LIFE120 Chapter 1

A student is sitting on campus and sees a squirrel walk right up to a person eating their lunch. The student wonders why the squirrels on campus appear less afraid of humans compared to squirrels in a nearby wildlife preserve area. She starts writing down some of her hypotheses and predictions, some of which are listed below. Identify which are hypotheses and which are predictions: The difference in the fear of humans between these two squirrel populations is caused by a genetic difference.

Hypothesis

A student is sitting on campus and sees a squirrel walk right up to a person eating their lunch. The student wonders why the squirrels on campus appear less afraid of humans compared to squirrels in a nearby wildlife preserve area. She starts writing down some of her hypotheses and predictions, some of which are listed below. Identify which are hypotheses and which are predictions: The squirrels on campus have learned that humans are not a threat.

Hypothesis

A student is sitting on campus and sees a squirrel walk right up to a person eating their lunch. The student wonders why the squirrels on campus appear less afraid of humans compared to squirrels in a nearby wildlife preserve area. She starts writing down some of her hypotheses and predictions, some of which are listed below. Identify which are hypotheses and which are predictions: Baby squirrels that were born in the wildlife preserve and then transferred to campus will be display fewer approaches toward humans than will baby squirrels that were not transferred to campus.

Prediction

A student is sitting on campus and sees a squirrel walk right up to a person eating their lunch. The student wonders why the squirrels on campus appear less afraid of humans compared to squirrels in a nearby wildlife preserve area. She starts writing down some of her hypotheses and predictions, some of which are listed below. Identify which are hypotheses and which are predictions: The squirrels at the wildlife preserve will be startled at a greater distance when humans approach them, compared to squirrels on campus.

Prediction

Why is it important that an experiment include a control group? a. A control group provides a reference by which to determine if a particular outcome may reasonably result from the variable being tested. b. The control group provides a reserve of experimental subjects. c. A control group assures that an experiment will be repeatable. d. A control group is required for the development of an "If . . . then" statement.

a. A control group provides a reference by which to determine if a particular outcome may reasonably result from the variable being tested.

Evolution can be best defined as ________. a. change in the gene pool of a population b. always taking a very long time to occur c. the production of new species d. change in the composition of populations

a. change in the gene pool of a population

A change in the sequence of DNA nucleotides can change the function of proteins. TRUE/FALSE

True

DNA is found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes TRUE/FALSE

True

The sequence of DNA nucleotides determine the structure and function of RNA molecules. TRUE/FALSE

True

Imagine there is a species-specific fishing regulation that mandates only adult fish of this species that are 75 cm or longer may be kept and shorter fish must be released. Based on your knowledge of natural selection, you would predict that the average length of the adult fish population will a. gradually decline. b. gradually increase. c. remain unchanged. d. rapidly increase. e. rapidly decline.

a. gradually decline.

Can you inherit physical traits that your parents acquired during their lifetime? a. No b. Only if it improves reproductive success c. Yes d. Only if it improves survivability

a. no

What is the dependent variable in this list? a. the number of mouse that survived b. mouse coat color c. mouse size and shape d. the number of different predators present

a. the number of mouse that survived

A controlled experiment is one in which ________. a. there are at least two groups, one of which does not receive the experimental treatment b. there are at least two groups, one differing from the other by two or more variables c. the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate d. the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data

a. there are at least two groups, one of which does not receive the experimental treatment

Which of the following is evidence for evolution in action? a. Bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics over time b. The different domesticated breeds of dogs customized for our needs c. Mosquitoes becoming resistant to pesticides d. All are evidence for evolution

d. All are evidence for evolution

What is misleading about commercials that show "scientific proof" that laundry detergent X is better than another leading brand? a. We do not know whether the same amount of each detergent was used for washing. b. We do not know if everything besides the detergents was the same (machine used, type of stains, etc.). c. We are shown only one tee-shirt becoming whiter in each detergent, not 20 tee-shirts in each detergent. d. All of the above are aspects that are misleading.

d. All of the above are aspects that are misleading.

Robert is a student studying butterflies and he has noted that the body of Swallowtail butterflies are much larger than Monarch butterflies and recalls that animals that live in cooler environments often have a low surface area to volume ratio. Robert has also noticed that as Autumn approaches that he is capturing fewer Monarch butterflies each week and more Swallowtail butterflies. Robert wants to know why there are changes in the amount of different butterfly species he is capturing. Which of the following hypotheses is the most appropriate and testable to address Robert's question? a. The number of Monarch butterflies is decreasing and the number of Swallowtail butterflies is increasing. b. The number of Swallowtail butterflies is increasing and Monarch butterflies are decreasing because it is cooler. c. The number of Monarch butterflies increases when temperatures are warmer and decreases when temperatures are cooler. d. The number of Monarch butterflies decreases in cooler temperatures because they have a higher surface area to volume ratio than Swallowtail butterflies.

d. The number of Monarch butterflies decreases in cooler temperatures because they have a higher surface area to volume ratio than Swallowtail butterflies.

Natural selection acts on ________, and ________ evolve. a. individuals; individuals b. populations; populations c. populations; individuals d. individuals; populations

d. individuals; populations

Individuals with variations that make them best suited to their environment are, on average, more likely to ________. a. become larger b. evolve c. change over time d. survive and reproduce

d. survive and reproduce

RNA is replicated in parents' reproductive cells and passed on to offspring. TRUE/FALSE

False

Which of the following statements cannot be tested by science? a. Male lions have brown manes. b. It is wrong that male lions kill baby lions when taking over a new pride. c. Male lions sleep 20 hours a day. d. All statements can be tested by science.

b. It is wrong that male lions kill baby lions when taking over a new pride.

You want to know whether cookies made with unbleached flour taste better than cookies made with bleached flour; which of the following has the strongest experimental design to test this question? a. Make two batches of cookies, one with bleached flour and one with unbleached flour; one taster tries both types and ranks which type he likes best. b. Make two batches of cookies, one with bleached flour and one with unbleached flour; twenty tasters try both types without knowing which ones they are eating and rank which type they like best. c. Make two batches of cookies, one with bleached flour and one with unbleached flour; twenty tasters try both types and rank which type they like best. d. Make two batches of cookies, both with bleached flour; one taster tries both types and ranks which type he likes best.

b. Make two batches of cookies, one with bleached flour and one with unbleached flour; twenty tasters try both types without knowing which ones they are eating and rank which type they like best.

What should one do if the results of an experiment consistently do not support the original hypothesis? a. Change the results to match the hypothesis. b. Reject the original hypothesis and formulate a new hypothesis. c. Change the hypothesis to match the results. d. Accept the original hypothesis.

b. Reject the original hypothesis and formulate a new hypothesis.

A weed that exhibits resistance to an herbicide ________. a. is less likely to pass on the gene to the next generation b. inherited the gene that made it resistant to the herbicide c. mutated when exposed to the herbicide d. developed the resistance in response to the herbicide

b. inherited the gene that made it resistant to the herbicide

What is the independent variable in this list? a. the number of mouse that survived b. mouse coat color c. mouse size and shape d. the number of different predators present

b. mouse coat color

A biologist grows one set of 10 seedlings under white light and one set of the same type of seedlings under red light and measures their growth over a period of two weeks. What is the independent variable in this study? a. seedling growth b. the color of the light c. time d. the type of seedlings

b. the color of the light

Human embryos have a developmental stage during which they have a tail and pharyngeal pouches (those pouches develop into gills in fish). How can we explain these characteristics of human embryos? a. Human embryos spend time in the water where tails and gills are useful. b. Human embryos need a tail and gills to breathe during development in the placenta. c. Human embryos share a common ancestor who had gills. d. Both A and B are correct.

c. Human embryos share a common ancestor who had gills.

Which of the following is the best description of a control group for an experiment? a. The control group is left alone by the experimenters. b. The control group is exposed to only one variable rather than several. c. The control group is kept in an unchanging environment. d. The control group is matched with the experimental group except for the one experimental variable.

c. The control group is kept in an unchanging environment.

Which of the following statements describes an individual that is likely to be the most successful in an evolutionary sense? a. a reproductively sterile individual who never falls ill b. a female who mates with 20 males and produces two offspring who live to reproduce c. an organism that lives 100 years and leaves two offspring, both of whom survive to reproduce d. a male who mates with 20 females and fathers one offspring e. an organism that dies after five days of life but leaves 10 offspring, all of whom survive to reproduce

c. an organism that lives 100 years and leaves two offspring, both of whom survive to reproduce

What is the controlled variable in this list? a. the number of mouse that survived b. mouse coat color c. mouse size and shape d. the number of different predators present

c. mouse size and shape

Strong evidence in support of the common ancestry of all life comes from which of the following observations about living things? a. the universal use of protein catalysts by all cells b. the fact that decomposers include both bacteria and fungi c. the existence of a nearly universal genetic code d. the ability of plants to convert light energy to chemical energy

c. the existence of a nearly universal genetic code