FSCC Biology – Year [Specify Year] | Academic Year
2025-2026 – Study Notes and Revision Material
What is the purpose of using the scientific method? - ANS✔✔ To develop a hypotheses
List the steps of the scientific method - ANS✔✔ make careful observations, ask critical questions
and develop a hypotheses
Define hypotheses and give requirements of a good one - ANS✔✔ A tentative explanation for
observation and phenomena. Est. facts, capable of being tested, falsifiable
List the two groups used in a test & describe them - ANS✔✔ Control group: experimental
variable is constant Experimental group: group which is being tested
What is a double blind study and when would it be used? - ANS✔✔ An experiment where the
physician does not know who is receiving the drug or the placebo. Used when the physician
might have a preconception of the outcome.
Explain sampling error - ANS✔✔ Not all cases of what is being studied can be observed or
tested, if the sample is too small it may not be representative due to random factors
What is a theory? - ANS✔✔ an explanation of some aspect of the natural world based on
hypotheses with consistent variables
Give some examples of theories - ANS✔✔ Chimps can learn particular ways to use tools by
observing other chimps
Define Biology - ANS✔✔ the science of life
, Explain the concept of the cell theory - ANS✔✔ scientific theory that the cell is the basic unit of
all life, all living things are composed or derived from
List the two types of cells, give an example of each. - ANS✔✔ Prokaryotic: exclusive to bacteria
and microorganisms
Eukaryotic: all other organisms
What characteristics separate the two cell types? - ANS✔✔ Eukaryotic cells contain organelles
enclosed by membranes. Prokaryotic cells don't have a nucleus or a membrane
Define biological growth - ANS✔✔ an increase in the size of individual cells of an organism, in
number of cells or in both
Define development - ANS✔✔ all the changes that take place throughout an organisms life
Define metabolism - ANS✔✔ the sum of all the chemical activities of an organism
What is the function of the plasma membrane? - ANS✔✔ It encloses the cell, all things that
enter or exit must pass through it
State the cell theory - ANS✔✔ building blocks of all plants and animals, smallest unit of
function, originate from pre existing cells, all cells maintain homeostasis
What does the biosphere include? - ANS✔✔ All of earths living organisms, collectively
Why would it be advantageous to an organism to produce many offspring? - ANS✔✔ To ensure
the survival of the species
2025-2026 – Study Notes and Revision Material
What is the purpose of using the scientific method? - ANS✔✔ To develop a hypotheses
List the steps of the scientific method - ANS✔✔ make careful observations, ask critical questions
and develop a hypotheses
Define hypotheses and give requirements of a good one - ANS✔✔ A tentative explanation for
observation and phenomena. Est. facts, capable of being tested, falsifiable
List the two groups used in a test & describe them - ANS✔✔ Control group: experimental
variable is constant Experimental group: group which is being tested
What is a double blind study and when would it be used? - ANS✔✔ An experiment where the
physician does not know who is receiving the drug or the placebo. Used when the physician
might have a preconception of the outcome.
Explain sampling error - ANS✔✔ Not all cases of what is being studied can be observed or
tested, if the sample is too small it may not be representative due to random factors
What is a theory? - ANS✔✔ an explanation of some aspect of the natural world based on
hypotheses with consistent variables
Give some examples of theories - ANS✔✔ Chimps can learn particular ways to use tools by
observing other chimps
Define Biology - ANS✔✔ the science of life
, Explain the concept of the cell theory - ANS✔✔ scientific theory that the cell is the basic unit of
all life, all living things are composed or derived from
List the two types of cells, give an example of each. - ANS✔✔ Prokaryotic: exclusive to bacteria
and microorganisms
Eukaryotic: all other organisms
What characteristics separate the two cell types? - ANS✔✔ Eukaryotic cells contain organelles
enclosed by membranes. Prokaryotic cells don't have a nucleus or a membrane
Define biological growth - ANS✔✔ an increase in the size of individual cells of an organism, in
number of cells or in both
Define development - ANS✔✔ all the changes that take place throughout an organisms life
Define metabolism - ANS✔✔ the sum of all the chemical activities of an organism
What is the function of the plasma membrane? - ANS✔✔ It encloses the cell, all things that
enter or exit must pass through it
State the cell theory - ANS✔✔ building blocks of all plants and animals, smallest unit of
function, originate from pre existing cells, all cells maintain homeostasis
What does the biosphere include? - ANS✔✔ All of earths living organisms, collectively
Why would it be advantageous to an organism to produce many offspring? - ANS✔✔ To ensure
the survival of the species
