Biology 117 Exam 1 questions with
complete solutions
Science - correct answer ✔✔ is the process of identifying patterns and asking questions that
help us to best understand those patterns
hypotheses - correct answer ✔✔ specific, testable, rejectable statements
said "No amount of experimentation can ever prove me; a single experiment can prove me
wrong." - correct answer ✔✔ Albert Einstein
Theories consist of 2 parts - correct answer ✔✔ pattern and process
Pattern - correct answer ✔✔ refers to the general observations of repetition one sees within a
system (This is akin to the observation phase of the scientific method)
Process - correct answer ✔✔ is the mechanism, or way in which the pattern occurs
processes may be divided into - correct answer ✔✔ proximate vs. ultimate processes or reasons
Proximate refers to - correct answer ✔✔ which occurs in the short-term (usually measured in
fractions of lifetimes)
Ultimate refers to - correct answer ✔✔ a longer timeframe (e.g., most of a lifetime or more).
, Cell Theory - correct answer ✔✔ All organisms are made of cells, and all cells come from pre-
existing cells
The pasteur experiment - correct answer ✔✔ wanted to know if organisms could spontaneously
arise in nutrient broth or whether they appear when exposed to a source of pre-existing cells.
Evolutionary Theory - correct answer ✔✔ All life, as we know it, is the product of evolutionary
processes.
Evolution - correct answer ✔✔ is the heritable (i.e. genetic) change in a population over time.
the two general ideas within evolutionary theory - correct answer ✔✔ a. Evolution explains
variation, how that variation came about, and what can happen if environmental conditions
change.
b. All species are related to each other through common ancestry. Natural Selection acts on
individuals, but evolutionary change affects only populations.
The biological hierarchy - correct answer ✔✔ provides us with a simple way of guaranteeing we
are talking about the same terms as we consider life across varying scales.
The Biological Hierarchy levels consist of - correct answer ✔✔ atoms, molecules, organelles,
cells, tissues, organs and organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and
the biosphere.
Organisms - correct answer ✔✔ Organisms are individuals. They are typically a collection of
organ systems. However, remember that organisms can be single-celled
Populations - correct answer ✔✔ -are collections of individuals of the same species
-Population biologists are concerned with population growth and evolutionary processes and
other changes through time.
complete solutions
Science - correct answer ✔✔ is the process of identifying patterns and asking questions that
help us to best understand those patterns
hypotheses - correct answer ✔✔ specific, testable, rejectable statements
said "No amount of experimentation can ever prove me; a single experiment can prove me
wrong." - correct answer ✔✔ Albert Einstein
Theories consist of 2 parts - correct answer ✔✔ pattern and process
Pattern - correct answer ✔✔ refers to the general observations of repetition one sees within a
system (This is akin to the observation phase of the scientific method)
Process - correct answer ✔✔ is the mechanism, or way in which the pattern occurs
processes may be divided into - correct answer ✔✔ proximate vs. ultimate processes or reasons
Proximate refers to - correct answer ✔✔ which occurs in the short-term (usually measured in
fractions of lifetimes)
Ultimate refers to - correct answer ✔✔ a longer timeframe (e.g., most of a lifetime or more).
, Cell Theory - correct answer ✔✔ All organisms are made of cells, and all cells come from pre-
existing cells
The pasteur experiment - correct answer ✔✔ wanted to know if organisms could spontaneously
arise in nutrient broth or whether they appear when exposed to a source of pre-existing cells.
Evolutionary Theory - correct answer ✔✔ All life, as we know it, is the product of evolutionary
processes.
Evolution - correct answer ✔✔ is the heritable (i.e. genetic) change in a population over time.
the two general ideas within evolutionary theory - correct answer ✔✔ a. Evolution explains
variation, how that variation came about, and what can happen if environmental conditions
change.
b. All species are related to each other through common ancestry. Natural Selection acts on
individuals, but evolutionary change affects only populations.
The biological hierarchy - correct answer ✔✔ provides us with a simple way of guaranteeing we
are talking about the same terms as we consider life across varying scales.
The Biological Hierarchy levels consist of - correct answer ✔✔ atoms, molecules, organelles,
cells, tissues, organs and organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and
the biosphere.
Organisms - correct answer ✔✔ Organisms are individuals. They are typically a collection of
organ systems. However, remember that organisms can be single-celled
Populations - correct answer ✔✔ -are collections of individuals of the same species
-Population biologists are concerned with population growth and evolutionary processes and
other changes through time.
