Biology Exam 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

How are human fossils classified into species?

by differences in the skeleton

What advantage do individuals who carry the sickle cell gene have?

Resistance to Malaria

Texas Panthers were brought into Florida to mate with Florida Panthers to prevent what?

an extinction vortex

What environmental condition applies to the North Atlantic right whale's history?

overexploitation Signup and view all the answers

What condition would occur in a species with several different alleles for many genes that are distributed throughout the population?

high genetic variability Signup and view all the answers

Name two organisms (other than the wolves) that benefited from the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone in the 1990s.

Deer/Elk, habitat for birds Signup and view all the answers

Where can you find the most genetically diverse populations of humans?

Africa Signup and view all the answers

What is speciation?

Evolution of one or more species from an ancestral form Signup and view all the answers

What environmental consequence results from replacing a fen?

habitat destruction Signup and view all the answers

What are the important ecosystem roles of a keystone species?

A dramatic increase in other species Signup and view all the answers

What factor may be causing the increase in extinction rate noted by many scientists?

human population growth and the resulting habitat changes Signup and view all the answers

Name two causes for the reduction in the Florida Panther population in the mid-1900s.

Lack of food sources, Lack of habitat Signup and view all the answers

What are hypotheses?

proposed explanations for observations Signup and view all the answers

What does the scientific method rely on?

<ol> <li>Making observations 2) Proposing ideas 3) Testing the ideas 4) Discarding or modifying ideas based on results</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What must a scientific hypothesis be?

testable and falsifiable Signup and view all the answers

What is a scientific theory?

a powerful, broad explanation for related observations based on well-supported hypotheses Signup and view all the answers

What are controlled experiments?

test hypotheses about the effect of experimental treatments by comparing a randomly assigned experimental group with a control group Signup and view all the answers

What are controls in experiments?

individuals treated identically to the experimental group except for the application of the treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is a placebo?

sham treatments in experiments Signup and view all the answers

What is an independent variable?

the item being varied (e.g., echinacea tea) Signup and view all the answers

What is a dependent variable?

the result/outcome being tested (duration of cold) Signup and view all the answers

What is bias?

influence on results Signup and view all the answers

What are blind studies?

limited participant knowledge Signup and view all the answers

What are double-blind studies?

also limit researcher's knowledge of participants group Signup and view all the answers

When should you use correlation studies?

when experiments on humans may be impossible, dangerous, and unethical Signup and view all the answers

What are model systems?

used in place of humans (e.g., bacteria, fruit flies, nematodes, mammals) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the scientific method used?

to test ideas about how the natural world works Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a strong correlation exists between stress and susceptibility to colds?

Stress might or might not affect susceptibility to colds Signup and view all the answers

Why are some lice able to survive permethrin treatments whereas others cannot?

Some lice are naturally resistant due to genetic variation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Human Fossils and Classification

Human fossils are classified into species based on skeletal differences.

Sickle Cell Gene Advantage

Individuals carrying the sickle cell gene exhibit resistance to malaria.

Texas to Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers' genetic diversity was bolstered by mating with Texas Panthers to avoid an extinction vortex.

North Atlantic Right Whales

Known as "right whales" due to their ease of capture for whalers; currently fewer than 400 individuals exist due to overexploitation.

Genetic Variability in Species

High genetic variability is observed in populations with multiple alleles for various genes.

Yellowstone Ecosystem

Reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone in the 1990s benefitted other species such as deer, elk, and bird habitats.

Genetic Diversity in Humans

Africa possesses the most genetically diverse populations of humans.

Speciation

Refers to the evolution of new species from an ancestral species.

Environmental Consequences of Habitat Destruction

Replacing wetlands, like fens, leads to habitat destruction.

Keystone Species Impact

Wolves in Yellowstone serve as a keystone species, significantly impacting other species and ecosystems.

Extinction Rate Factors

The rising extinction rate is attributed to human population growth and resulting habitat changes.

Florida Panther Population Decline

In the mid-1900s, the Florida Panther population was reduced due to lack of food sources and habitat loss.

Hypotheses Defined

Hypotheses are proposed explanations based on observations.

Scientific Method Steps

Involves making observations, proposing ideas, testing them, and modifying based on results.

Testable and Falsifiable Hypotheses

Scientific hypotheses must be capable of being tested and potentially disproven.

Scientific Theory Explanation

A scientific theory is a comprehensive explanation derived from well-supported hypotheses across multiple research lines.

Controlled Experiments

Designed to test hypotheses by comparing experimental groups against control groups.

Importance of Controls

Controls are treated identically to experimental groups, except for the treatment application.

Placebo in Experiments

A placebo serves as a sham treatment in research studies.

Independent Variable in Research

The independent variable is the factor that is altered in an experiment, such as echinacea tea.

Dependent Variable Explanation

The dependent variable is the outcome being measured, such as the duration of a cold.

Bias in Research

Bias refers to any influence that may affect research results.

Blind Studies Definition

Blind studies limit participant knowledge to reduce bias.

Double-Blind Studies

In double-blind studies, both participants and researchers are unaware of group assignments, minimizing bias.

Use of Correlation Studies

Correlation studies are employed when human experimentation is unethical, dangerous, or impractical.

Model Systems in Research

Model systems, such as bacteria, fruit flies, and rodents, are utilized to study biological processes instead of humans.

Purpose of the Scientific Method

The scientific method is employed to rigorously test ideas about the natural world.

Correlation Between Stress and Colds

A strong correlation exists, indicating that stress may or may not influence susceptibility to colds.

Lice Resistance to Permethrin

Genetic variation leads some lice to naturally resist permethrin treatments, facilitating survival.

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Description

Test your knowledge on human fossils, genetic advantages, and conservation efforts within the animal kingdom with these Biology Exam 1 flashcards. Each card presents essential questions that cover topics from classification of species to genetic traits and wildlife preservation strategies.