Scientific Skills
Independent variable
This cell division process reduces the chromosome number by half to produce four genetically unique haploid gametes
Meiosis
Describes a permanent change in the nucleotide sequence of an organism's DNA
Mutation
This term describes any disease-causing micro-organism or agent, such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus.
Pathogen
This process describes the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions
Homeostasis
In an investigation testing the effect of temperature on enzyme activity, enzyme activity is classified as this variable
Dependent variable
This molecule, composed of a sugar, phosphate group and nitrogenous base, forms the basic structural unit of DNA
Nucleotide
Agents such as UV radiation, X-rays or benzene that increase the rate of genetic mutations
Mutagen
Tinea (Athlete's foot) is caused by this specific group of pathogens.
Fungus
Diseases caused by lifestyle factors, environmental exposures or genetic inheritance
Describes how close a set of measured experimental values are to each other, regardless of whether they hit the true value
Accuracy/Precision
This term describes an organism that possesses two identical alleles for a specific gene (e.g., AA or aa)
Homozygous
This biotechnology technique involves taking a gene from one species and inserting it into another organism's genome (e.g., Bt cotton)
Transgenesis or recombinant DNA technology
Define the public health concept of "herd immunity"
when high population immunity stops pathogen spread, and it protects individuals who cannot be safely vaccinated
This primary control mechanism reverses a change in the body's internal state to restore conditions back to a set point
Negative feedback
This essential experimental setup lacks the independent variable and is used as a baseline comparison to prove the tested factor caused the change
Control (control group)
During DNA replication, this enzyme unwinds and unzips the double helix by breaking the hydrogen bonds between base pairs
DNA helicase
Small, circular loops of double-stranded bacterial DNA commonly used as vectors to transport foreign genes into bacteria are called this
Plasmids
This line of defense includes physical and chemical barriers such as intact skin, tears, and stomach acid
First line of defense
Differentiate between the causes of Cystic Fibrosis and Melanoma
Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited genetic disease while melanoma is caused by exposure to UV radiation.
This graph type is gest used when both the independent and dependent variables are continuous numerical data
Line graph (scatter plot)
(Part A) State the complementary base pairing rule for DNA, and then (Part B) calculate the percentage of Cytosine in a DNA sample if 30% of the bases are Adenine
Part A Adenine with Thymine, Cytosine with Guanine. Part B 20%
Part A: Define selective breeding (artificial selection)
Part B: State one major limitation it places on a species' long-term survival
Part A: human-directed breeding of organisms for desired traits
Part B: Reduction of genetic diversity (or higher susceptibility to disease/environmental change)
(Part A) State why antibiotics treat bacterial infections like tuberculosis, and (Part B) explain why they fail against viral infections like influenza.
(Part A) antibiotics target bacterial structures (like cell walls), and (Part B) viruses lack these structures and replicate inside host cells?
Part A: Name the hormone released by the pancreas when blood glucose levels are too high
Part B: State the target organ where glucose is converted into stored glycogen
Part A: Insulin Part B: Liver