Biology Lab Procedures and Safety

These flashcards summarize key concepts from lab procedures, literature types, scientific methods, and cell membrane functions essential for students in biology.

What is the required personal protective equipment (PPE) for labs?

Lab coat, full-length pants or skirts, safety glasses, waterproof felt pen, timepiece, elastic headband.

What should you do if you get injured during a lab experiment?

Go to the TA immediately and do not leave the area or attempt to treat yourself.

What are gray sources in literature?

Gray sources include AI summaries, websites, videos, or other informal publications that may misrepresent content and lack citations.

Why are gray sources considered bad for assignments?

They might be incorrect, lack citations, and make fact-checking difficult.

What defines primary literature?

Research papers submitted for review and published in scientific journals, critiqued by experts.

What is secondary literature?

Summaries of current and historical primary literature created by experts, also peer-reviewed.

What is tertiary literature?

Summarizes primary and secondary literature for broader audiences, examples include textbooks and lab manuals.

What is paraphrasing?

Explaining someone else's idea using your own words while acknowledging the original source.

What is the difference between rewording and reworking?

Rewording uses different words to describe material, while reworking involves restructuring the information or the order of ideas.

Why do we cite sources?

To give credit, allow others to look up original sources, and enhance the credibility of our work.

What are the main parts of a scientific article?

Title, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusion, literature cited.

What does the introduction of a scientific paper include?

Background information relevant to the experiment, including premise, objectives, and relevance.

What is the purpose of the methods section in a scientific paper?

To outline what was done in the experiment, referencing protocols and explaining treatments in past tense.

What is the difference between the manipulated variable and the responding variable?

The manipulated variable is changed, while the responding variable is what is measured.

What is a control group in an experiment?

A control group is not exposed to the manipulated variable and serves as a standard for comparison.

What does the scientific method begin with?

A question that leads to a hypothesis.

What does the term 'resolution' refer to in microscopy?

The capacity to distinguish two adjacent points as distinct.

What is the benefit of cholesterol in cell membranes?

Cholesterol helps to keep the membrane stable.

What happens when detergents interact with membrane phospholipids?

Detergents wedge into the phospholipid bilayer, causing the membrane to buckle or break.