BSC 101 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE (ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY) QUESTIONS WITH VEFIFIED ANSWERS

BSC 101 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
(ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY) QUESTIONS
WITH VEFIFIED ANSWERS 2026/2027
Why is the scientific method bad? - correct answer-
It is oversimplified, it implies that an experiment can answer a research question. Science isn't linear. It
implies science is an independent effort, no creativity or imagination, and it ignores technology and so
ciety



What is a theory? - correct answer-
Theories are broad explanations. They are supported by lines o evidence, with no contradictory eviden
ce. Therefore the evolutionary theory isn't just a "theory"



Why don't community analysis and feedbackHinsure the accuracy of scientific information? -
correct answer-
You get peer revisions and discuss with colleagues. During these discussions, you can come up with ne
w ideas and build theories



What are (6) examples that all living things must do? - correct answer-
1. have organized structures made of at least one cell

2. respond to stimuli

3. reproduce, even through adaptions by natural selection

4. Grow and develop

5. Maintain Homeostasis

6. Process energy



What is a Prokaryotic cell? - correct answer-Has a cell membrane but no nucleus, and no mitochondria



What is a Eukaryotic cell? - correct answer-
Has a cell membrane, nucleus, and mitochondria. Eukaryotic cells are also larger than Prokaryotic

, What are examples of Prokaryotes? - correct answer-Bacteria or Archaea
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What are examples of Eukaryotes? - correct answer-Animals and Plants
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What is a mutation? - correct answer-
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Mutation, or microevolution, is a change in DNA sequence caused by errors in DNA replication or muta ge
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ns, which can be environmental factors like UV radiation. It must be a sperm or an egg to be passed on. So
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me consequences could be there is no change in phenotype, beneficial, or increase fitness or ne gative, de
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crease fitness X2




What occurs during natural selection? - correct answer-
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There is first genetic variation of the population. Then differential reproduction, then hereditary differe n
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ce, then change across generations in gene pools, phenotypes, and population's fitness. (Biological fit nes
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s is the degree to which an individual can reproduce and have its genes represented in the next ge neratio
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ns)



What are some common misconceptions of evolution? - correct answer-1. That it's just a theory
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2. That individual organisms can evolve (the smallest unit that can evolve is a population)
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3. evolution explains the origin of life (more like how life changed after origin)
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4. organisms evolve on purpose or if they are smart enough (it's really based on genes)
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5. evolution is controversial among scientists, other theories should be taught 6
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.Evolution and religion are incompatible (they are actually very different)
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What is speciation? - correct answer-
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Speciation is when populations become geographically separated. The gene flow is interrupted, genetic a
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nd phenotypic changes accumulate, and reproduction becomes less likely, and eventually impossible
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How to find phenotype percentage? - correct answer-
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Put the phenotype of each partner on the punnett square and take one allele from each partner and p ut
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it in the box
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Do all alleles have the same set of genes? - correct answer-
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Yes (about 20,000 in humans) but it is up to the individual cell whether each gene is turned on or off. Gen
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e expressions come into play here, which is the process of turning on a gene to produce RNA and
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