BIO 112 Study Guide

Hypothesis

A testable and specific prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.

Theory

A broad, well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world based on a large body of evidence.

Prediction

A statement about what you expect to happen under specific conditions that allows for the testing of a hypothesis.

Independent Variable

The variable that is changed or manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The variable measured in an experiment, expected to change due to manipulation of the independent variable.

Controlled Variables

Factors that are kept constant in an experiment to ensure that any changes in the dependent variable are due to the independent variable.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that is not exposed to the independent variable and serves as a baseline for comparison.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that is exposed to the independent variable.

Metric Unit for Volume

Liter (L) is the standard metric unit for volume.

Metric Unit for Mass

Gram (g) is the standard metric unit for mass.

Metric Unit for Length

Meter (m) is the standard metric unit for length.

Celsius (°C)

The standard metric unit for temperature.

Prefix kilo- (k)

Indicates a unit is 1,000 times larger than the base unit.

Prefix centi- (c)

Indicates a unit is 1/100 of the base unit.

Prefix milli- (m)

Indicates a unit is 1/1,000 of the base unit.

Prefix micro- (µ)

Indicates a unit is 1/1,000,000 of the base unit.

Prefix nano- (n)

Indicates a unit is 1/1,000,000,000 of the base unit.

Scientific Notation

A way to express numbers as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10.

5 mL Pipette

The most appropriate tool for measuring small amounts of liquid, like 1 mL of water.

Weigh Boat

A container used to hold solid samples while being weighed to prevent contamination.

Tare Function

Allows the user to reset the balance to zero before weighing a sample, accounting for container weight.

Eyepiece (Ocular lens)

The lens used to view the specimen, typically magnifying 10x.

Objective Lenses

Lenses closest to the specimen, with different magnifications (4x, 10x, 40x, 100x).

Stage

The flat platform on which slides are placed for observation under the microscope.

Coarse Focus Knob

Used for making large adjustments to the focus, typically with low-power objectives.

Fine Focus Knob

Used for making small, precise adjustments to focus, generally with high-power objectives.

Parfocal

A feature of microscopes that allows for minor adjustments to focus when changing magnifications.

Depth of Focus

The thickness of the specimen that remains in focus at a particular magnification.

Working Distance

The distance between the objective lens and the specimen.

Field of View

The area visible through a microscope lens.

pH

A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution, indicating acidity or basicity.

Buffer

A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.

Reducing Sugars

Sugars that can donate electrons in reactions, detected using Benedict's test.

Benedict's Test

A test used to detect reducing sugars, indicating a color change from blue to green, yellow, or red.

Iodine Test

A test for starch, producing a blue-black color in the presence of starch.

Biuret Test

A test used to detect proteins, resulting in a color change to violet if proteins are present.

Active Transport

Movement of substances against their concentration gradient, requiring energy, usually in the form of ATP.

Passive Transport

Movement of substances along their concentration gradient, requiring no energy.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower concentration of solutes than inside the cell, causing the cell to swell.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a higher concentration of solutes than inside the cell, causing the cell to shrink.

Isotonic Solution

A solution where the concentration of solutes is equal to that inside the cell, maintaining cell shape.

Turgid

A state where plant cells are swollen due to water intake in a hypotonic solution.

Plasmolysis

The process where plant cell membranes pull away from the cell wall due to water loss.

Lyse

The bursting of an animal cell due to excessive water intake.

Crenate

The shrinking of an animal cell due to water loss in a hypertonic solution.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy molecule used by cells.

Metabolic Pathway

A series of biochemical reactions where the product of one reaction is the substrate for the next.

Catabolism

The breakdown of larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy.

Aerobic Respiration

Cellular respiration process that requires oxygen and produces a large amount of ATP.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, producing less ATP.

Restriction Enzyme

An enzyme that cuts DNA at specific sequences, useful in genetic analysis.

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

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

DNA Ladder

A mixture of DNA fragments of known sizes used as a reference in gel electrophoresis.

Allele

A variant form of a gene located at a specific position on a chromosome.

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs)

Variations in DNA fragment lengths produced by restriction enzyme digestion.