Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University
(Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University Latest 2026-27 Update) 4/6/2026, 6:31:26 PM
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fv6e9s
1. What are the 5 fun- -Energy Use and Metabolism
damental traits of life? -Cell Theory
With these traits in mind, -Information, Genetics
are viruses alive? What -Replication or reproduction
evidence supports your -Biological Evolution
conclusion? -No, viruses are not alive because they do not
have cells.
2. How do hypotheses and A hypothesis is a constructed idea before any
theories differ? What do applicable research has been done. A theory is an
scientists mean by "the- idea supported by evidence.
ory" and does this mean When scientists say theory, they mean something
the same thing as "in that is true and supported by evidence. When it
theory" that non-scien- is used in everyday conversations, it is simply an
tists may say in conver- idea that hasn't been proven, aka a hypothesis.
sation? Explain.
3. Write the Cell Theory in Cell Theory: All cells come from pre-existing cells.
your own words. Did The Cell Theory challenged Spontaneous Gen-
the Cell Theory chal- eration and tested against it through the Pasteur
lenge or support the Flask Experiments.
concept of spontaneous
generation? Explain.
4. Outline Pasteur's Pasteur was comparing the ideas of spontaneous
swan-necked flask ex- generation and cell theory against each other. To
periment. What was the do this, he first set up an experiment where he had
one variable that differed a straight neck flask filled with broth. He boiled all
between the test and ex- of the bacteria out of the broth and left it to sit.
perimental groups? Why After a couple of days, there were bacterial cells.
is it important to test one He then took a straight necked flask and bent it into
variable at a time? a swan necked flask. He then performed the same
experiment, boiling broth in both flasks and leaving
them. After a couple of weeks, the straight necked
flask had bacterial cells in it again, but the swan
neck did not. Instead, the cells clumped inside the
bend in the neck.
It's important to test one variable at a time so that
4/6/2026 2026-04-06 2026/04/06
, Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University
(Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University Latest 2026-27 Update) 4/6/2026, 6:31:26 PM
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fv6e9s
the experiment isn't overwhelmed and you can
keep track of each variable that you're testing.
5. What were the 2 claims All species are related by common ancestry and
made by Wallace and characteristics of species can be modified from
Darwin as they de- generation to generation because of natural selec-
scribed the process of tion.
evolution?
6. What are the 2 condi- Individuals must vary in characteristics that are
tions required for nat- heritable and in a certain environment, certain ver-
ural selection to occur? sions of these traits can help individuals reproduce
Would a trait that in- more than other versions.
creases the lifespan of A trait that increases lifespans but decreases over-
each individual in the all fertility would lead to lesser fitness in the affect-
population but decreas- ed individuals.
es overall fertility lead to
greater or lesser fitness
of the affected individu-
als?
7. What is the smallest unit A population is the smallest unit that can evolve.
that can evolve? Do indi- Individuals do not evolve.
viduals evolve?
8. If you continuously bred You would expect the average pod size to get
large-pod peas to oth- larger because it is a desirable heritable trait due
er large-pod peas, would to natural selection.
you expect the average
pod size to get smaller
or larger? Why? What is
this process called?
9. Distinguish between fit- Fitness is how well you produce offspring and
ness and adaptation? how well they produce offspring. Adaptation is a
What organism are the trait that increases the fitness of an individual in a
most evolutionarily fit? certain environment.
10. Diagram the central dog-
ma of genetics. Label the
4/6/2026 2026-04-06 2026/04/06
, Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University
(Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University Latest 2026-27 Update) 4/6/2026, 6:31:26 PM
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fv6e9s
3 steps in order, from Molecular machinery makes copies of DNA in a
DNA to protein. closely related molecule known as RNA, which is
translated into protein.
11. Why did Carl Woese Woese and his colleagues compared ribosomal
and his colleagues com- RNA to build their phylogenetic trees because it is
pare ribosomal RNA to very simple and every organism uses ribosomes
build their phylogenetic to make proteins. They couldn't have used the
trees? Could they have gene for proteins like keratin and pilin because not
used the gene for a pro- every organism produces those. However, all of
tein like keratin or pilin? them have some sort of ribosomal RNA.
Why or why not?
12. Given the 3 RNA se-
quences, draw a phylo-
genetic tree that accu-
rately represents the re-
lationship between the 3
species.
13. What discoveries did Dr. Although Archaea and Bacteria are very similar
Woese and his group in structure, Archaea are more closely related to
make about: Eukaryotes than Bacteria.
1. Archaea and Bacteria Fungi are more closely related to Animals than to
2. Fungus, Animals, and Plants.
Plants
14. Using the data in Figure At 0.1-5.0 ocular units, prokaryotic cells are signif-
1.7, compare the diame- icantly smaller than eukaryotic cells, which have
ter of the prokaryotic cell diameters ranging from 10-100 ocular units.
to that of the eukaryot-
ic cell. How much big-
ger is the eukaryotic cell
4/6/2026 2026-04-06 2026/04/06
(Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University Latest 2026-27 Update) 4/6/2026, 6:31:26 PM
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fv6e9s
1. What are the 5 fun- -Energy Use and Metabolism
damental traits of life? -Cell Theory
With these traits in mind, -Information, Genetics
are viruses alive? What -Replication or reproduction
evidence supports your -Biological Evolution
conclusion? -No, viruses are not alive because they do not
have cells.
2. How do hypotheses and A hypothesis is a constructed idea before any
theories differ? What do applicable research has been done. A theory is an
scientists mean by "the- idea supported by evidence.
ory" and does this mean When scientists say theory, they mean something
the same thing as "in that is true and supported by evidence. When it
theory" that non-scien- is used in everyday conversations, it is simply an
tists may say in conver- idea that hasn't been proven, aka a hypothesis.
sation? Explain.
3. Write the Cell Theory in Cell Theory: All cells come from pre-existing cells.
your own words. Did The Cell Theory challenged Spontaneous Gen-
the Cell Theory chal- eration and tested against it through the Pasteur
lenge or support the Flask Experiments.
concept of spontaneous
generation? Explain.
4. Outline Pasteur's Pasteur was comparing the ideas of spontaneous
swan-necked flask ex- generation and cell theory against each other. To
periment. What was the do this, he first set up an experiment where he had
one variable that differed a straight neck flask filled with broth. He boiled all
between the test and ex- of the bacteria out of the broth and left it to sit.
perimental groups? Why After a couple of days, there were bacterial cells.
is it important to test one He then took a straight necked flask and bent it into
variable at a time? a swan necked flask. He then performed the same
experiment, boiling broth in both flasks and leaving
them. After a couple of weeks, the straight necked
flask had bacterial cells in it again, but the swan
neck did not. Instead, the cells clumped inside the
bend in the neck.
It's important to test one variable at a time so that
4/6/2026 2026-04-06 2026/04/06
, Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University
(Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University Latest 2026-27 Update) 4/6/2026, 6:31:26 PM
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fv6e9s
the experiment isn't overwhelmed and you can
keep track of each variable that you're testing.
5. What were the 2 claims All species are related by common ancestry and
made by Wallace and characteristics of species can be modified from
Darwin as they de- generation to generation because of natural selec-
scribed the process of tion.
evolution?
6. What are the 2 condi- Individuals must vary in characteristics that are
tions required for nat- heritable and in a certain environment, certain ver-
ural selection to occur? sions of these traits can help individuals reproduce
Would a trait that in- more than other versions.
creases the lifespan of A trait that increases lifespans but decreases over-
each individual in the all fertility would lead to lesser fitness in the affect-
population but decreas- ed individuals.
es overall fertility lead to
greater or lesser fitness
of the affected individu-
als?
7. What is the smallest unit A population is the smallest unit that can evolve.
that can evolve? Do indi- Individuals do not evolve.
viduals evolve?
8. If you continuously bred You would expect the average pod size to get
large-pod peas to oth- larger because it is a desirable heritable trait due
er large-pod peas, would to natural selection.
you expect the average
pod size to get smaller
or larger? Why? What is
this process called?
9. Distinguish between fit- Fitness is how well you produce offspring and
ness and adaptation? how well they produce offspring. Adaptation is a
What organism are the trait that increases the fitness of an individual in a
most evolutionarily fit? certain environment.
10. Diagram the central dog-
ma of genetics. Label the
4/6/2026 2026-04-06 2026/04/06
, Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University
(Biology 211 Exam 1 - Iowa State University Latest 2026-27 Update) 4/6/2026, 6:31:26 PM
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fv6e9s
3 steps in order, from Molecular machinery makes copies of DNA in a
DNA to protein. closely related molecule known as RNA, which is
translated into protein.
11. Why did Carl Woese Woese and his colleagues compared ribosomal
and his colleagues com- RNA to build their phylogenetic trees because it is
pare ribosomal RNA to very simple and every organism uses ribosomes
build their phylogenetic to make proteins. They couldn't have used the
trees? Could they have gene for proteins like keratin and pilin because not
used the gene for a pro- every organism produces those. However, all of
tein like keratin or pilin? them have some sort of ribosomal RNA.
Why or why not?
12. Given the 3 RNA se-
quences, draw a phylo-
genetic tree that accu-
rately represents the re-
lationship between the 3
species.
13. What discoveries did Dr. Although Archaea and Bacteria are very similar
Woese and his group in structure, Archaea are more closely related to
make about: Eukaryotes than Bacteria.
1. Archaea and Bacteria Fungi are more closely related to Animals than to
2. Fungus, Animals, and Plants.
Plants
14. Using the data in Figure At 0.1-5.0 ocular units, prokaryotic cells are signif-
1.7, compare the diame- icantly smaller than eukaryotic cells, which have
ter of the prokaryotic cell diameters ranging from 10-100 ocular units.
to that of the eukaryot-
ic cell. How much big-
ger is the eukaryotic cell
4/6/2026 2026-04-06 2026/04/06
