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In Biology / High School | 2014-09-02

Analyze how scientific thought changes as new information is collected.

Asked by TT22

Answer (2)

Science is more of a process than a set body of knowledge. Scientists are always testing and revising their ideas, and as new observations are made, existing ideas may be challenged. In the field of science, ideas may be replaced with new ideas or revised to better fit the facts.
For example, when scientists discovered how genes control genetic traits, they didn't discard Mendel's laws of inheritance. Instead, the new discoveries helped to explain why Mendel's laws applied to certain traits but not others, showing that Mendel's laws are part of a bigger picture.
Through many new discoveries over time, scientists gradually build an increasingly accurate and detailed understanding of the natural world. Occasionally, scientific ideas change radically, leading to paradigm shifts. Overall, science is an iterative process where previous research lays the foundation for new research and the current understanding of any issue in the sciences is the culmination of all previous work.

Answered by BritMarling | 2024-06-24

Scientific thought changes as new evidence is collected through a process of hypothesis testing and revision. Historical examples, such as the shift from the geocentric to the heliocentric model, illustrate how new discoveries can radically alter scientific understanding. The dynamic nature of science supports continuous improvement and adaptation as new information becomes available.
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Answered by BritMarling | 2024-12-26