ZOOLOGY EXAM 1 REVIEW
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Empirical - Answer-- based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or
experience rather than theory or pure logic:
Conclusions and Publication - Answer-- we publish our results and conclusions to
guide other researchers further to test our hypotheses
- peer review to check for errors, bias, and good methodology
-If we draw a conclusion relative to some event, be ready to discard or to modify our
conclusion
Because of the essential characteristics of science, describe how the intelligent-
design theory or creationism does not fit those characteristics. - Answer-- It is not
part of the "real world"; it is in its own realm
- Doesn't follow the natural laws of science
- Can't be tested or proven wrong
- Nothing is being observed in order for it to be tested
- Not easy to draw conclusions
- It involves the supernatural/religion
What are Darwin's 5 theories regarding evolution? (explain each) - Answer--
Perpetual change
- Common descent
- Multiplication of species
- Gradualism
- Natural Selection
Perpetual Change - Answer-- documented by fossils
- basic theory of evolution
- living world is always changing, not constant or perpetually cycling
- measurable changes across generations
Common Descent - Answer-- The Tree of Life
- all forms of life come from a common ancestor
- Life's history has the structure of a branching evolutionary tree
- species that share recent common ancestry have similar features than do species
whose most recent common ancestor occurred early in the history of life
- serves as the basis for our taxonomic classification system
Multiplication of species - Answer-- the evolutionary process produces new species
by splitting and transforming older ones
- distinct populations of organisms that usually but not always differ from each other
- Interbreeding does not occur
Gradualism - Answer-"Slowly but surely"
,-large differences in anatomy between species originated through small incremental
changes over time
- important theory because large genetic effects can harm organisms, but some of
these effects can help with natural selection
Natural Selection - Answer-- Has three propositions:
-- There is variation among organisms (behavioral, anatomical, and physiological
traits)
-- Variation is at least partly hereditary
-- Organisms with different variant forms will be expected to leave different offsprings
and continue that line for generations
adaptation - Answer-- result of a process that has the most favorable variants in a
population continue to breed throughout long periods of evolutionary time
Which of Darwin's theories were accepted as fact and which continued to stir
controversy among biologists? - Answer-- Perpetual Change, Common Descent, and
Natural Selection were accepted
- Gradualism and Multiplication of Species still stir controversy
Particulate inheritance - Answer-- theory of heredity in which hereditary traits are
discrete and do not blend when transmitted through the same organism
Anabolic Reactions - Answer--chemical reactions in which simpler substances are
combined to form more complex molecules.
- store energy and build new molecules
Catabolic reactions - Answer--release energy that is used to drive chemical
reactions.
-the breakdown of more complex organic molecules into simpler substances.
physiology - Answer-study of metabolic functions from the biochemical to organismal
levels
6) Development - Answer-- THE CIRCLE OF LIFE!!!
- describes the characteristic changes that an organisms undergoes from its origin to
its adult form
- features changes in size, shape, and differentiation of structures within an organism
- different development stages of some multicellular forms can be hardly
recognizable between the same species
- i.e. embryos and post-embryonic development
- early stages of development are often more similar among different species than
are later developmental stages
Metamorphosis - Answer-transformation that occurs from one stage to another
7) Environmental interaction - Answer-- all animals interact with their environments
- science of ecology reveals how an organisms perceives environmental stimuli and
responds in appropriate ways by adjusting its metabolism and physiology
- stimulus can be simple (phototaxis) or more complex (mating rituals)
, - Life and nature are inseparable!!
Ecology - Answer-study of organismal interaction with an environment
8) Movement - Answer-- living systems and their parts show precise and controlled
movements arising from within the system
- movements at the cellular level are essential for reproduction, growth, and many
responses to stimuli in all living forms
- Adaptations that animals involved with locomotion (i.e. speed)
- On a larger scale, entire populations or species may disperse from one location to
another over time through movement
- Nonliving matter are not controlled by themselves and often involves forces entirely
external to them
What is the relationship between heredity and variation? - Answer-- It is
complementary and contradictory
- If heredity were perfect, living organisms wouldn't change; if variation were
uncontrolled by heredity, living systems would lack the stability that allows them to
persist over time.
Pseudoscience - Answer-- a system of theories, assumptions, and methods
erroneously regarded as scientific
- a methodology, belief, or practice claiming to be scientific and using scientific
language but no adhering to scientific methodology
What is science? - Answer-- a way of asking questions about the natural world and
sometimes obtaining precise answers to them
- lies outside religion, and the results of science do not favor religious positions
- explain what is observed with the rules of natural law
- no supernatural interventions
- observe events in the real world
What are the five essential characteristics of science? (explain each) - Answer-- It is
guided by natural law
- It has to be explanatory by reference to that law
- It is testable against the observable world
- Its conclusions are tentative and not the final word
- It is falsifiable
What is the scientific method? (explain each) - Answer-- hypothetico-deductive
method
- helps develop hypotheses or potential answers to questions being asked
- we use it in everyday life
- peer reviews are needed for scientific input
What are the steps to the scientific method? (explain each) - Answer-- Six steps:
Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Empirical Test, Conclusions, and Publication
Observation - Answer-- critical first step
- must study the natural world
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Empirical - Answer-- based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or
experience rather than theory or pure logic:
Conclusions and Publication - Answer-- we publish our results and conclusions to
guide other researchers further to test our hypotheses
- peer review to check for errors, bias, and good methodology
-If we draw a conclusion relative to some event, be ready to discard or to modify our
conclusion
Because of the essential characteristics of science, describe how the intelligent-
design theory or creationism does not fit those characteristics. - Answer-- It is not
part of the "real world"; it is in its own realm
- Doesn't follow the natural laws of science
- Can't be tested or proven wrong
- Nothing is being observed in order for it to be tested
- Not easy to draw conclusions
- It involves the supernatural/religion
What are Darwin's 5 theories regarding evolution? (explain each) - Answer--
Perpetual change
- Common descent
- Multiplication of species
- Gradualism
- Natural Selection
Perpetual Change - Answer-- documented by fossils
- basic theory of evolution
- living world is always changing, not constant or perpetually cycling
- measurable changes across generations
Common Descent - Answer-- The Tree of Life
- all forms of life come from a common ancestor
- Life's history has the structure of a branching evolutionary tree
- species that share recent common ancestry have similar features than do species
whose most recent common ancestor occurred early in the history of life
- serves as the basis for our taxonomic classification system
Multiplication of species - Answer-- the evolutionary process produces new species
by splitting and transforming older ones
- distinct populations of organisms that usually but not always differ from each other
- Interbreeding does not occur
Gradualism - Answer-"Slowly but surely"
,-large differences in anatomy between species originated through small incremental
changes over time
- important theory because large genetic effects can harm organisms, but some of
these effects can help with natural selection
Natural Selection - Answer-- Has three propositions:
-- There is variation among organisms (behavioral, anatomical, and physiological
traits)
-- Variation is at least partly hereditary
-- Organisms with different variant forms will be expected to leave different offsprings
and continue that line for generations
adaptation - Answer-- result of a process that has the most favorable variants in a
population continue to breed throughout long periods of evolutionary time
Which of Darwin's theories were accepted as fact and which continued to stir
controversy among biologists? - Answer-- Perpetual Change, Common Descent, and
Natural Selection were accepted
- Gradualism and Multiplication of Species still stir controversy
Particulate inheritance - Answer-- theory of heredity in which hereditary traits are
discrete and do not blend when transmitted through the same organism
Anabolic Reactions - Answer--chemical reactions in which simpler substances are
combined to form more complex molecules.
- store energy and build new molecules
Catabolic reactions - Answer--release energy that is used to drive chemical
reactions.
-the breakdown of more complex organic molecules into simpler substances.
physiology - Answer-study of metabolic functions from the biochemical to organismal
levels
6) Development - Answer-- THE CIRCLE OF LIFE!!!
- describes the characteristic changes that an organisms undergoes from its origin to
its adult form
- features changes in size, shape, and differentiation of structures within an organism
- different development stages of some multicellular forms can be hardly
recognizable between the same species
- i.e. embryos and post-embryonic development
- early stages of development are often more similar among different species than
are later developmental stages
Metamorphosis - Answer-transformation that occurs from one stage to another
7) Environmental interaction - Answer-- all animals interact with their environments
- science of ecology reveals how an organisms perceives environmental stimuli and
responds in appropriate ways by adjusting its metabolism and physiology
- stimulus can be simple (phototaxis) or more complex (mating rituals)
, - Life and nature are inseparable!!
Ecology - Answer-study of organismal interaction with an environment
8) Movement - Answer-- living systems and their parts show precise and controlled
movements arising from within the system
- movements at the cellular level are essential for reproduction, growth, and many
responses to stimuli in all living forms
- Adaptations that animals involved with locomotion (i.e. speed)
- On a larger scale, entire populations or species may disperse from one location to
another over time through movement
- Nonliving matter are not controlled by themselves and often involves forces entirely
external to them
What is the relationship between heredity and variation? - Answer-- It is
complementary and contradictory
- If heredity were perfect, living organisms wouldn't change; if variation were
uncontrolled by heredity, living systems would lack the stability that allows them to
persist over time.
Pseudoscience - Answer-- a system of theories, assumptions, and methods
erroneously regarded as scientific
- a methodology, belief, or practice claiming to be scientific and using scientific
language but no adhering to scientific methodology
What is science? - Answer-- a way of asking questions about the natural world and
sometimes obtaining precise answers to them
- lies outside religion, and the results of science do not favor religious positions
- explain what is observed with the rules of natural law
- no supernatural interventions
- observe events in the real world
What are the five essential characteristics of science? (explain each) - Answer-- It is
guided by natural law
- It has to be explanatory by reference to that law
- It is testable against the observable world
- Its conclusions are tentative and not the final word
- It is falsifiable
What is the scientific method? (explain each) - Answer-- hypothetico-deductive
method
- helps develop hypotheses or potential answers to questions being asked
- we use it in everyday life
- peer reviews are needed for scientific input
What are the steps to the scientific method? (explain each) - Answer-- Six steps:
Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Empirical Test, Conclusions, and Publication
Observation - Answer-- critical first step
- must study the natural world
