Scientific Method, Metric System: Terms and Concepts

• Form a study group to quiz each other, write your own exam questions, and review lab exercises, focusing on understanding terms, concepts, procedures, and results.

Orientation, Scientific Method, and Metric System

• Key terms to know: observation, question, hypothesis, prediction, experiment, treatment, replication, control, conclusion, mean, median, range, and standard deviation.
• Lab safety rules are important.
• A question is a query, while a hypothesis is a testable explanation.
• A hypothesis is a proposed explanation, with alternative and null forms.
• A dependent variable is what is being measured, while an independent variable is what is being manipulated.
• The scientific method's purpose is to investigate phenomena, involving steps like observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and conclusion.
• Metric reference units include meters for length, degrees Celsius for temperature, liters for volume, and grams for mass.
• Volume is properly measured using a graduated cylinder.

The Microscope

• Key terms to know: compound light microscope, dissecting microscope, oculars, coarse and fine adjustment knobs, objectives, nosepiece, stage, base, condenser, condenser iris diaphragm, magnification, resolution, contrast, parfocal, parcentral, field of view, depth of field of view, size of field of view, low-power objective (scanning), medium-power objective, high-power objective, and oil immersion
• Proper microscope focusing steps should be known.
• Microscope parts and their functions should be identifiable.
• Magnification is the degree of enlargement, while resolution is the clarity of the image.
• Parfocal means that the image stays in focus when changing objectives; parcentral means the image stays centered.
• Total magnification is calculated by multiplying the ocular lens magnification by the objective lens magnification; the diameter of the field of view can also be calculated.
• Compound light microscopes are for detailed views of small specimens, while dissecting microscopes are for larger specimens.

The Cell

• Key terms to know: cell theory, prokaryote, eukaryote, cell membrane, cell wall, nucleolus, cytoplasm, centrioles, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), ribosome, mitochondria, Golgi complex, lysosome, vacuoles, chloroplast, plasmodesmata, plastid, amyloplast, cilia, and flagella.

Mitosis and Meiosis

• Key terms to know: binary fission, mitosis, meiosis, single chromosome, sister chromatid, chromatin, centromere, centrosome, centrioles, haploid, diploid, homologous chromosomes, synapsis, crossing over, cell cycle, interphase (G1, Synthesis (S), G2) Mitotic (M) phase, cytokinesis, prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, Meiosis I, Meiosis II, identical, non-identical, gametogenesis, spermatogenesis, oogenesis, plant gametogenesis, microsporogenesis, megasporogenesis, microspore, megaspore, megaspore mother cell, pollen, anther, filament, stigma, style, ovary, and ovule.
• Mitosis steps and events in each phase should be recalled.
• Mitosis occurs in somatic cells, while meiosis occurs in germ cells.
• During S phase, DNA replication yields replicated chromosomes with 2 sister chromatids attached at the centromere.
• Cytokinesis differs in plant and animal cells: cell plate versus cleavage furrow.
• Mitosis produces 2 identical diploid daughter cells.
• Meiosis involves synapsis (pairing of homologous chromosomes) during prophase I, forming a tetrad, and crossing over.
• Homologous chromosomes pair during prophase I.
• Cells are diploid during certain stages and haploid during others in meiosis; chromosomal number changes.
• Spermatogenesis occurs in the testes, oogenesis in the ovaries.
• Flower reproductive structures include the anther, filament, stigma, style, ovary, and ovule.

Genetics

• Key terms to know: gene, allele, dominant, recessive, homozygous, heterozygous, genotype, phenotype, principle of segregation, law of independent assortment, incomplete dominance, codominance, lethal inheritance, pedigree analysis, monohybrid cross, dihybrid cross, Punnett square, ABO blood types, Rhesus factor (Rh), antigen, antibody, and agglutination.
• Gregor Mendel is the father of genetics.
• A gene is a unit of heredity, while an allele is a variant of a gene.
• Phenotype is the observable trait, while genotype is the genetic makeup.
• Punnett squares predict offspring genotypes.
• Examples of simple dominance, codominance, incomplete dominance, and lethal dominance should be known.
• The phenotypic ratio from a dihybrid cross should be known.
• ABO blood types involve codominance; antigens, antibodies, and agglutination are key.
• Blood type O is the universal donor, AB is the universal recipient; Rh+ is dominant.

Molecular Biology & Biotechnology and Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

• DNA is a negatively charged molecule.
• Restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific sequences.
• DNA fingerprinting is important for identification.
• During Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, differently charged dyes migrate to different ends of the gel.
• The Rf values of different dyes can be calculated.

Study key scientific terms like hypothesis, variables, and controls. Review lab safety, the scientific method, and metric units. Focus on understanding experimental design and data interpretation.