BIOL 3327 Experimental Methods Lecture 5

These flashcards cover key concepts from the BIOL 3327 Experimental Methods lecture, including validation, model organism choice, data types, detection specificity, treatment application, system sensitivity, stability, and ethical considerations.

What is the main purpose of validating an experimental method?

To ensure that the method can indeed answer the research question and produce reliable results.

What should be considered when choosing a model organism for an experiment?

Shared evolutionary history, relevance to the question being investigated, and similarity to the subject.

What type of data is described as descriptive and not necessarily numerical?

Qualitative data.

How is quantitative data characterized?

It is numerical and often used to analyze variability and distribution in experiments.

What is the purpose of a positive control in an experiment?

To validate that the experimental system is capable of producing the expected outcome.

What factors may affect the sensitivity of a detection method?

Instrumentation, controls, environmental conditions, and age of samples.

What does it mean for a method to have specificity of detection?

It can identify a specific change and distinguish it from other changes or background noise.

What is a dose response in the context of experimental treatment?

The relationship between the amount of treatment administered and the resulting effect.

Why is it important to consider the stability of a system in experiments?

To ensure that the results remain consistent over time and under various conditions.

What are some ethical concerns researchers must consider in experiments?

Researcher safety, experimental subject safety, and community safety.