BSC 101 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
(ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY)
QUESTIONS WITH VEFIFIED ANSWERS
2025-2026
Why is the scientific method bad? CORRECT ANSWER
It is oversimplified, it implies that an experiment can answer a research question. Science isn't linear. It
implies science is an independent effort, no creativity or imagination, and it ignores technology and so
ciety
What is a theory? CORRECT ANSWER
Theories are broad explanations. They are supported by lines o evidence, with no contradictory eviden
ce. Therefore the evolutionary theory isn't just a "theory"
Why don't community analysis and feedbackHinsure the accuracy of scientific information?
CORRECT ANSWER
You get peer revisions and discuss with colleagues. During these discussions, you can come up with ne
w ideas and build theories
What are (6) examples that all living things must do? CORRECT ANSWER
1. have organized structures made of at least one cell
2. respond to stimuli
3. reproduce, even through adaptions by natural selection
4. Grow and develop
5. Maintain Homeostasis
6. Process energy
What is a Prokaryotic cell? CORRECT ANSWER Has a cell membrane but no nucleus, and no
mitochondria
What is a Eukaryotic cell? CORRECT ANSWER
Has a cell membrane, nucleus, and mitochondria. Eukaryotic cells are also larger than Prokaryotic
, What are examples of Prokaryotes? CORRECT ANSWER Bacteria or Archaea
What are examples of Eukaryotes? CORRECT ANSWER Animals and Plants
What is a mutation? CORRECT ANSWER
Mutation, or microevolution, is a change in DNA sequence caused by errors in DNA replication or muta
gens, which can be environmental factors like UV radiation. It must be a sperm or an egg to be passed
on. Some consequences could be there is no change in phenotype, beneficial, or increase fitness or ne
gative, decrease fitness
What occurs during natural selection? CORRECT ANSWER
There is first genetic variation of the population. Then differential reproduction, then hereditary differe
nce, then change across generations in gene pools, phenotypes, and population's fitness. (Biological fit
ness is the degree to which an individual can reproduce and have its genes represented in the next ge
nerations)
What are some common misconceptions of evolution? CORRECT ANSWER 1. That it's just a theory
2. That individual organisms can evolve (the smallest unit that can evolve is a population)
3. evolution explains the origin of life (more like how life changed after origin)
4. organisms evolve on purpose or if they are smart enough (it's really based on genes)
5. evolution is controversial among scientists, other theories should be taught
6.Evolution and religion are incompatible (they are actually very different)
What is speciation? CORRECT ANSWER
Speciation is when populations become geographically separated. The gene flow is interrupted, genetic
and phenotypic changes accumulate, and reproduction becomes less likely, and eventually impossible
How to find phenotype percentage? CORRECT ANSWER
Put the phenotype of each partner on the punnett square and take one allele from each partner and p
ut it in the box
Do all alleles have the same set of genes? CORRECT ANSWER
Yes (about 20,000 in humans) but it is up to the individual cell whether each gene is turned on or off.
Gene expressions come into play here, which is the process of turning on a gene to produce RNA and
(ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY)
QUESTIONS WITH VEFIFIED ANSWERS
2025-2026
Why is the scientific method bad? CORRECT ANSWER
It is oversimplified, it implies that an experiment can answer a research question. Science isn't linear. It
implies science is an independent effort, no creativity or imagination, and it ignores technology and so
ciety
What is a theory? CORRECT ANSWER
Theories are broad explanations. They are supported by lines o evidence, with no contradictory eviden
ce. Therefore the evolutionary theory isn't just a "theory"
Why don't community analysis and feedbackHinsure the accuracy of scientific information?
CORRECT ANSWER
You get peer revisions and discuss with colleagues. During these discussions, you can come up with ne
w ideas and build theories
What are (6) examples that all living things must do? CORRECT ANSWER
1. have organized structures made of at least one cell
2. respond to stimuli
3. reproduce, even through adaptions by natural selection
4. Grow and develop
5. Maintain Homeostasis
6. Process energy
What is a Prokaryotic cell? CORRECT ANSWER Has a cell membrane but no nucleus, and no
mitochondria
What is a Eukaryotic cell? CORRECT ANSWER
Has a cell membrane, nucleus, and mitochondria. Eukaryotic cells are also larger than Prokaryotic
, What are examples of Prokaryotes? CORRECT ANSWER Bacteria or Archaea
What are examples of Eukaryotes? CORRECT ANSWER Animals and Plants
What is a mutation? CORRECT ANSWER
Mutation, or microevolution, is a change in DNA sequence caused by errors in DNA replication or muta
gens, which can be environmental factors like UV radiation. It must be a sperm or an egg to be passed
on. Some consequences could be there is no change in phenotype, beneficial, or increase fitness or ne
gative, decrease fitness
What occurs during natural selection? CORRECT ANSWER
There is first genetic variation of the population. Then differential reproduction, then hereditary differe
nce, then change across generations in gene pools, phenotypes, and population's fitness. (Biological fit
ness is the degree to which an individual can reproduce and have its genes represented in the next ge
nerations)
What are some common misconceptions of evolution? CORRECT ANSWER 1. That it's just a theory
2. That individual organisms can evolve (the smallest unit that can evolve is a population)
3. evolution explains the origin of life (more like how life changed after origin)
4. organisms evolve on purpose or if they are smart enough (it's really based on genes)
5. evolution is controversial among scientists, other theories should be taught
6.Evolution and religion are incompatible (they are actually very different)
What is speciation? CORRECT ANSWER
Speciation is when populations become geographically separated. The gene flow is interrupted, genetic
and phenotypic changes accumulate, and reproduction becomes less likely, and eventually impossible
How to find phenotype percentage? CORRECT ANSWER
Put the phenotype of each partner on the punnett square and take one allele from each partner and p
ut it in the box
Do all alleles have the same set of genes? CORRECT ANSWER
Yes (about 20,000 in humans) but it is up to the individual cell whether each gene is turned on or off.
Gene expressions come into play here, which is the process of turning on a gene to produce RNA and
