BAINES BIO 105 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
Science - Answers Process which logically addresses questions about cause effect
relationships in nature. (Conclusions must be testable and falsifiable)
Variable - Answers A factor that can change in an experiment
Scientific control - Answers Experiments designed to minimize the effects of variables other
than the one being tested.
Controlled experiment - Answers A scientific investigation, control and experimental groups
kept under similar (matched) variables except independent variable.
Independent variable - Answers The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose
effect is being studied.
Dependent variable - Answers The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to
manipulations of the independent variable.
Hypothesis - Answers Proposed explanation for an observed phenomenon (must be testable).
Theory (Scientific) - Answers A major unifying idea with far-reaching implications that has been
extensively tested and attempts to disprove it have failed. eg. evolution through natural
selection
Scientific fact - Answers A verifiable observation proven true by empirical data.
Evolution - Answers Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern
organisms have descended from ancient organisms.
Natural Selection - Answers The process that results in the survival and reproduction success of
individuals best adapted to their environment. Leads to the perpetuation of characteristics best
suited to that particular environment.
Fitness - Answers Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.
Sexual selection. - Answers A form of natural selection in which individuals with certain
inherited characteristics are more likely than other individuals to obtain mates. Leads to non-
random mating
Genetic drift - Answers The change in genetic makeup of a population due to random events.
The smaller the population the more likely to happen. eg. squirrel trap scenario
Migration (gene flow) - Answers Migration of individuals from one population to another,
causing populations to change.
Biome hierarchy - Answers 1. Atoms
, 2. Molecules + macromolecules
3. Cells
4. Tissues
5. Organs
6. Organism
7. Population
8. Community
9. Ecosystem
10. Biosphere
Biosphere - Answers Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists,
including land, water, and the atmosphere.
Tundra - Answers An extremely cold, dry biome.
Taiga (Boreal Forest) - Answers A moist sub-arctic coniferous forest that begins where the
tundra ends and is dominated by spruces and firs.
Deciduous forest - Answers A biome with four seasons, plants shed leaves in the fall and grow
new ones in the spring.
Tropical rainforest - Answers Forests in which rainfall is abundant - more that 200 cm (80 in) per
year - and temperatures are warm or hot year-round
Grassland/prairie - Answers Biome found in regions where enough annual average precipitation
to support the growth of grass and small plants but not enough to support large stands of trees.
Subtropical desert - Answers Dry air, little water, lots of sun, hot weather.
How are terrestrial biomes determined? - Answers Temperature and precipitation.
What determines temperature and precipitation? - Answers Location, altitude and latitude.
Conditions that effect rainfall - Answers Latitude, altitude, mountains and oceans
Determinants: grassland vs. forest - Answers Soil (nutrients, pH, minerals)
Sunlight
Wind (evaporation)
Science - Answers Process which logically addresses questions about cause effect
relationships in nature. (Conclusions must be testable and falsifiable)
Variable - Answers A factor that can change in an experiment
Scientific control - Answers Experiments designed to minimize the effects of variables other
than the one being tested.
Controlled experiment - Answers A scientific investigation, control and experimental groups
kept under similar (matched) variables except independent variable.
Independent variable - Answers The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose
effect is being studied.
Dependent variable - Answers The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to
manipulations of the independent variable.
Hypothesis - Answers Proposed explanation for an observed phenomenon (must be testable).
Theory (Scientific) - Answers A major unifying idea with far-reaching implications that has been
extensively tested and attempts to disprove it have failed. eg. evolution through natural
selection
Scientific fact - Answers A verifiable observation proven true by empirical data.
Evolution - Answers Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern
organisms have descended from ancient organisms.
Natural Selection - Answers The process that results in the survival and reproduction success of
individuals best adapted to their environment. Leads to the perpetuation of characteristics best
suited to that particular environment.
Fitness - Answers Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.
Sexual selection. - Answers A form of natural selection in which individuals with certain
inherited characteristics are more likely than other individuals to obtain mates. Leads to non-
random mating
Genetic drift - Answers The change in genetic makeup of a population due to random events.
The smaller the population the more likely to happen. eg. squirrel trap scenario
Migration (gene flow) - Answers Migration of individuals from one population to another,
causing populations to change.
Biome hierarchy - Answers 1. Atoms
, 2. Molecules + macromolecules
3. Cells
4. Tissues
5. Organs
6. Organism
7. Population
8. Community
9. Ecosystem
10. Biosphere
Biosphere - Answers Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists,
including land, water, and the atmosphere.
Tundra - Answers An extremely cold, dry biome.
Taiga (Boreal Forest) - Answers A moist sub-arctic coniferous forest that begins where the
tundra ends and is dominated by spruces and firs.
Deciduous forest - Answers A biome with four seasons, plants shed leaves in the fall and grow
new ones in the spring.
Tropical rainforest - Answers Forests in which rainfall is abundant - more that 200 cm (80 in) per
year - and temperatures are warm or hot year-round
Grassland/prairie - Answers Biome found in regions where enough annual average precipitation
to support the growth of grass and small plants but not enough to support large stands of trees.
Subtropical desert - Answers Dry air, little water, lots of sun, hot weather.
How are terrestrial biomes determined? - Answers Temperature and precipitation.
What determines temperature and precipitation? - Answers Location, altitude and latitude.
Conditions that effect rainfall - Answers Latitude, altitude, mountains and oceans
Determinants: grassland vs. forest - Answers Soil (nutrients, pH, minerals)
Sunlight
Wind (evaporation)
