Biology Basics
Science is best described as a way of doing what?
Knowing / understanding the natural world
During a controlled experiment, a scientist should test how many variables at a time?
One Variable
Asking questions about something you observe demonstrates what scientific attitude?
Curiosity
True or False: All living things must be able to move from place to place.
False
Change in populations of organisms over time is known as what?
Evolution
What metric unit is commonly used to measure length?
Meter(m)
A possible explanation for an observation that can be tested is called what?
A hypothesis
A scientist thinks water will make bread mold grow faster. What has the scientist formed?
A hypothesis
A personal preference or point of view that could affect someone's interpretation is called what?
Bias
Maintaining stable internal conditions is called what?
Homeostasis
Tree finches and ground finches descended from a common ancestor. Which major idea of biology does this demonstrate?
Evolution
How many centimeters are in 1 meter?
100 centimeters
A well-tested explanation that explains many observations is called what?
A scientific theory
Rats are divided into two groups. One receives a normal diet and one receives a diet missing a mineral. Which group is the control group?
The rats receiving the normal diet
A scientist considers new evidence even though it challenges their original idea. What attitude are they demonstrating?
Open-mindedness
The combination of chemical reactions that build up or break down materials inside an organism is called what?
Metabolism
Scientists working in genomics and molecular biology commonly study what molecule?
DNA
How many milliliters are in 1 liter?
1,000 mL
Why is science NOT simply a collection of facts?
Scientific knowledge can change as new evidence is discovered.
In that rat experiment, what is the variable being changed?
Whether the necessary mineral is present in the diet
During peer review, other scientists primarily check a study for what two things?
Mistakes and bias
Living organisms must take in this to fuel their life processes.
Energy
Why might a scientist studying evolution need knowledge from other branches of biology?
The different branches of biology are interrelated.
What is the relationship between 1 milliliter and 1 cubic centimeter?
1 mL = 1 cm³
Scientists use explanations of the natural world to recognize patterns and make what about natural events?
Predictions
The rats missing the mineral become weaker. Give a reasonable hypothesis supported by these results.
If rats do not receive the necessary mineral, then they will become weaker / less healthy.
Why is peer review important before scientific research is published?
It allows other scientists to evaluate the methods, evidence, conclusions, mistakes, and possible bias.
Name three characteristics of living things.
Any 3: made of cells; reproduce; based on a genetic code; grow and develop; obtain/use materials and energy; respond to environment; maintain homeostasis; evolve/change over time.
What do global ecologists study?
Life and biological processes on a global scale, including interactions across the biosphere.
You have 2 liters of water. How many milliliters do you have?
2,000 mL