Week 1

Question 1

What is the branch of science that deals with living organisms and life processes?

Answer 1

Biology

Biology aims to promote awareness of life, understand biological occupations, and participate in conservation programs.

Question 2

List the objectives of studying biology.

Answer 2

• Awareness/to know life
• Understanding biological occupations
• Developing better leisure activities
• Promoting general health standards
• Participating in conservation programs

These objectives highlight the importance of biology in everyday life.

Question 3

What are the two main categories of sciences?

Answer 3

• Physical Sciences
• Life Sciences

Life sciences include biology, medicine, anthropology, and ecology.

Question 4

Define bioscience.

Answer 4

Life sciences that deal with living organisms and their organization, life processes, and relationships

Also known as biological sciences.

Question 5

What are the characteristics of life?

Answer 5

• Complex and organized
• Grow and reproduce
• Respond to stimuli
• Acquire and use materials and energy (metabolism)
• Regulate (homeostasis)
• Use DNA and store information
• Adapt and evolve

These characteristics help define what constitutes living organisms.

Question 6

What is the significance of evolution in biology?

Answer 6

It explains the gradual change during which new species arise from older species

Theodosius Dobzhansky stated, ‘Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.’

Question 7

What is taxonomy?

Answer 7

The branch of science concerned with classification, especially of organisms

Taxonomy helps organize the diversity of life.

Question 8

Differentiate between descriptive science and hypothesis-based science.

Answer 8

• Descriptive science: Aims to observe, explore, and discover
• Hypothesis-based science: Begins with a specific question or problem and a potential answer

Both forms of study often overlap in scientific endeavors.

Question 9

What is the scientific method?

Answer 9

A systematic approach to understanding the natural world through observation, experimentation, and communication

It incorporates controls and requires communication of results.

Question 10

What are the three basic principles of ethics in research?

Answer 10

• Respect of persons
• Beneficence
• Justice

These principles guide ethical considerations in research involving human subjects.

Question 11

Define hypothesis.

Answer 11

A tentative explanation to a phenomenon observed

It can be tested through experimentation.

Question 12

What is the difference between inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning?

Answer 12

• Inductive reasoning: Goes from specific observations to general conclusions
• Deductive reasoning: Starts with a general theory and works down to specific conclusions

Both reasoning types are essential in scientific discovery.

Question 13

What is an experimental variable?

Answer 13

The component in the experiment being tested

It is crucial for determining the effect on the dependent variable.

Question 14

What is the null hypothesis?

Answer 14

The outcome you wish to reject

It serves as a starting point for statistical significance testing.

Question 15

What is the required statistical confidence level for results to be considered scientifically significant?

Answer 15

95%

This level is accepted to account for variability and uncertainty in data.

Question 16

What are the two types of data in scientific research?

Answer 16

• Qualitative: Descriptions rather than measurements
• Quantitative: Recorded measurements

Examples include observations and numerical data organized into tables and graphs.

Question 17

What is the purpose of peer review in scientific research?

Answer 17

To ensure that research is original, significant, logical, and thorough

Peer review is essential for maintaining scientific integrity.

Question 18

What is the difference between a primary and a secondary paper?

Answer 18

• Primary paper: Original research report
• Secondary paper: Summary or analysis of primary research

Understanding this distinction is important for evaluating scientific literature.

Question 19

Which of the following properties or processes do we associate with living things?

all are correct
metabolism
growth and reproduction
evolution and natural selection

Answer 19

All are correct

Question 20

Which of the following sequences represents the hierarchy of biological organization from the least to the most complex level?

• organism, community, biosphere, molecule, tissue, organ
• molecule, cell, organ system, population, ecosystem, biosphere
• organelle, tissue, biosphere, ecosystem, population, organism
• cell, community, population, organ system, molecule, organelle

Answer 20

molecule, cell, organ system, population, ecosystem, biosphere

Question 21

A localized group of organisms that belong to the same species is called a

family
population
community
biosphere

Answer 21

Population

Question 22

Which branch of biology is concerned with the naming and classifying of organisms?

schematic biology
taxonomy
informatics
genomics

Answer 22

Taxonomy

Question 23

Prokaryotes are classified as belonging to two different domains. What are these domains?

Bacteria and Protista
Bacteria and Eukarya
Bacteria and Archaea
Archaea and Monera

Answer 23

Bacteria and archaea

Question 24

Evolution is biology’s core theme that ties together all the other themes. This is because evolution explains

• the unity and diversity of life
• why distantly related organisms sometimes resemble each other
• how organisms become adapted to their environment through the differential reproductive success of varying individuals
• all are correct
• explains why some organisms have traits in common

Answer 24

All are correct

Question 25

What is a hypothesis? - a fact based on qualitative data that is testable - a fact based on quantitative data that is falsifiable - a tentative explanation that can be tested and is falsifiable - the same thing as an unproven theory

Answer 25

a tentative explanation that can be tested and is falsifiable

Question 26

A controlled experiment is one in which —there are at least two groups, one of which does not receive the experimental treatment —the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate —there is one group for which the scientist controls all variables —there are at least two groups, one differing from the other by two or more variables

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Why is it important that an experiment include a control group? —A control group is required for the development of an "if, then" statement —The control group provides a reserve of experimental subjects —A control group assures that an experiment will be repeatable —Without a control group, there is no basis for knowing if a particular result is due to the variable being tested or to some other factor

Answer 27

Without a control group, there is no basis for knowing if a particular result is due to the variable being tested or to some other factor

Question 28

When performing an experiment, results must have a statistical confidence of at least _____% to be considered scientifically significant 50% 75% 95% 100%

Answer 28

95%

Question 29

With which of these steps of the scientific method do you associate deductive reasoning? conclusion researching the scientific literature formulating the hypothesis experimentation

Answer 29

Experimentation

Question 30

Which of the following statements is correct? —a theory is a simple hypothesis that needs further experimentation and observation —the term theory in science is reserved for those hypotheses that have proven to have the greatest explanatory power —because scientists speak of the “theory of evolution”, they believe the evolution does not have much merit —theories are hypothesis that have failed to be supported by experimentation and observation

Answer 30

the term theory in science is reserved for those hypotheses that have proven to have the greatest explanatory power

Question 31

Which of the cell/molecular units is known as the basic unit of life? tissue matter cell molecule

Answer 31

Cell

Question 32

Biology is a physical science. True False

Answer 32

False; it’s a life science

Question 33

Which is the experiment variable in the experiment concerning sweetener S? -conditions like temperature and housing are the same for all groups -the amount of sweetener S in food -two percent of the group feed food that was 10% sweetener S got bladder cancer, and 90% of the group fed food that was 50% sweetener S got bladder cancer -that data was presented as a graph

Answer 33

the amount of sweetener S in food

Question 34

The scientific method does not apply to? life science physical science natural science politics, art, religion

Answer 34

politics, art, religion

Question 35

Population

Answer 35

Interacting group of the same species in a common location

Question 36

Community

Answer 36

Interacting group of various species in a common location