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Scientific Hypothesis, Theories and Laws

The principles and theories of science have been established through repeated experimentation and observation and have been refereed through peer review before general acceptance by the scientific community. Acceptance does not imply rigidity or constraint, or denote dogma. Instead, as new data become available, previous scientific explanations are revised and improved, or rejected and replaced. Science is a way of making sense of the world, with internally-consistent methods and principles that are well described. There is a progression from a hypothesis to a theory using testable, scientific laws. Only a few scientific facts are natural laws and many hypotheses are tested to generate a theory. Find out how scientific hypotheses, theories and laws describe the natural world.

What is a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is an idea or proposition that can be tested by observations or experiments, about the natural world. In order to be considered scientific, hypotheses are subject to scientific evaluation and must be falsifiable, which means that they are worded in such a way that they can be proven to be incorrect.

Example: When Gregor Mendel in 1865 studied the pattern of single trait inheritance of garden peas he formed a hypothesis on the manner of how these traits were inherited. The hypothesis he formed based on his observations included the following:

  4. When the gametes are formed, the factors separate and are distributed as units to each gamete. (This statement is also known as Mendel's rule of segregation.)
  5. If an organism has two unlike factors for a characteristic, one may be expressed to the total exclusion of the other.

What is a scientific theory?

To scientists, a theory is a coherent explanation for a large number of facts and observations about the natural world.

A theory is:

  • Internally consistent and compatible with the evidence
  • Firmly grounded in and based upon evidence
  • Tested against a wide range of phenomena
  • Demonstrably effective in problem-solving

In popular use, a theory is often assumed to imply mere speculation, but in science, something is not called a theory until it has been confirmed over many independent experiments. Theories are more certain than hypotheses, but less certain than laws. The procedures and processes for testing a theory are well-defined within each scientific discipline.

Example: Between 1856 and 1863 Mendel cultivated and tested some 28,000 pea plants which brought forth two theories of how character traits are inherited. Ironically, when Mendel's paper was published on 1866, it had little impact. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the enormity of his ideas was realized.

What is a scientific law?

A scientific law is a description of a natural phenomenon or principle that invariably holds true under specific conditions and will occur under certain circumstances.

Example: In the early 20th century, after repeated tests and rejection of all competing theories Mendel's Laws of Heredity were accepted by the general scientific community.

  1. The law of segregation, which states that the alleles governing a trait are separated during the creation of gametes (meiosis).
  2. The law of independent assortment, which states that the genes controlling different traits are distributed separately from each other during meiosis.

Lots of historical and scientific information about Gregor Mendel and his work can be found at the Mendel Museum.

Example 2: In the late 17th Century, Nicholas Steno established some natural laws relating to geology.

  1. The law of original horizontality - this states that when sediments are deposited in water, they will sink through it and deposit as horizontal layers as the result of gravity (unless acted on by other forces).
  2. The law of stratigraphic succession - this states that in a given sequence of sediments, the oldest will be at the bottom and the youngest at the top. It does not provide ages for those sediments, simply the sequence of their deposition.

For more on Nicholas Steno, try this book - a most interesting read:

Reference Books  Reference Books

Cutler, Alan (2003). The seashell on the mountain top. Heinemann, London, p. 228

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