorrect (inconsistent with experimental and observational results). The incorrect hypothesis is rejected and those which prove consistent with experimental results are accepted. An expected hypothesis needs to be valid and useful. It makes further predictions that provide an important way to further test its validity.

6. Summarization of results:

The biologists gather actual, quantitative data from experiments. Data for each group is then averaged and compared statistically. To conclude the biologists also use statistical analysis.

7. Reporting the results:

Biologists publish their writings in scientific journals and books, in talks in international seminars and meetings, and in seminars at colleges and universities. Publishing of results is an essential part of scientific methods. It allows other people to verify the results or apply the knowledge to solve other problems.