BIOL 1500 Laboratory Final Practical Study Guide
This study guide is intended to serve as a general overview of important topics that have been covered in
your lab manual and by your lab instructor throughout the semester. It is NOT an exact guide to the
questions on the final exam – it is your responsibility as a student to review the content covered in the lab
manual and prepare for the final accordingly. It may be beneficial to specifically review any bolded words
in the lab manual, as these are key terms that will facilitate your understanding of major concepts.
Lab 1 – Scientific Method
Know the principles that the Scientific Method is based off of:
o Parsimony
o Similarity
o Uniformity
o Objectivity
o Flexibility
Know the steps of the scientific method
Know the difference between independent and dependent variables
Know null vs. alternative hypotheses
Lab 2 – Microscopy
Know the difference between a compound and dissecting microscope (difference in total
magnification, what are they used to observe)
Know properties of a microscope that can influence your ability to visualize objects
(magnification, resolution, and focal plane) and how they relate to each other.
Know the two types of electron microscopes (TEM and SEM) and how they work
Know how to calculate total magnification (magnification of the ocular lens x the magnification
of the objective lens)
Lab 3 – Analytical Techniques
Know how to read a micropipette (unit conversions: L > mL > µL)
Know the difference between Accuracy and Precision
Know Absorbance vs. Transmittance
Know how to find an Ideal Wavelength via maximal absorbance
Understand how light spectra are reflected/absorbed and determine the color of an object
Know Beer-Lambert's Law/Standard Curve and how to determine unknown
Understand how to determine if someone is a diabetic
Lab 4 - Diffusion & Osmosis:
Know what happens to cells placed in hypertonic, isotonic and hypotonic solutions
Know the difference between diffusion and osmosis
Does water flow from high solute concentration to low solute concentration or low to high during
osmosis?
What does crenation mean and why does it occur?
Lab 5 - Properties of Enzymes
Know what enzymes are and why they’re important
Know what enzyme and substrate were used in this lab
Understand what ALP does and where it’s found
This study guide is intended to serve as a general overview of important topics that have been covered in
your lab manual and by your lab instructor throughout the semester. It is NOT an exact guide to the
questions on the final exam – it is your responsibility as a student to review the content covered in the lab
manual and prepare for the final accordingly. It may be beneficial to specifically review any bolded words
in the lab manual, as these are key terms that will facilitate your understanding of major concepts.
Lab 1 – Scientific Method
Know the principles that the Scientific Method is based off of:
o Parsimony
o Similarity
o Uniformity
o Objectivity
o Flexibility
Know the steps of the scientific method
Know the difference between independent and dependent variables
Know null vs. alternative hypotheses
Lab 2 – Microscopy
Know the difference between a compound and dissecting microscope (difference in total
magnification, what are they used to observe)
Know properties of a microscope that can influence your ability to visualize objects
(magnification, resolution, and focal plane) and how they relate to each other.
Know the two types of electron microscopes (TEM and SEM) and how they work
Know how to calculate total magnification (magnification of the ocular lens x the magnification
of the objective lens)
Lab 3 – Analytical Techniques
Know how to read a micropipette (unit conversions: L > mL > µL)
Know the difference between Accuracy and Precision
Know Absorbance vs. Transmittance
Know how to find an Ideal Wavelength via maximal absorbance
Understand how light spectra are reflected/absorbed and determine the color of an object
Know Beer-Lambert's Law/Standard Curve and how to determine unknown
Understand how to determine if someone is a diabetic
Lab 4 - Diffusion & Osmosis:
Know what happens to cells placed in hypertonic, isotonic and hypotonic solutions
Know the difference between diffusion and osmosis
Does water flow from high solute concentration to low solute concentration or low to high during
osmosis?
What does crenation mean and why does it occur?
Lab 5 - Properties of Enzymes
Know what enzymes are and why they’re important
Know what enzyme and substrate were used in this lab
Understand what ALP does and where it’s found
