PLTW BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE EXAM 2 2025/2026 Q&A
Biomedical Science - The application of the principles of the natural sciences, especially biology and
physiology, to clinical medicine.
Control Group - The group in an experiment where the independent variable being tested is not
applied so that it may serve as a standard for comparison against the experimental group where the
independent variable is applied.
Dependent Variable - The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is
interested.
Experiment - A research study conducted to determine the effect that one variable has upon another
variable.
Forensic Science - The application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law.
Hypothesis - Clear prediction of the anticipated results of an experiment.
Independent Variable - The variable that is varied or manipulated by the researcher.
Negative Control - Control group where conditions produce a negative outcome. Negative control
groups help identify outside influences which may be present that were not accounted for when the
procedure was created.
Positive Control - Group expected to have a positive result, allowing the researcher to show that the
experimental set up was capable of producing results.
Personal Protective Equipment - Specialized clothing or equipment, worn by an employee for
protection against infectious materials (as defined by OSHA).
Adenine - A component of nucleic acids, energy-carrying molecules such as ATP, and certain
coenzymes. Chemically, it is a purine base. Pairs with thymine in DNA
Chromosome - Any of the usually linear bodies in the cell nucleus that contain the genetic material.
, Cytosine - A component of nucleic acids that carries hereditary information in DNA and RNA in cells.
Chemically, it is a pyrimidine base. Pairs with guanine in DNA
DNA - A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the
inherited structure of a cell's proteins.
Gel Electrophoresis - The separation of nucleic acids or proteins, on the basis of their size and
electrical charge, by measuring their rate of movement through an electrical field in a gel.
Gene - A discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA
(or RNA, in some viruses).
Guanine - A component of nucleic acids that carries hereditary information in DNA and RNA in cells.
Chemically, it is a purine base. Pairs with cytosine in DNA
Helix - Something spiral in form.
Model - A simplified version of something complex used, for example, to analyze and solve problems
or make predictions.
Nucleotide - A building block of DNA, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a
nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.
Restriction Enzyme - A degradative enzyme that recognizes specific nucleotide sequences and cuts
up DNA.
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs) - Differences in DNA sequence on homologous
chromosomes that can result in different patterns of restriction fragment lengths (DNA segments
resulting from treatment with restriction enzymes).
Thymine - A component of nucleic acid that carries hereditary information in DNA in cells.
Chemically, it is a pyrimidine base. Pairs with adenine in DNA
Biomedical Science - The application of the principles of the natural sciences, especially biology and
physiology, to clinical medicine.
Control Group - The group in an experiment where the independent variable being tested is not
applied so that it may serve as a standard for comparison against the experimental group where the
independent variable is applied.
Dependent Variable - The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is
interested.
Experiment - A research study conducted to determine the effect that one variable has upon another
variable.
Forensic Science - The application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law.
Hypothesis - Clear prediction of the anticipated results of an experiment.
Independent Variable - The variable that is varied or manipulated by the researcher.
Negative Control - Control group where conditions produce a negative outcome. Negative control
groups help identify outside influences which may be present that were not accounted for when the
procedure was created.
Positive Control - Group expected to have a positive result, allowing the researcher to show that the
experimental set up was capable of producing results.
Personal Protective Equipment - Specialized clothing or equipment, worn by an employee for
protection against infectious materials (as defined by OSHA).
Adenine - A component of nucleic acids, energy-carrying molecules such as ATP, and certain
coenzymes. Chemically, it is a purine base. Pairs with thymine in DNA
Chromosome - Any of the usually linear bodies in the cell nucleus that contain the genetic material.
, Cytosine - A component of nucleic acids that carries hereditary information in DNA and RNA in cells.
Chemically, it is a pyrimidine base. Pairs with guanine in DNA
DNA - A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the
inherited structure of a cell's proteins.
Gel Electrophoresis - The separation of nucleic acids or proteins, on the basis of their size and
electrical charge, by measuring their rate of movement through an electrical field in a gel.
Gene - A discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA
(or RNA, in some viruses).
Guanine - A component of nucleic acids that carries hereditary information in DNA and RNA in cells.
Chemically, it is a purine base. Pairs with cytosine in DNA
Helix - Something spiral in form.
Model - A simplified version of something complex used, for example, to analyze and solve problems
or make predictions.
Nucleotide - A building block of DNA, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a
nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.
Restriction Enzyme - A degradative enzyme that recognizes specific nucleotide sequences and cuts
up DNA.
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs) - Differences in DNA sequence on homologous
chromosomes that can result in different patterns of restriction fragment lengths (DNA segments
resulting from treatment with restriction enzymes).
Thymine - A component of nucleic acid that carries hereditary information in DNA in cells.
Chemically, it is a pyrimidine base. Pairs with adenine in DNA
