Hypothesis, predictions, and controls in bacterial transformation experiment (Video)

Vocabulary flashcards covering hypothesis, predictions, experimental treatments, and controls from the lecture notes.

Hypothesis

A general statement that material from a dead bacterial cell can be taken up by another cell; used to generate predictions and design experiments.

Prediction

A specific, testable statement about what will happen in each treatment if the hypothesis is accurate.

Experimental treatment

The treatment that directly tests the hypothesis; the condition where we assess whether the hypothesized effect occurs.

Control

A comparison condition used to isolate the effect of the variable of interest by holding other factors constant.

Positive control

A control expected to show a response consistent with the experimental outcome if the hypothesis is correct; confirms the system can produce a response.

Negative control

A control expected to show no response; ensures that the observed effect is due to the experimental variable and not other factors.

Experimental design

The overall plan for an experiment, including which treatments and controls are used to test the hypothesis.

Independent variable

The variable deliberately changed in an experiment (e.g., which bacterium is injected).

Dependent variable

The outcome measured in an experiment (e.g., survival or death of the mice).

S strain

Virulent (pathogenic) bacterial strain used in the study.

R strain

Non-virulent bacterial strain used for comparison.

Heat-killed S strain

S strain bacteria that have been heated to kill them; used to provide genetic material without infection.