BIO 150 EXAM 1 UTK MAMANTOV 2026 STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY
CONCEPTS AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Differentiate between questions that can be answered through the
scientific process and those that cannot. Answer: Questions can be
answered when they can be observed or measured by collecting
data. Questions cannot be answered if they cannot be observed or
measured.
◉ Define a theory in the scientific sense. Answer: Explanations for
observed phenomena that is supported by a wide body of evidence.
◉ Compare and contrast scientific theories and hypotheses. Answer:
A hypothesis is made before any research has been conducted, while
a theory is a principle formed based on the research done and
shown in data.
◉ Identify and explain the steps in the scientific method.. Answer:
First step is observation. This is essentially where you observe a
certain thing occurring.
The next step is doing research about the topic you observed in
order to gain an understanding of what is already known about the
question.
,Then you will form a hypothesis based on the limited evidence you
have to make a starting point for further investigation. The
hypothesis should be precise and testable using data.
The next step would be to conduct an experiment to test the
hypothesis in order to collect data.
Then with that data, you must analyze it and see what the results
mean.
The final step would be to report conclusions based on the results
and then the process would start all over again.
◉ Describe the purpose of a null hypothesis. Answer: The purpose
of the null hypothesis is to see if the test is supported or not (null
hypothesis states that there will be no difference, effect, or
relationship between the variables).
◉ How is the scientific method different from the scientific process?.
Answer: There is no order for the scientific process as scientists tend
to go back and forth while in the scientific method it is a step by step
method scientists need to follow.
◉ Explain why data supports or rejects hypotheses, not "proves"
them. Answer: Data supports or rejects a hypothesis because you
can never really prove a hypothesis correct, you can only run tests to
support the hypothesis. There can always be some scenario in which
a hypothesis is incorrect.
,◉ Describe a control group. Answer: It is the group that is left
unchanged in an experiment. It is important because they provide
baseline measurements.
◉ what kind of variables are of the x-axis?. Answer: independent
variables
◉ what kind of variables are of the y-axis?. Answer: dependent
variables
◉ What is DNA?. Answer: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) stores
genetic information. DNA is a type of nucleic acid. It is a polymer
made up of monomers called nucleotides.
◉ Describe the structure of DNA. Answer: DNA is a double helix in
which the backbone is made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and
phosphate groups. Attached to each sugar is one of four bases:
adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) or thymine (T). The two
strands are connected by hydrogen bonds between
these bases. The sequence of the bases along DNA's backbone
encodes biological information, such as the instructions for making a
protein or RNA molecule.
◉ What is the primary structure of DNA?. Answer: The primary
structure of DNA is a directional sugar-phosphate backbone.
, ◉ What is the secondary structure of DNA?. Answer: The secondary
structure of DNA is an antiparallel double helix.
◉ Explain the key results of the Hershey-Chase experiment. Answer:
They wanted to figure out whether genes were made of DNA or
proteins. They found out that DNA was present (no proteins). DNA
contains all the information for life's complexity.
◉ What is complementary base pairing and how does it influence
the structure of DNA?. Answer: A+T and C+G. It determines how the
double helix is formed.
◉ Explain how DNA is directional based on its structure.. Answer:
Monomers connect to create polymers that makeup the backbone of
the sugar-phosphate connection. Those connections occur when the
3 prime carbon atom connect with the phosphate group through the
process of condensation ending in the linkage of the 2 monomers
and creating a phosphodiester linkage. This link makes up DNA's
backbone and creates directionality and develops structure.
◉ Which end of a DNA strand are new nucleotides added to?.
Answer: 3'
GUIDE COMPLETE INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY
CONCEPTS AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Differentiate between questions that can be answered through the
scientific process and those that cannot. Answer: Questions can be
answered when they can be observed or measured by collecting
data. Questions cannot be answered if they cannot be observed or
measured.
◉ Define a theory in the scientific sense. Answer: Explanations for
observed phenomena that is supported by a wide body of evidence.
◉ Compare and contrast scientific theories and hypotheses. Answer:
A hypothesis is made before any research has been conducted, while
a theory is a principle formed based on the research done and
shown in data.
◉ Identify and explain the steps in the scientific method.. Answer:
First step is observation. This is essentially where you observe a
certain thing occurring.
The next step is doing research about the topic you observed in
order to gain an understanding of what is already known about the
question.
,Then you will form a hypothesis based on the limited evidence you
have to make a starting point for further investigation. The
hypothesis should be precise and testable using data.
The next step would be to conduct an experiment to test the
hypothesis in order to collect data.
Then with that data, you must analyze it and see what the results
mean.
The final step would be to report conclusions based on the results
and then the process would start all over again.
◉ Describe the purpose of a null hypothesis. Answer: The purpose
of the null hypothesis is to see if the test is supported or not (null
hypothesis states that there will be no difference, effect, or
relationship between the variables).
◉ How is the scientific method different from the scientific process?.
Answer: There is no order for the scientific process as scientists tend
to go back and forth while in the scientific method it is a step by step
method scientists need to follow.
◉ Explain why data supports or rejects hypotheses, not "proves"
them. Answer: Data supports or rejects a hypothesis because you
can never really prove a hypothesis correct, you can only run tests to
support the hypothesis. There can always be some scenario in which
a hypothesis is incorrect.
,◉ Describe a control group. Answer: It is the group that is left
unchanged in an experiment. It is important because they provide
baseline measurements.
◉ what kind of variables are of the x-axis?. Answer: independent
variables
◉ what kind of variables are of the y-axis?. Answer: dependent
variables
◉ What is DNA?. Answer: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) stores
genetic information. DNA is a type of nucleic acid. It is a polymer
made up of monomers called nucleotides.
◉ Describe the structure of DNA. Answer: DNA is a double helix in
which the backbone is made of alternating sugar (deoxyribose) and
phosphate groups. Attached to each sugar is one of four bases:
adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) or thymine (T). The two
strands are connected by hydrogen bonds between
these bases. The sequence of the bases along DNA's backbone
encodes biological information, such as the instructions for making a
protein or RNA molecule.
◉ What is the primary structure of DNA?. Answer: The primary
structure of DNA is a directional sugar-phosphate backbone.
, ◉ What is the secondary structure of DNA?. Answer: The secondary
structure of DNA is an antiparallel double helix.
◉ Explain the key results of the Hershey-Chase experiment. Answer:
They wanted to figure out whether genes were made of DNA or
proteins. They found out that DNA was present (no proteins). DNA
contains all the information for life's complexity.
◉ What is complementary base pairing and how does it influence
the structure of DNA?. Answer: A+T and C+G. It determines how the
double helix is formed.
◉ Explain how DNA is directional based on its structure.. Answer:
Monomers connect to create polymers that makeup the backbone of
the sugar-phosphate connection. Those connections occur when the
3 prime carbon atom connect with the phosphate group through the
process of condensation ending in the linkage of the 2 monomers
and creating a phosphodiester linkage. This link makes up DNA's
backbone and creates directionality and develops structure.
◉ Which end of a DNA strand are new nucleotides added to?.
Answer: 3'
