BIO 111A Unti 1 Test Prep

What is science?

A way of knowing/an approach to understanding the natural world using an evidence-based process of inquiry.

What are the four characteristics of a good hypothesis?

It is testable, repeatable, falsifiable, and contains an if-then statement.

What is a hypothesis?

An educated guess as to what may happen.

What is a variable?

Something that can be changed, controlled, or measured.

What is an independent variable?

The part of an experiment that is changed or controlled by the researcher.

What is a dependent variable?

The part of an experiment that is affected by the change; it is the thing that is measured.

What is correlation?

The relationship between variables.

What is causation?

When a change in one variable leads to a change in another variable.

What is a control group?

A baseline for comparison in an experiment.

What is a theory?

A testable explanation based on a huge amount of evidence and data that has been peer reviewed and verified.

What is speculation?

A hunch, guess, or personal point-of-view.

What is the difference between observational and experimental studies?

Observational: Observes/measures what is happening without inserting influence; it can determine correlation but not causation.

Experimental: Uses an experiment with a control group and treatment; it can determine causation.

How can you tell the independent and dependent variables apart?

The independent variable is what is changed, while the dependent variable is what is measured/affected by the change.

What are the fundamental characteristics of life?

• Composed of at least 1 cell

• Contains DNA

• Organized in a hierarchy

• Requires materials and energy

• Reproduction

• Responds to the environment

• Maintains an internal environment

• Has the capacity to adapt and evolve

An organism is made of cells, contains DNA, uses energy, reproduces, responds to its environment, maintains its internal environment, and can adapt/evolve. What do these characteristics demonstrate?

The characteristics of life

What is one fundamental characteristic of living things regarding cells?

Living things are composed of at least one cell.

A structure contains DNA and can transmit information, but it is not composed of a cell. Which characteristic of life does it fail to meet?

Being composed of at least one cell.

What genetic material is listed as a fundamental characteristic of life?

DNA

How is life organized according to your professor?

Life is organized in a hierarchical way.

If you are shown an image containing different biological levels and asked to put them in order, what characteristic of life are you being tested on?

Hierarchical organization.

What does life require?

Materials and energy

An organism obtains materials from its surroundings and uses energy to carry out its functions. Which characteristic of life is demonstrated?

Life requires materials and energy.

What does reproduction involve according to your professor's slides?

Life can reproduce with cells and genetic material.

Why is genetic material important during reproduction?

It allows genetic information to be passed on during reproduction.

What does it mean that life responds to the environment?

Living things respond to their environment.

You touch a hot pan and immediately pull your hand away. Which characteristic of life does this demonstrate?

Responding to the environment.

What is homeostasis?

Maintaining an internal environment.

A person's body temperature rises, so their body produces sweat to help return their temperature toward its normal range. What is being demonstrated?

Homeostasis

What is the difference between responding to the environment and maintaining an internal environment?

Responding to the environment means reacting to an environmental change, while maintaining an internal environment means keeping internal conditions stable.

What is an effector?

The thing that carries out the action.

What are examples of effectors listed by your professor?

Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, and glands.

If a structure is responsible for carrying out the action in a response, what is that structure called?

An effector.

What are the two types of glands?

Endocrine and exocrine

What do endocrine glands make?

Hormones

What do exocrine glands make?

Substances for immediate use

A gland produces hormones. Which type of gland is it?

Endocrine

A gland produces substances for immediate use. Which type of gland is it?

Exocrine

What characteristic of life involves adaptation and evolution?

Life has the capacity to adapt and evolve.

What can a virus do with information?

A virus can store and transmit information.

What can a virus NOT do without a host organism?

It cannot carry out metabolism or reproduce without a host organism.

A virus enters a host cell and uses the host organism to reproduce. Why is this important when considering whether viruses are living?

A virus cannot reproduce without a host organism.

A structure can store and transmit information but cannot carry out metabolism or reproduce without a host organism. What does this description match?

A virus

What are the three domains of life?

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

If a question asks you to identify which of the following is a domain of life, which type of information should you be looking for?

Bacteria, Archaea, or Eukarya.

An organism is classified in the domain Eukarya. Which domain is it part of?

Eukarya.

What does an atom's atomic number tell you?

The number of Protons