Science of Biology and Scientific Method 25 



Biogeography (bi o je -og' ra fi) (Gr. bios, life; geo, earth; graphein, to write) — 

 The science of geographic distribution of organisms in space or throughout 

 a particular region. 



Paleontology (pa le on -tol' o ji) (Gr. palaios, ancient; onta, beings; logos, 

 study) — The scientific study of the distribution of organisms in time as 

 revealed by their records in the strata of the earth's surface. 



Pathology (pa-thol'oji) (Gr, pathos, suffering; logos, study) — The scientific 

 study of diseases and abnormal structures and functions, including causes, 

 symptoms, and effects. 



Economic Biology — A scientific study of organisms which results in the improve- 

 ment of desirable types or the destruction or hindrance of undesirable ones, 

 including the value of beneficial organisms and the losses due to detri- 

 mental ones. 



QUESTIONS AND TOPICS 



1. List all the reasons why a study of living organisms (plants and animals, in- 

 cluding man) might well be made. 



2. List the rules which you will follow in your method of studying biology. Make 

 the rules specific and meaningful and post them on the wall of your study 

 where you may refer to them until you follow them completely. Revise these 

 rules when you have discovered a better procedure to be followed. 



3. Define the so-called scientific method. Explain how it may be used in the 

 solution of many problems even in daily life. Make it a practice of using this 

 method whenever and wherever possible. 



4. List and describe completely each step to be followed in the scientific method, 

 including enough details to ensure that you know the purpose and correct use 

 of each step. 



5. Define biology, zoology, botany, 



6. Define and learn the correct derivation and pronunciation of each subdivision 

 of biology as listed in this chapter. Learn the correct pronunciation and 

 derivation of each new term as you encounter it in your study and include a 

 definition to be sure that you understand the meaning of the term. If this 

 is done carefully and conscientiously, some of your difficulties with scientific 

 terms as well as with other words will be materially reduced. 



SELECTED REFERENCES 



Avery: Survey of Biological Progress, Academic Press, Inc. 



Baitsell: Science in Progress, Yale University Press. 



Baker: The Scientific Life, The Macmillan Co. 



Bawden: Man's Physical Universe, The Macmillan Co, 



Cannon: The Way of an Investigator: A Scientist's Experiences in Medical 



Research, W. W, Norton & Co., Inc. 

 Cohen and Nagel: An Introduction to Logic and the Scientific Method, Har- 



court. Brace and Co., Inc. 

 Conant: On Understanding Science, Yale University Press. 

 Driesch: The Science and Philosophy of the Organism, A. & C. Black, Ltd. 

 Fisher: The Rhesus Factor: A Study in the Scientific Method, Am. Scientist 



35: 95-103, 1947. 



