Biology Midterm

Why is a scientific topic best discussed by people if varying points of view, from different sub disciplines , and representing diverse cultures?

Robust and critical discussion between diverse groups improves scientific thinking.

A water sample from a hot thermal vent contained a single-celled organism that had a cell wall but lacked a nucleus. What is its most likely classification?

Archaea

Which of the following statements best distinguishes scientific hypotheses from scientific theories?

Hypotheses are usually narrower in scope; theories have broader explanatory power.

Which of the following best describes the logic of scientific inquiry?

If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results.

What is the pattern component of the theory of chemical evolution?

Increasingly complex carbon-containing molecules formed early in Earth history.

What is the process component of the theory of chemical evolution?

Kinetic energy was transformed into chemical energy

What hypothesis was being tested in the initial Redi's experiment with open versus sealed jars?

Maggots do not arise spontaneously, but from eggs laid by adult flies.

Pasteur's experiments proved that

Pre-existing cells present in the air can grow in sterilized nutrient broth

Which of the following is the best description of a control for an experiment?

The control group is matched with the experimental group except for one experimental variable.

In comparison to eukaryotes, prokaryotes ____.

are smaller

Cotton-topped tamarins are small primates with tufts of long white hair on their heads. While studying these creatures, you notice that males with longer hair get more opportunities to mate and father more offspring. To test the hypothesis that having longer hair is adaptive in these males, you should ____.

determine if hair length is heritable

The best experimental design____.

includes a large sample size and a control, and alters only one condition between the controls and the experimental condition.

A controlled experiment____.

includes at least two groups, one of which does not receive the experimental treatment

Which of these provides evidence of the common ancestry of all life?

near universality of the genetic code

A controlled experiment is one that _____.

tests experimental and control groups in parallel

Louis Pasteur's experiment had a good design because____.

the possible outcomes led to distinct unambiguous conlcusions