Chapter 2, Problem 13STP

Summary Introduction

To evaluate:

How scientific knowledge changes and grows and also the reason for its continuous growth.

Introduction : From studying natural history to development of ecology as a branch of biology, scientists use methods of inquiry to gain scientific knowledge.

Answer to Problem 13STP

With new discoveries made each day, the scientific knowledge changes rapidly. With new information and new knowledge, scientists make new observations and interpretations thus widening their scientific knowledge. This will continue to grow for as long as humans are curious and anxious to know answers to a lot of questions. There are still many queries in the minds of people and so scientific knowledge will continue to grow.

Explanation of Solution

Tremendous diversity of species results in vast data of knowledge. Scientific research helps in knowing many aspects of an organism and its environment. The field of ecology and other branches of biology is very vast. Humans have not been able to find all the answers to the questions that come to their mind. Study of science is an ongoing process. There are still new discoveries being made each day. As new things are discovered, new information becomes available. Scientists further undertake experiments and make interpretations regarding new discoveries. This help in growth of scientific knowledge.

Since it is human nature to be curious and anxious to know about many organisms, their behavior and how they interact in the biosphere, scientific knowledge will continue to grow. It is impossible to gather all the information at one go.