Biology 101 - Exam 1 Review - Chapter 1

The master hereditary molecule that is used to transmit genetic information from one generation to the next is abbreviated as ________.

DNA

What is the germ theory of disease?

The premise that some diseases are caused by microbes.

Living things that harvest energy from living components of their environment are known as ________, or consumers. These organisms harvest energy from either ________ or other ________.

heterotrophs, producers, consumers

A common starting point for scientists who seek to learn new things is a(n) _________

Observation

The process by which scientists learn new things is often referred to as the "scientific method." Which of the following does NOT accurately describe the scientific method? a) a set of multiple approaches b) a logical format for answering questions c) an approach that can be applied across many disciplines d) a very specific set of steps that scientists must follow, to the letter

D

Which of the following is a common objective of the scientific method? a) Prove that Batman exists b) Prove that a hypothesis is true c) Invoke the supernatural to explain results d) Determine whether there is a relationship between variables

D

T/F: Science consists solely of knowledge about the natural world.

False: Science is both a body of knowledge about the natural world, and the process scientists use to generate this knowledge.

T/F: A scientific fact is more important than a scientific theory.

False: Scientific facts are very important, but scientific theories are explanations that have been extensively tested.

Any direct and repeatable observation of the natural world should be considered to be a _________.

Scientific Fact

Living things that harvest energy from NON-LIVING components of their environment are known as ________ or producers. Some living things, such as plants, are able to harvest _________ and use it in the biochemical pathway called ________.

autotrophs, light energy, photosynthesis

A _________ is a direct and repeatable observation about some aspect of the natural world. A ________ is a well-tested explanation about some phenomenon observed in the natural world that has been confirmed in many different ways. A ________ is one of several untested explanations of a phenomenon observed in the natural world.

scientific fact, scientific theory, scientific hypothesis

Which of the following statement is correct about a scientific theory? a) It is an explanation for a phenomenon in the natural world that has been extensively confirmed. b) It is an idea that has been proven. c) It is a description of a belief that invokes the supernatural. d) It is a concept or idea in its early stages that still needs to be tested.

Correct: a Incorrect: b, c, d

What best describes the definition of science?

A body of knowledge and a particular way of learning about the natural world.

Science is one of the most democratic human endeavors, because it is not "owned" or controlled by an individual or group. Moreover, anyone can participate. Research projects that non-scientists can participate in, fall under which umbrella?

Citizen Science

T/F: A theory in science is a speculative idea and is based on little or no evidence.

False: In science, the word "theory" is used very differently than it is in common language.

The extension of science to practical applications, such as cell phones, is ________.

Technology

What is not true of living systems?

They are always composed of many cells.

When one studies living things, a distinct hierarchy of structural organization emerges. Place these levels in order from smallest to largest (most basic to most encompassing).

atoms, biomolecules, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biomes, biosphere

What is the role of the control treatment in an experimental design?

provides a basis of comparison to the experimental group

The term that means "the scientific study of life" is ________.

Biology

The way in which scientists view their surroundings could be called "scientific thinking." Scientific thinking is a) as objective as is possible b) based upon evidence c) based upon faith d) a logical format for answering questions and solving problems e) invokes the supernatural to explain what we don't understand

Correct: a, b, d Incorrect: c, e

Which of the following are characteristics shared by all living things, a fact that supports the conclusion of common ancestry? a) can collect and respond to sensory information b) harvest energy from their environments c) are made of many cells d) remain the same over many generations e) can photosynthesize f) use DNA as the hereditary molecule

Correct: a, b, f Incorrect: c, d, e

Which of the following statements are true with respect to the testing of hypotheses? a) evidence generated by observations and/or experiments must be reviewed by peers before it will be accepted b) observational and/or experimental evidence is obtained objectively c) evidence produced by one or more researchers must be replicable by other researchers under the same conditions before it will be considered viable.

Correct: all of the above

Which of the following could be considered to be a hallmark of a scientific theory? a) the ability to extend the theory to make predictions b) it is explanatory

Could be a Hallmark of a Scientific Theory: a & b

T/F: The only way in which hypotheses can be tested is by designing and conducting an experiment.

False: You can conduct an experiment by observation.

T/F: Our modern definition for biological evolution is a change in the genetic characteristics of an individual over generations.

False; it's populations that evolve over generations, not individuals, and this is our modern definition of evolution.

What is the correct statement about the way in which new things can be learned about the natural world, in a fashion historically called the "scientific method?"

The scientific method can be applied across many disciplines, ranging from physics to psychology.

In an experimental design, the group that is maintained at a standard, baseline level with no manipulation is the ________ group, while the other group that is manipulated is known as the __________ group.

control, treatment

Living things that can harvest energy from LIVING components of their environment are known as ________, or consumers. These organisms harvest energy from either ________ or other ________.

heterotrophs, producers, consumers

A scientific _________ is a tentative answer or _________ that provides an explanation for a(n) ________ about the natural world.

hypothesis, educated guess, observation

In the simplest experiment design, a scientist will manipulate a variable called the ________ variable and then check to see whether a second variable, called the ________ variable, also changes as a consequence.

independent, dependent

If you eat a cheeseburger for breakfast, the hamburger patty you eat mainly consists of ground-up muscle from cattle. What levels of organization below that of muscle are represented in this ground-up material?

macromolecule, cell, and tissue

The theory of biological evolution is the unifying ________ for the biological sciences. The mechanism for biological evolution is called ________, which leads to advantageous traits known as ________. This mechanism results in changes in the overall ________ composition of ________.

theory, natural selection, adaptations, genetic, populations