UMBC UNIT I: Biology 141 Exam Questions and Answers
Chapter 1: How do an observation, hypothesis, and a prediction differ? - -A hypothesis is a
testable statement to explain a phenomenon or a set of observations. A prediction
describes a measurable or observable result that must be correct if a hypothesis is valid. An
observation consists of receiving knowledge of the outside world through our senses, or
recording information using scientific tools and instruments.
-Chapter 1: What makes a hypothesis useful for scientific investigation that try to explain
the natural world? - -Forming a hypothesis means forming a proposed statement that can
make testable predictions. Saying that the hypothesis is true means that the predictions
you've made are also true. and vice versa.
-Chapter 1: Give examples of hypothesis that are and are not scientifically useful. State the
null hypothesis that corresponds to each of your examples. - -A hypothesis that is not
useful would be "all dinosaurs eat only cake." This is not scientifically useful because
there's no way to test it. A null hypothesis is the conclusion we're going to draw if our
hypothesis is incorrect. Possible conclusions could be our variable has no affect, opposite
affect, etc. A null hypothesis for "all dinosaurs eat cake" could be "no dinosaurs eat cake" or
"Dinosaurs eat cake and other things."
-Chapter 1: What are the key steps in hypothesis testing? - -1. State the null hypothesis
2.State the alternative hypothesis 3. Select method of testing
-Chapter 1: What are the essential characteristics of a scientific experiment? - -
Independent variable (x), dependent variable (y), control groups, constants (experimental
conditions).
-Chapter 1: Design an experiment to test the hypothesis that squirrels prefer nuts over
chicken wings. Specify which conditions should be held constant across all experiments
and describe one or more controls you would include. - -State the hypothesis as precisely
as possible and the predictions it makes
2. Design an observational or experimental study that is capable of testing those
predictions
Large sample size, include control groups, have constant/equivalent experimental
conditions, repeatability
-Chapter 1: What is the difference between a hypothesis and a scientific theory? - -A
hypothesis typically address more specific issues while a theory is an explanation for a
more general phenomenon.
-Chapter 1: What is the hypothesis of Spontaneous Generation and how Does Cell Theory
challenge that hypothesis? - -Spontaneous generation hypothesis states that organisms
could arise spontaneously under certain conditions while the cell theory challenges that
, and states all organisms are made up of cells and cells can only be created from preexisting
cells (cells from cells hypothesis).
-Chapter 1: Explain Pasteur's experiment, including the purpose of the swan-necked flasks.
- -In order to test whether cells are created/aren't created from preexisting cells he
conducted an experiment. This experiment involved him setting up two flasks: one with a
normal neck with contact to the outside and another with a swan necked shape neck. the
swan neck shaped flask was purposefully designed so that the cells in the flask wouldn't
have contact to the outside. In both the flasks he placed nutrients and boiled them. In the
straight necked flask the cells that were boiled were killed but preexisting cells from the air
entered the flask forming new cells. In the swan necked flask however, the cells that were
boiled died and the preexisting cells form outside entered the flask yet got stuck in the
neck. This led to no cells being regrown in the broth.
-Chapter 1: Why does Pasteur boil the broth in both types of flasks? For each type of flasks,
what is the outcome predicted by Spontaneous Generation? By Cell Theory? - -Pasteur
boiled the broth to kill any preexisting cells and to see whether the broth needed contact
form the outside cells to regrow or not. This experiment debunked the spontaneous
generation hypothesis and proved the cell theory.
-Chapter 1: What observed patterns support the theory of evolution by natural selection?
Be sure to define the terms evolution and population in your answer. - -Evolution is a
change in the characteristics of a population over time. A population is a group of
individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time (fish, lions, worms,
etc.) The observes patterns were that species are related by common ancestry and
characteristics of species can be modified from generation to generation (descent
modification).
-Chapter 1: What are the two conditions required for natural selection to occur. - -
Individuals within a population vary in characteristics that are heritable--meaning, traits
that can be passed on to offspring. And in a particular environment, certain version of these
heritable traits help individuals survive better or reproduce more than do other versions.
-Chapter 1: How does artificial selection differ from natural selection? How would you
artificially select for a particular characteristic? - -Natural selection occurs when heritable
variation in certain traits leads to improved success in reproduction. Because individuals
with these traits produce many offspring (fitness level) with the same traits, the traits
increase in frequency and evolution occurs. Artificial selection is different because it's the
process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to produce desirable
traits/phenotypic traits. For instance you can choose which animal or plant males and
females can sexually reproduce and have offspring together.
-Chapter 1: Explain how genotype determines phenotype. Your answer should include a
description and an illustration of the flow of genetic information in a cell. - -Genotype is the
genetic constitution of an individual organism. It is determined by how your genes work
together to produce RNA that codes for proteins that make up your cells, tissues and
Chapter 1: How do an observation, hypothesis, and a prediction differ? - -A hypothesis is a
testable statement to explain a phenomenon or a set of observations. A prediction
describes a measurable or observable result that must be correct if a hypothesis is valid. An
observation consists of receiving knowledge of the outside world through our senses, or
recording information using scientific tools and instruments.
-Chapter 1: What makes a hypothesis useful for scientific investigation that try to explain
the natural world? - -Forming a hypothesis means forming a proposed statement that can
make testable predictions. Saying that the hypothesis is true means that the predictions
you've made are also true. and vice versa.
-Chapter 1: Give examples of hypothesis that are and are not scientifically useful. State the
null hypothesis that corresponds to each of your examples. - -A hypothesis that is not
useful would be "all dinosaurs eat only cake." This is not scientifically useful because
there's no way to test it. A null hypothesis is the conclusion we're going to draw if our
hypothesis is incorrect. Possible conclusions could be our variable has no affect, opposite
affect, etc. A null hypothesis for "all dinosaurs eat cake" could be "no dinosaurs eat cake" or
"Dinosaurs eat cake and other things."
-Chapter 1: What are the key steps in hypothesis testing? - -1. State the null hypothesis
2.State the alternative hypothesis 3. Select method of testing
-Chapter 1: What are the essential characteristics of a scientific experiment? - -
Independent variable (x), dependent variable (y), control groups, constants (experimental
conditions).
-Chapter 1: Design an experiment to test the hypothesis that squirrels prefer nuts over
chicken wings. Specify which conditions should be held constant across all experiments
and describe one or more controls you would include. - -State the hypothesis as precisely
as possible and the predictions it makes
2. Design an observational or experimental study that is capable of testing those
predictions
Large sample size, include control groups, have constant/equivalent experimental
conditions, repeatability
-Chapter 1: What is the difference between a hypothesis and a scientific theory? - -A
hypothesis typically address more specific issues while a theory is an explanation for a
more general phenomenon.
-Chapter 1: What is the hypothesis of Spontaneous Generation and how Does Cell Theory
challenge that hypothesis? - -Spontaneous generation hypothesis states that organisms
could arise spontaneously under certain conditions while the cell theory challenges that
, and states all organisms are made up of cells and cells can only be created from preexisting
cells (cells from cells hypothesis).
-Chapter 1: Explain Pasteur's experiment, including the purpose of the swan-necked flasks.
- -In order to test whether cells are created/aren't created from preexisting cells he
conducted an experiment. This experiment involved him setting up two flasks: one with a
normal neck with contact to the outside and another with a swan necked shape neck. the
swan neck shaped flask was purposefully designed so that the cells in the flask wouldn't
have contact to the outside. In both the flasks he placed nutrients and boiled them. In the
straight necked flask the cells that were boiled were killed but preexisting cells from the air
entered the flask forming new cells. In the swan necked flask however, the cells that were
boiled died and the preexisting cells form outside entered the flask yet got stuck in the
neck. This led to no cells being regrown in the broth.
-Chapter 1: Why does Pasteur boil the broth in both types of flasks? For each type of flasks,
what is the outcome predicted by Spontaneous Generation? By Cell Theory? - -Pasteur
boiled the broth to kill any preexisting cells and to see whether the broth needed contact
form the outside cells to regrow or not. This experiment debunked the spontaneous
generation hypothesis and proved the cell theory.
-Chapter 1: What observed patterns support the theory of evolution by natural selection?
Be sure to define the terms evolution and population in your answer. - -Evolution is a
change in the characteristics of a population over time. A population is a group of
individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time (fish, lions, worms,
etc.) The observes patterns were that species are related by common ancestry and
characteristics of species can be modified from generation to generation (descent
modification).
-Chapter 1: What are the two conditions required for natural selection to occur. - -
Individuals within a population vary in characteristics that are heritable--meaning, traits
that can be passed on to offspring. And in a particular environment, certain version of these
heritable traits help individuals survive better or reproduce more than do other versions.
-Chapter 1: How does artificial selection differ from natural selection? How would you
artificially select for a particular characteristic? - -Natural selection occurs when heritable
variation in certain traits leads to improved success in reproduction. Because individuals
with these traits produce many offspring (fitness level) with the same traits, the traits
increase in frequency and evolution occurs. Artificial selection is different because it's the
process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to produce desirable
traits/phenotypic traits. For instance you can choose which animal or plant males and
females can sexually reproduce and have offspring together.
-Chapter 1: Explain how genotype determines phenotype. Your answer should include a
description and an illustration of the flow of genetic information in a cell. - -Genotype is the
genetic constitution of an individual organism. It is determined by how your genes work
together to produce RNA that codes for proteins that make up your cells, tissues and
