Lab Biology Fall Midterm Exam Study Guide
Section 1: Scientific Process
1. In designing an experiment, how many dependent/manipulated variables should be tested?
2.
What is the purpose of a control set-up when designing an experiment?
3.
What are the three goals of science?
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4.
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations?
5.
“The Isopod has 2 antennae” is an example of which type of observation?
6.
The “Problem”, “Prediction” and “Hypothesis “ in an experiment are each written in what type of sentence
form?
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7.
A ______________________ is a possible solution to a problem which can be tested.
Use the following scenario to answer questions 8-10
Homer Simpson notices that his shower is covered in a strange green slime. Marge suggests that Homer use their
normal Itchy & Scratchy cleaner. After reading an article in a magazine that stated coconuts have a special
cleansing ability his friend Barney tells him that coconut juice will get rid of the green slime. Homer likes Barneys
idea better.
8.
Formulate a hypothesis for Homer’s preference.
9.
How could Homer & Barney test your hypothesis?
10. Identify the variables in your proposed experiment. Identify the control in your proposed experiment.
Section 2: Reading Tables and Graphs
Use the following scenario & graph to answer questions 1-5
Bacteria are tiny microorganisms that can reproduce by dividing into two. The
graph shows the results of an experiment on the effect of temperature on
bacterial reproduction. At the beginning, three populations of bacteria, all of the
same type, were of equal size. Each population was kept at a different
temperature for 4 days.
1.
Classifying What variable did the researcher change during this
experiment?
2.
Inferring What do the shapes of the curves tell you about the changes in population size?
3.
Calculating For the bacteria kept at 15°C, how much did population size change during the experiment?
4.
Drawing Conclusions What effect did the different temperatures have on the growth of the bacterial
populations?
5.
Predicting Suppose some bacteria used in this experiment were kept at a temperature of 100°C (the
temperature of boiling water). Would you expect the population sizes to increase even faster than at 15°C?
Explain your reasoning
Section 3: Chemistry/Biochemistry
1. What are the 3 sub-atomic particles that make up an atom (the exception being Hydrogen)? What are their
charges?
2.
What are the four major macromolecules?
3.
What types of foods are high in lipids? What are the major roles of lipids in living organisms?
4.
What types of foods are high in proteins? What are the major roles of proteins in living organisms?
5.
What types of foods are high in carbohydrates? What are the major roles of carbohydrates in living
organisms?
6.
How is energy released from food molecules when it is eaten?
7.
Why is water important to living cells?
Section 4: Cytology
1.
Identify the cells types below. Then identify the structures in the cells below:
Type of cell:
Type of cell:
2.
What are the functions of the organelles listed in #1 above? (mitochondria, nucleus, chloroplasts, cell
membrane, cell wall, etc.)
3.
What is a prokaryote? What is a eukaryote? Major differences?
4.
How do plant and animal cells differ?
5.
What will happen to a cell that has a 75% salinity concentration if placed in fresh water? Why?
6.
What will happen to a fresh water organism if placed into a salt water aquarium? Why?
7.
If a molecule is too big to pass through the cell membrane and is outside of a cell, but is needed inside, how
can a cell acquire that molecule? (hint: uses energy)
8.
What are the main ideas of the cell theory?
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
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9.
Diffusion is:
Osmosis is:
Section 5: Microscopes
1.
What type of microscope do we use in class?
2.
How do you calculate total magnification?
3.
Define Magnification and Resolution.
4.
Describe what each of the following scientists are known for related to microscopes and cells.
-Robert Hooke:
-Antony Van Leeuwenhoek:
-Mattias Schleiden:
-Theodor Schwann:
-Rudolph Virchow:
Section 6: Cell Cycle
1.
How do Prokaryotic cells reproduce?
2.
How do Eukaryotic cells reproduce?
3.
What is the structure that DNA forms into before a eukaryotic cell goes through cell division?
4.
What is the name of the picture that can be used to view all of a person’s chromosomes?
5.
A normal human somatic cell has _______ number of chromosomes.
6.
A normal human sex cell has ________ number of chromosomes.
7.
Define Homologous chromosomes.
8.
What is the difference between a diploid cell and a haploid cell?
9.
What is the difference between autosomes and sex chromosomes? Which pair number corresponds to each
type?
10. List the phases of the cell cycle, starting with interphase and describe what happens in each phase.
-I_________________
-P____________
-M________________
-A_________________
-T____________
-C_________________
11. Describe how Cytokinesis different between animal cells and plant cells?
12. What happens when a cell loses control of cell division?