Chapter 1 biology 121 – Flashcards
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. Science is subdivided into specific areas of study termed disciplines. These divisions are artificial but are helpful to narrow the massive scope of scientific knowledge to a manageable amount. Given what you know about each, which scientific division is likely to present the best answer to a question about how fluid dynamics affect blood pressure in mammals?
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Biophysics - study of biological processes through physics
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Based on hierarchical levels of biological organization, which of these choices represents the broadest level?
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Amazon Basin
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Experiments are carried out to test a hypothesis by changing one variable at a time and including an unchanged variable termed a(n) _____.
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control
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The method of reasoning that uses construction of general principles by careful examination of many specific cases is called
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Inductive reasoning
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Dr. Ratard was trying to determine the cause of a mysterious epidemic affecting fish in the gulf of New Mexico. His proposal that the deaths were caused by an organism called a protist is considered a(n)
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Hypothesis
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After Darwin concluded his voyage on the Beagle, he proposed that the process of natural selection was a mechanism for:
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evolution
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A scientific theory is
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a concept that is supported by experimental evidence that explains the facts in an area of study
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What common life characteristic would cells from a daisy, an apple and a dog all have?
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DNA
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A yellow jacket, an insect in the order hymenoptera, stung me. A wasp, an insect in hymenoptera, stung me. A hornet, an insect in hymenoptera, stung me. I see a pattern. All insects in this order must have stingers. What type of reasoning does this represent?
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inductive reasoning
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You explain to your study group that a hypothesis is:
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an explanation that accounts for careful observations
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. A suggested explanation that might be true and is subject to testing by further observations is a(n):
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hypothesis
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. Based on the literature, you hypothesize that students in traditional biology lectures will have the same grades as students in online biology lectures. You decide to test your hypothesis by comparing grades of students in traditional and online biology lectures over a semester. As a result of the experiment, you observe that the grades in the traditional lectures and the grades in the online lectures are not significantly different. What do these observations allow you to do?
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reject the null hypothesis
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Your microwave will not turn on, and you speculate that a circuit breaker in the house has been tripped. In scientific terminology, the steps would be described as:
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. developing a hypothesis based on an observation
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A student poses the question: How does the presence of dissolved salt affect the freezing point of water? To answer this question, the student set up two conditions. In the first condition, the student added salt to water in a container and referred to this condition as the variable. In the second condition, the student did not add any salt to water in a second container and referred to this condition as the control. The student took both containers and attempted to freeze the water at various temperatures to assess the freezing point. Would this be a valid experiment?
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Yes, because there is one variable and a control
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Karl Popper suggested that scientists use "imaginative preconception," which means that successful scientists
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often predict the outcome of experiments
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. The proposal that one type of organism can change gradually into another type over a long period of time is known as:
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evolution
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Darwin's ideas on evolution were advanced for his time. His approach to science and natural selection were supported by what main tenant?
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Operation of natural laws produces constant change and improvement
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Besides Darwin, the theory of evolution by means of natural selection was also independently proposed by:
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Thomas Malthus.
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. The term that Darwin used to describe the concept that those with superior physical, behavior or other attributes are more likely to survive than those that are not so well endowed, and thus are more likely to pass their traits to the next generation, is called
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Natural selection
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A key contribution to Darwin's thinking was the concept of limits put on the geometric growth of populations by nature, originally proposed by:
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Thomas Malthus.
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Darwin's book in which he described his views on evolution is:
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on the origin of species
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. Recent discoveries of microscopic fossils have extended the known history of life to about:
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3.5 billion years ago
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. In California, a species of salamanders were geographically separated over time. The group that lived in southern California relied heavily on large gold blotches on their skin that helped to camouflage them from predators. The group that lived along the coast adopted a color pattern that mimicked a poisonous, colorful newt common to that area. Instead of being camouflaged, these salamanders advertised their colors. What type of selection process has occurred over time?
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natural selection
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. The same basic array of bones is modified to give rise to the wing of a bat and the fin of a porpoise. Such anatomical structures are called
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homologous.
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Structures that have similar structure and function but different evolutionary origins are called:
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analogous
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The rate at which evolution is occurring cannot be estimated by:
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. inferring that apes are related to humans
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Differences in domesticated animals over relatively short periods of time most likely occur through
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artificial selection
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Essay on the Principle of Population, written by Thomas Malthus in 1798, influenced Darwin's thoughts as he struggled to understand what mechanisms could be at work to produce evolution. Malthus proposed that populations of animals and plants, including humans,
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. increased geometrically in numbers while the nutrients available only increased arithmetically
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A student set up an experiment to test if plants give off water vapor. Fifty pea plants, growing in pots, were covered with individual glass containers and left overnight. The next morning, the inside of each lid was covered in droplets of water. The lab student concluded that plants generally give off water vapor. What critique would you make of the experimental design?
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. There was no control so the water could have come from other sources such as air in the jar or the soil
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It is known that many trees lose their leaves in response to decreasing day length. As a result, you think that Gingko trees may also lose their leaves in response to decreasing day length. This statement is an example of:
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a hypothesis
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Multiple independent experiments have demonstrated that phytochrome helps trigger seasonal change responses in the plant such as changing color and loosening of leaves. Plants have the ability adapt to seasonal changes in their surroundings. This statement is an example of
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a theory
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Plants are raised under artificial lights turned off and on by an electric clock. Some are given long periods of light, others short periods. This is an example of:
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an experiment
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. Both walnut and Gingko trees lose their leaves in the fall when day length starts decreasing. Based on these observations one may conclude that many tree species will lose their leaves in the fall in response to decreasing day length. This statement is an example of
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inductive reasoning
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. Gingko trees are known to lose their leaves at a certain time each year throughout the United States. Based on this information, Gingko trees in China must behave the same way. These statements are an example of:
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deductive resoning
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. Most individuals in academia are basic researchers, funded through research grants from agencies or foundations. Based on your knowledge of applied research, an industrial company would most likely employ individuals
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who develop alternative fuel sources
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Wings of birds and butterflies have similar functions, but different evolutionary origins. They are:
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analogous structures.
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An alien from another planet landed on earth. He is fascinated by cars and is determined to figure out how they work. He decides to disassemble one of them and examine each part independently. He removes one of the tires and proceeds to learn all he can about the tire. He then removes one of the headlights and proceeds to learn all he can about the headlight. What type of approach is this alien taking to learn about the car?
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reductionism
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While you are riding the ski lift up to the top of the mountain on a very cold day you start to shiver involuntarily. You know that the shivering is your body's attempt to help regulate your body temperature and is an example of what type of mechanism?
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homeostasis
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You have been assigned to address a problem of overpopulation of species X in a nearby county. One of the members of your team suggests introducing species Y, which is a natural predator of species X, but not normally found in the area. After some discussion, you go ahead and introduce species Y. What aspects of the hierarchical organization may be affected within a period of a several years?
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population, species, community
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You have been assigned to analyze some extraterrestrial material recently collected from Mars. After examining a sample using a microscope you jump up excitedly and shout to your colleagues that you have confirmed the existence of life on Mars. One of your colleagues takes a look at your sample and remarks that all he sees is a single-celled "blob" with little internal structure. Assuming that life on Mars can be classified into similar domains and kingdoms as Earth, to which domain does your "blob" belong?
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Archaea
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Why was the determination of the actual sequence of the human genome considered to be descriptive science?
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It did not involve hypothesis-driven research.
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Why is it necessary to take an interdisciplinary approach to studying biology?
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Research methods used to solve many biological questions often require a number of different types of approaches and the expertise of a variety of scientists.
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How does peer review influence the development of scientific theories?
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Careful evaluation of research results by other scientists ensures that only solid and legitimate research results are published, and helps prevent faulty research or false claims from being viewed as scientific fact.
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Marceau is studying small single-celled organisms that contain phospholipid membranes. These organisms can be broadly classified into the domain
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bacteria
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Bacterial cells are placed into a 250mL liquid growth medium in a closed laboratory flask. According to Malthusian theory, they will reproduce exponentially and then
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continue reproducing geometrically until the food supply is used up, then they will cease to grow
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. If two different species of fish fossils were found in two different layers of sedimentary rock, what might one infer about the specimens?
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. The species in lower layer died first
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. A dental student wants to test if fluoride is an effective additive against tooth decay. The student studies tooth decay in a population of people who live in neighborhoods supplied with fluoridated water. This student would like to ask whether access to fluoridated water prevents tooth decay. What would be an effective control group to ask this question?
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. Individuals with access to water with no fluoride added
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Which statement represents the biological characteristics that kittens, oak trees, swans, earth worms, elephants and crickets have in common?
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DNA nucleotides form the basis of all inherited life, with cells that are formed from other cells
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Viruses defy characterization as living organisms even though they possess nucleic acids and proteins. The reason why viruses are not considered to be alive is because they
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cannot reproduce with a host cell
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. A chemical imbalance in the blood can cause the heart to stop pumping blood, which will have a detrimental effect on other organs. This observation can be attributed to
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emergent properties
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. Viruses contain DNA or RNA, but lack genes necessary for metabolism and reproduction. Why are viruses not considered to be alive
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Viruses are unable to reproduce independently of a host.
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At one time, a beautiful wood desk you may do your homework on was a living tree, but its tissues have been replaced with minerals. Now, it only exhibits what property of life?
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organization
