Biology Lab Notes Review

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminologies from the biology lab lecture notes on scientific thinking, cellular processes, lab safety, and DNA barcoding.

Mean

The average of a set of data.

Standard error of the mean (SEM)

Shows variation in a data set; smaller SEM indicates similar data, while larger SEM indicates different data.

Osmosis

The process of water passively moving through a membrane.

Tonicity

The relative comparison of concentration of solute molecules in solutions.

Hypotonic solution

A solution compared to a cell that has a lower solute concentration than the cell, causing the cell to swell or burst.

Isotonic solution

A solution with the same solute concentration as the inside of the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.

Hypertonic solution

A solution that has a higher solute concentration than the inside of the cell, causing the cell to shrivel.

Semi-permeable membrane

A membrane that allows certain molecules to pass through while blocking others.

Micropipettes

Instruments used to measure and dispense small volumes of liquid in microliters.

DNA barcoding

Techniques used to identify and classify living organisms based on unique regions of DNA.

Independent variable

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated or changed.

Dependent variable

The variable that is observed or measured during an experiment.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

A technique used to make multiple copies of a specific DNA segment.

Gel electrophoresis

A method used to separate DNA fragments based on their size.

Dilution equation

C₁V₁ = C₂V₂, used to calculate concentrations and volumes when diluting solutions.

Lab attire

Personal Protective Equipment required for lab safety, including lab coats, gloves, and eye protection.