Biology Lab Final

Scientific writing

Objective structured evidence-based writing focused on clarity and reproducibility

Normal writing

Subjective expressive writing focused on storytelling or opinion

Primary literature

Original peer-reviewed scientific research articles reporting new data

Abstract

Brief summary of entire scientific paper

Introduction

Background information and research question or hypothesis

Methods

Detailed procedure allowing replication of experiment

Results

Data presented without interpretation

Discussion

Interpretation of results and significance

References

Sources cited in scientific writing

Peer review

Evaluation of scientific work by experts before publication

Scientific method

Systematic process of observation hypothesis testing and conclusion

Observation

Noticing phenomena that leads to scientific questions

Hypothesis

Testable explanation for an observation

Prediction

Expectation of results if hypothesis is correct

Experiment

Controlled test of a hypothesis

Independent variable

Factor deliberately changed by researcher

Dependent variable

Factor measured in response

Control group

Group without treatment used for comparison

Reproducibility

Ability to repeat experiment and obtain similar results

Microscope

Instrument used to magnify small structures

Compound microscope

Uses multiple lenses for magnification

Ocular lens

Eyepiece lens usually 10X

Objective lens

Main magnifying lens near specimen

Scanning objective

4X lens used to locate specimen

Low power objective

10X lens for general viewing

High dry objective

40X lens for detailed viewing

Oil immersion objective

100X lens using oil for highest magnification

Total magnification

Ocular multiplied by objective

Resolution

Ability to distinguish two close points

Contrast

Difference in brightness improving visibility

Field of view

Area visible under microscope

Field diameter

Width of visible circular area

Inverse relationship

Field of view decreases as magnification increases

FoV formula

FoV1 × Mag1 = FoV2 × Mag2

Micrometer

One millionth of a meter used for cells

Millimeter conversion

1 mm = 1000 µm

Parfocal

Specimen stays in focus when switching objectives

Depth of field

Thickness of specimen in focus

Working distance

Distance between lens and slide

Eukaryote

Cell with nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

Binary fission

Asexual reproduction method used by prokaryotes

Eubacteria

Common bacteria group with diverse shapes and metabolisms

Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic bacteria that produce oxygen

Gram staining

Lab technique used to classify bacteria by cell wall structure

Gram positive

Bacteria with thick peptidoglycan wall that stains purple

Gram negative

Bacteria with thin peptidoglycan wall that stains pink

Peptidoglycan

Structural molecule in bacterial cell walls

Coccus

Spherical bacterial shape

Bacillus

Rod-shaped bacterial shape

Spirillum

Spiral-shaped bacterial shape

Streptococcus

Chain arrangement of cocci

Staphylococcus

Cluster arrangement of cocci

Escherichia coli

A common bacterium approximately 2 µm long

Protist

Eukaryote that is not a plant animal or fungus

Excavata

Protist group with flagella and feeding groove

SAR group

Protists including stramenopiles alveolates and rhizarians

Archaeplastida

Photosynthetic protists related to plants

Amoebozoa

Protists that move using pseudopodia

Opisthokonta

Group including animals fungi and related organisms

Pseudopodia

Temporary extensions used for movement and feeding

Cilia

Short hair-like structures used for movement

Flagella

Long whip-like structures used for movement

Autotroph

Organism that makes its own food via photosynthesis

Heterotroph

Organism that consumes organic material for energy

Animal-like protists

Protists that ingest food and are usually motile

Plant-like protists

Protists that perform photosynthesis

Fungus-like protists

Protists that absorb nutrients from organic matter

Filamentous fungi

Fungi made of hyphae forming a network

Non-filamentous fungi

Single-celled fungi such as yeast

Hyphae

Thread-like structures that make up fungi

Mycelium

Network of hyphae forming fungal body

Septa

Cross-walls dividing hyphae

Coenocytic hyphae

Non-septate hyphae with continuous cytoplasm

Chytrids

Fungi with flagellated spores often aquatic

Zygomycota

Fungi that produce zygospores

Ascomycota

Fungi that produce spores in asci

Basidiomycota

Fungi that produce spores on basidia

Glomeromycota

Fungi forming symbiosis with plant roots

Mycorrhizae

Mutualistic relationship between fungi and plant roots

Decomposer

Organism that breaks down dead organic matter

Pathogen

Organism that causes disease

Competition

Interaction where organisms compete for resources

Interspecific competition

Competition between different species Fungi

Chitin

Structural component of fungal cell walls

Filamentous fungi

Fungi composed of hyphae forming a mycelium

Non-filamentous fungi

Unicellular fungi such as yeast

Hyphae

Thread-like filaments that form fungal body

Mycelium

Network of hyphae forming the main body of fungus

Septa

Cross walls dividing fungal hyphae into compartments

Coenocytic hyphae

Hyphae without septa containing continuous cytoplasm

Spore

Fungal reproductive cell used for dispersal

Asexual reproduction

Fungal reproduction without fusion of gametes

Sexual reproduction

Fungal reproduction involving genetic recombination

Chytrids

Fungi with flagellated spores often found in aquatic environments

Zygomycota

Fungi that form zygospores during sexual reproduction

Ascomycota

Fungi that produce spores in sac-like asci

Basidiomycota

Fungi that produce spores on club-shaped basidia

Glomeromycota

Fungi that form symbiotic mycorrhizae with plant roots

Mycorrhizae

Symbiotic relationship between fungi and plant roots

Decomposer

Organism that breaks down dead organic material