BIOL 101 INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT 3 KEY
CONCEPTS AND TOPICS GUIDE 2026
◉ Theory Answer: a hypothesis that has withstood the test of time
and is unlikely to be altered by any new evidence, broader in scope
than an hypothesis.
◉ Hypothesis (how can a hypothesis become a theory?) Answer: a
proposed explanation for a phenomenon, it can become a theory by
becoming very well-supported by data.
◉ Hypothesis vs Theory Answer: A theory is a hypothesis for natural
phenomena that is exceptionally well-supported by the data.
◉ Can a theory or hypothesis be proven? Explain. Answer:
Hypothesis can never be proven, can be supported or rejected
◉ What characteristics of a good experiment have we emphasized in
class? Answer: 1. Treatment
2. Experimental group or treatment group
3. Control group
4. Variables (Independent vs Dependent)
,◉ What characteristics of a good experiment: *Treatment* Answer:
any experimental condition applied to individuals
◉ What characteristics of a good experiment: *Experimental group
or treatment group* Answer: a group of individuals who are exposed
to a particular treatment
◉ What characteristics of a good experiment: *Control group*
Answer: a group of individuals who are treated identically to the
experimental group with the one exception: they are *not* exposed
to the treatment
◉ What characteristics of a good experiment: *Variables* Answer: -
characteristics of your experimental system that are subject to
change
-Independent vs. Dependent variables
◉ Independent variables vs Dependent variables Answer:
Independent- The variable you change/ manipulate
Dependent- What you measure
◉ What characteristics define "living" Answer: • Homeostasis-
maintaining internal conditions
• Reproduce
,• Energy
• Evolution
• Respond to the environment
• Growth
• Heredity- pass on genetic information
• Organization
◉ Population Answer: groups of individual organisms that
interbreed with each other
◉ Community Answer: Populations of different species that interact
with each other within a locale
◉ Ecosystem Answer: All living organisms, as well as non-living
elements, that interact in a particular ares
◉ How does the environment influence population size? Answer:
The bigger the population, the faster it grows.
◉ Carrying capacity Answer: Largest number of individuals of a
population that a environment can support
, ◉ Density-dependent factors Answer: Factors that run out/increase
with large populations
EX: Food supply, Habitat for living and breeding, Parasite and
disease risk, Predation risk
◉ Density-independent factors Answer: -Factors that strike
populations without regard for the size of the population
EX: Many weather-based, Natural disasters, Includes habitat
destruction by humans
◉ What's the difference between exponential and logistic growth?
What type of growth do most species display? Answer: -Exponential
growth: population growth that is increased as the population
grows, no carrying capacity
-Logistic Growth: population growth that is gradually reduced as the
population nears the environment's carrying capacity
*Most display logistic growth*
◉ The types of interactions between species: *Competition* Answer:
Benefit/ Harm:
-Competitive Exclusion: +/-
-Research Portioning: +/+
Can Plants do this?: Yes
CONCEPTS AND TOPICS GUIDE 2026
◉ Theory Answer: a hypothesis that has withstood the test of time
and is unlikely to be altered by any new evidence, broader in scope
than an hypothesis.
◉ Hypothesis (how can a hypothesis become a theory?) Answer: a
proposed explanation for a phenomenon, it can become a theory by
becoming very well-supported by data.
◉ Hypothesis vs Theory Answer: A theory is a hypothesis for natural
phenomena that is exceptionally well-supported by the data.
◉ Can a theory or hypothesis be proven? Explain. Answer:
Hypothesis can never be proven, can be supported or rejected
◉ What characteristics of a good experiment have we emphasized in
class? Answer: 1. Treatment
2. Experimental group or treatment group
3. Control group
4. Variables (Independent vs Dependent)
,◉ What characteristics of a good experiment: *Treatment* Answer:
any experimental condition applied to individuals
◉ What characteristics of a good experiment: *Experimental group
or treatment group* Answer: a group of individuals who are exposed
to a particular treatment
◉ What characteristics of a good experiment: *Control group*
Answer: a group of individuals who are treated identically to the
experimental group with the one exception: they are *not* exposed
to the treatment
◉ What characteristics of a good experiment: *Variables* Answer: -
characteristics of your experimental system that are subject to
change
-Independent vs. Dependent variables
◉ Independent variables vs Dependent variables Answer:
Independent- The variable you change/ manipulate
Dependent- What you measure
◉ What characteristics define "living" Answer: • Homeostasis-
maintaining internal conditions
• Reproduce
,• Energy
• Evolution
• Respond to the environment
• Growth
• Heredity- pass on genetic information
• Organization
◉ Population Answer: groups of individual organisms that
interbreed with each other
◉ Community Answer: Populations of different species that interact
with each other within a locale
◉ Ecosystem Answer: All living organisms, as well as non-living
elements, that interact in a particular ares
◉ How does the environment influence population size? Answer:
The bigger the population, the faster it grows.
◉ Carrying capacity Answer: Largest number of individuals of a
population that a environment can support
, ◉ Density-dependent factors Answer: Factors that run out/increase
with large populations
EX: Food supply, Habitat for living and breeding, Parasite and
disease risk, Predation risk
◉ Density-independent factors Answer: -Factors that strike
populations without regard for the size of the population
EX: Many weather-based, Natural disasters, Includes habitat
destruction by humans
◉ What's the difference between exponential and logistic growth?
What type of growth do most species display? Answer: -Exponential
growth: population growth that is increased as the population
grows, no carrying capacity
-Logistic Growth: population growth that is gradually reduced as the
population nears the environment's carrying capacity
*Most display logistic growth*
◉ The types of interactions between species: *Competition* Answer:
Benefit/ Harm:
-Competitive Exclusion: +/-
-Research Portioning: +/+
Can Plants do this?: Yes
