Major Lab Quiz #1

Question 1

What are the steps in the scientific method (in order)?

Answer 1

1. Observation
2. Hypothesis
3. Prediction
4. Test
5. Results
6. Conclusion

Question 2

Dependent Variable

Answer 2

The observed result of the independent variable being manipulated

Question 3

Independent Variable

Answer 3

The variable representing the value being manipulated or changed

Question 4

Control

Answer 4

What is held constant between experimental groups

Question 5

What is the cycling process?

Answer 5

The cycling of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and other elements essential to life via assimilation and decomposition.

Question 6

Assimilation

Answer 6

When microbes convert inorganic elements into forms that are usable by other microbes, plants, and animals

Question 7

Decomposition

Answer 7

When microbes break down organic matter and recycle it so it can once again be made available to other organisms

Question 8

How are microbes used in industry?

Answer 8

Food industry → making bread, cheese, yogurt, wine and beer

Medical industry → used to produce insulin, interferon, human growth hormone, and vaccines

Question 9

What is the goal of the Minnesota Mississippi Metagenomics Project (M3P)?

Answer 9

To understand the function and diversity of microbial life in the Mississippi River and how humans impact it.

Question 10

What is the M3P’s hypothesis?

Answer 10

Humans do impact the structure and function of the microbial community and this impact is magnified downstream as the Mississippi accumulates water and pollutants from its tributaries and confluences.

Question 11

Why is the M3P important?

Answer 11

Because we know very little about the microbes inhabiting the Mississippi, which is a large and important river that provides drinking water to ~18 million people in more than 50 cities

Question 12

Taxonomy

Answer 12

The science of finding, describing, and naming organisms

Question 13

Taxon (singular taxa)

Answer 13

Different groups of organisms, which are organized through a process called classification

Question 14

Phylogeny

Answer 14

Evolutionary relationships between organisms

Question 15

Clades

Answer 15

Groups on a cladogram that are delineated by the two branches and their common ancestory

Question 16

What is a phylogenetic tree and why is it important?

Answer 16

Similar to family trees, but can provide information about the evolution of a species.
• Important because it can show evolutionary relationships

Question 17

What are the eight different taxonomic groups of classification?

Answer 17

DUMB KINGS PLAY CHESS ON FUZZY GREEN SQUARES
1. Domain
2. Kingdom
3. Phylum
4. Class
5. Order
6. Family
7. Genus
8. Species
→ can be 9 if you include the super group that further distinguishes eukaryotic organisms

Question 18

Heterotroph

Answer 18

Obtain preformed organic carbon-containing molecules from other organisms

ex: amoeba, euplotes, aramecium, blepharisma, stentor, daphnia, tardigrade, and rhizopus

Question 19

Autotroph

Answer 19

Obtain their carbon from CO2

ex: chlamydomonas, volvox, spirogyra

Question 20

Genomics

Answer 20

Studies the genome of a single species, as opposed to all organisms in a given sample

Question 21

Metagenomics

Answer 21

The study of the entire array of genetic information from a given environmental sample

Question 22

Monophyletic

Answer 22

(of a group of organisms) descended from a common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group, especially one not shared with any other group

Question 23

Paraphyletic

Answer 23

(of a group of organisms) descended from a common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group, but not including all the descendant groups

Question 24

Polyphyletic

Answer 24

(of a group of organisms) derived from more than one common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group and therefore not suitable for placing in the same taxon

Question 25

Metabolism

Answer 25

All of the chemical reactions of an organism taken as a whole

Question 26

Metabolic Pathway

Answer 26

A set of reactions (usually to form a certain product)

Question 27

Catabolic Pathway

Answer 27

A metabolic pathway that can break down complex molecules

Question 28

Anabolic Pathway

Answer 28

A metabolic pathway that can synthesize complex molecules

Question 29

Collision Theory

Answer 29

The concept that, for a reaction to occur, the reactants (atoms or molecules) must be in the proper orientation with respect to another as they come into contact with one another. Essentially, REACTANTS MUST COME INTO CONTACT.

Question 30

Activation Energy

Answer 30

The amount of kinetic energy (particles in motion) necessary to change particles from their current level of energy to the minimum kinetic energy needed to initiate the reaction

Question 31

How do enzymes relate to activation energy?

Answer 31

Enzymes lower the activation energy of a reaction, which makes reactions easier and happen quicker

Question 32

How is the activation energy different in an enzymatic reaction compared to a non-enzymatic reaction?

Answer 32

The activation energy is higher in a non-enzymatic reaction than in an enzymatic reaction (because enzymes lower activation energy)

Question 33

Enzyme

Answer 33

An organic catalyst, usually a type of protein, which is composed of amino acids (determined by a DNA sequences of nucleotides) which are linked together by peptide bonds.

Question 34

Catalyst

Answer 34

?

Question 35

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

Answer 35

Forms after the enzyme binds with the substrate of the reaction. It is here that the substrate is converted into the appropriate product(s).

Question 36

Denaturation

Answer 36

The complete loss of three-dimensional conformation that results in the inability of an enzyme to catalyze a reaction

Question 37

Depth of Field

Answer 37

Vertical zone where an object is perhaps not in sharp focus, but still visible. Depth of field decreases as magnification increases.

Question 38

Field of View

Answer 38

The circular illuminated area that is seen when you look through the eyepiece of a microscope. When you increase the magnification, the amount of object you see would appear smaller.

Question 39

How do you find total magnification?

Answer 39

Objective x Eye (10) So 4X x 10 would be a total magnification of 40

Question 40

1 millimeter is how many micrometers?

Answer 40

1000