BIOL 320 EXAM 1 TAMU TAYLOR
2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ observation. Answer: act of viewing the world around us
◉ question. Answer: made based off of an observation
◉ hypothesis. Answer: a tentative explanation for an observation
◉ controlled experiment. Answer: - test several groups
- introduce a single variable per treatment
- keep conditions as similar as possible from one group to the next
◉ conclusion. Answer: supports/refutes hypothesis
- more experimentation needed if refuted
◉ prediction. Answer: a guess of what might happen based on
observation-- the outcome you would observe if your hypothesis was
supported
◉ theory. Answer: a sound explanation of the world supported through
continued observation and experiments over a long period of time
,◉ 3 components of a controlled experiment. Answer: 1. variable
2. test group
3. control group
◉ variable. Answer: feature of an experiment that is changed from one
treatment to the next
◉ test group. Answer: exposed to variable in an experiment
◉ control group. Answer: not exposed to the variable in an experiment
◉ importance of test group & control group. Answer: they allow
researchers to determine whether the variable in an experiment has an
effect
◉ independent variable. Answer: manipulation performed on the test
group
(ex. hours of tutoring)
◉ which axis is the independent variable found on a graph?. Answer: x-
axis
◉ dependent variable. Answer: effect that is being measured
, (ex. test score)
◉ which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph?. Answer: y-
axis
◉ theory of evolution. Answer: set of hypotheses that provide a
powerful explanation for both biological observations & the diversity of
life
◉ why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most
important theory in all of biology?. Answer: there's lots of evidence
from asking/testing good scientific questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
◉ 7 ways living organisms are different from non-living organisms.
Answer: 1. organization - complex organization
2. response - ability to change in response to the environment
3. reproduction - ability to reproduce
4. evolution - capacity to evolve
5. metabolism - chemical rxns that sustain life
6. homeostasis - maintenance of stable internal environment
7. growth - regulated growth/cell division
◉ 1st law of thermodynamics. Answer: energy can neither be created
nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form into another
2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ observation. Answer: act of viewing the world around us
◉ question. Answer: made based off of an observation
◉ hypothesis. Answer: a tentative explanation for an observation
◉ controlled experiment. Answer: - test several groups
- introduce a single variable per treatment
- keep conditions as similar as possible from one group to the next
◉ conclusion. Answer: supports/refutes hypothesis
- more experimentation needed if refuted
◉ prediction. Answer: a guess of what might happen based on
observation-- the outcome you would observe if your hypothesis was
supported
◉ theory. Answer: a sound explanation of the world supported through
continued observation and experiments over a long period of time
,◉ 3 components of a controlled experiment. Answer: 1. variable
2. test group
3. control group
◉ variable. Answer: feature of an experiment that is changed from one
treatment to the next
◉ test group. Answer: exposed to variable in an experiment
◉ control group. Answer: not exposed to the variable in an experiment
◉ importance of test group & control group. Answer: they allow
researchers to determine whether the variable in an experiment has an
effect
◉ independent variable. Answer: manipulation performed on the test
group
(ex. hours of tutoring)
◉ which axis is the independent variable found on a graph?. Answer: x-
axis
◉ dependent variable. Answer: effect that is being measured
, (ex. test score)
◉ which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph?. Answer: y-
axis
◉ theory of evolution. Answer: set of hypotheses that provide a
powerful explanation for both biological observations & the diversity of
life
◉ why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most
important theory in all of biology?. Answer: there's lots of evidence
from asking/testing good scientific questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
◉ 7 ways living organisms are different from non-living organisms.
Answer: 1. organization - complex organization
2. response - ability to change in response to the environment
3. reproduction - ability to reproduce
4. evolution - capacity to evolve
5. metabolism - chemical rxns that sustain life
6. homeostasis - maintenance of stable internal environment
7. growth - regulated growth/cell division
◉ 1st law of thermodynamics. Answer: energy can neither be created
nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form into another
