Biology 102/103 Lab 1: Introduction to Science

26 Jun Biology 102/103 Lab 1: Introduction to Science

Question
Your Full Name:

Biology 102/103

Lab 1: Introduction to Science

INSTRUCTIONS:

and submit it via the Assignments Folder by the date listed in the Course Schedule (under Syllabus).
To conduct your laboratory exercises, use the Laboratory Manual located under Course Content. Read the introduction and the directions for each exercise/experiment carefully before completing the exercises/experiments and answering the questions.
Save your Lab 1 Answer Sheet in the following format: LastName_Lab1 (e.g., Smith_Lab1).
You should submit your document as a Word (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) file for best compatibility.
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Exercise 1: Data Interpretation

Dissolved oxygen is oxygen that is trapped in a fluid, such as water. Since many living organism requires oxygen to survive, it is a necessary component of water systems such as streams, lakes and rivers in order to support aquatic life. The dissolved oxygen is measured in units of ppm (parts per million). Examine the data in Table 4 showing the amount of dissolved oxygen present and the number of fish observed in the body of water the sample was taken from; finally, answer the questions below.

Post-Lab Questions

What patterns do you observe based on the information in Table 4?
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Develop a hypothesis relating to the amount of dissolved oxygen measured in the water sample and the number of fish observed in the body of water.
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What would your experimental approach be to test this hypothesis?
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What would be the independent and dependent variables?
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What would be your control?
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What type of graph would be appropriate for this data set? Why?
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Graph the data from Table 4: Water Quality vs. Fish Population (found at the beginning of this exercise).
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Interpret the data from the graph made in Question 7.
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Exercise 2: Experimental Variables

Determine the variables tested in the each of the following experiments. If applicable, determine and identify any positive or negative controls.

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Observations

A study is being done to test the effects of habitat space on the size of fish populations. Different sized aquariums are set up with six goldfish in each one. Over a period of six months, the fish are fed the same type and amount of food. The aquariums are equally maintained and cleaned throughout the experiment. The temperature of the water is kept constant. At the end of the experiment the number of surviving fish is surveyed.
Independent Variable:
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Dependent Variable:
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Controlled Variables/Constants:
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Experimental Controls/Control Groups:
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To determine if the type of agar affects bacterial growth, a scientist cultures E. colion four different types of agar. Five petri dishes are set up to collect results:
One with nutrient agar and E. coli
One with mannitol-salt agar and E. coli
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One with MacConkey agar and E. coli
One with LB agar and E. coli
One with nutrient agar but NO E. coli
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All of the petri dishes received the same volume of agar, and were the same shape and size. During the experiment, the temperature at which the petri dishes were stored, and at the air quality remained the same. After one week the amount of bacterial growth was measured.

Independent Variable:
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Dependent Variable:
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Controlled Variables/Constants:
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D.?Experimental Controls/Control Groups:

Exercise 3: Testable Observations

Determine which of the following observations are testable. For those that are testable:

Determine if the observation is qualitative or quantitative

Write a hypothesis and null hypothesis

What would be your experimental approach?

What are the dependent and independent variables?

What are your controls – both positive and negative?

How will you collect your data?

How will you present your data (charts, graphs, types)?

How will you analyze your data?

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Observations

A plant grows three inches faster per day when placed on a window sill than it does when placed on a on a coffee table in the middle of the living room.
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The teller at the bank with brown hair and brown eyes is taller than the other tellers.
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When Sally eats healthy foods and exercises regularly, her blood pressure is 10 points lower than when she does not exercise and eats fatty foods.
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The Italian restaurant across the street closes at 9 pm but the one two blocks away closes at 10 pm.
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For the past two days, the clouds have come out at 3 pm and it has started raining at 3:15 pm.
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George did not sleep at all the night following the start of daylight savings.
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Exercise 4: Conversion

For each of the following, convert each value into the designated units.

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46,756,790 mg = _______ kg
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5.6 hours = ________ seconds
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13.5 cm = ________ inches
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47 °C = _______ °F
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Exercise 5: Accuracy vs. Precision

For the following, determine whether the information is accurate, precise, both or neither.

During gym class, four students decided to see if they could beat the norm of 45 sit-ups in a minute. The first student did 64 sit-ups, the second did 69, the third did 65, and the fourth did 67.
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The average score for the 5th grade math test is 89.5. The top 5th graders took the test and scored 89, 93, 91 and 87.
Yesterday the temperature was 89 °F, tomorrow it’s supposed to be 88 °F and the next day it’s supposed to be 90 °F, even though the average for September is only 75 °F degrees!

Four friends decided to go out and play horseshoes. They took a picture of their results shown to the right:
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A local grocery store was holding a contest to see who could most closely guess the number of pennies that they had inside a large jar. The first six people guessed the numbers 735, 209, 390, 300, 1005 and 689. The grocery clerk said the jar actually contains 568 pennies.
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Exercise 6: Significant Digits and Scientific Notation

Part 1: Determine the number of significant digits in each number and write out the specific significant digits.

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405000
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0.0098
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39.999999
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13.00
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80,000,089
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55,430.00
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0.000033
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620.03080
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Part 2: Write the numbers below in scientific notation, incorporating what you know about significant digits.

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70,000,000,000
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0.000000048
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67,890,000
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70,500
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450,900,800
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0.009045
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0.023
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Part 2

Show table or graph or pictures of your lab work.

Biology 102/103

Lab 2: The Chemistry of Life

INSTRUCTIONS:

and submit it via the Assignments Folder by the date listed in the Course Schedule (under Syllabus).
To conduct your laboratory exercises, use the Laboratory Manual located under Course Content. Read the introduction and the directions for each exercise/experiment carefully before completing the exercises/experiments and answering the questions.
Save your Lab 2 Answer Sheet in the following format: LastName_Lab2 (e.g., Smith_Lab2).
You should submit your document as a Word (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) file for best compatibility.
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Pre-Lab Questions

Nitrogen fixation is a natural process by which inert or unreactive forms of nitrogen are transformed into usable nitrogen. Why is this process important to life?
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Given what you have learned about the hydrogen bonding shared between nucleic acids in DNA, which pair is more stable under increasing heat: adenine and thymine, or cytosine and guanine? Explain why.
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Which of the following is not an organic molecule; Methane (CH4), Fructose(C6H12O6), Rosane (C20H36), or Ammonia (NH3)? How do you know?
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Experiment 1: Testing for Proteins

Data Tables and Post-Lab Assessment

Table 1: A Priori Predictions

Sample

Initial Color

Final Color

Is Protein Present?

1. Albumin Solution

2. Gelatin Solution

3. Glucose

4. Water

5. Unknown

Sample

Initial Color

Final Color

Is Protein Present?

1. Albumin Solution

2. Gelatin Solution

3. Glucose

4. Water

5. Unknown

Table 2: Testing for Proteins Results

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Post-Lab Questions

Write a statement to explain the molecular composition of the unknown solution based on the results obtained during testing with each reagent.
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How did your a priori predictions from Table 1 compare to your actual results in Table 2? If there were any inconsistencies, explain why this occurred.
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Identify the positive and negative controls used in this experiment. Explain how each of these controls are used, and why they are necessary to validate the experimental results.
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Identify two regions which proteins are vital components in the human body. Why are they important to these regions?
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Diet and nutrition are closely linked to the study of biomolecules. Describe one method by which you could monitor your food intake to ensure the cells in your body have the materials necessary to function.
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Experiment 2: Testing for Reducing Sugars

Data Tables and Post-Lab Assessment

Table 3: Testing for Reducing Sugars Results

Sample

Initial Color

Final Color

Reducing Sugar Present

1 – Potato

2 – Onion

3 – Glucose Solution

4 – Water

5 – Unknown

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Post-Lab Questions

What can you conclude about the molecular make-up of potatoes and onions based on the test you performed? Why might these foods contain these substance(s)?
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What results would you expect if you tested ribose, a monosaccharide, with Benedict’s solution? Biuret solution?
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Experiment 3: What Household Substances are Acidic or Basic?

Data Tables and Post-Lab Assessment

Table 4: pH Values of Common Household Substances

Substance

pH Prediction

pH Test Strip Color

Acetic Acid (Vinegar)

Sodium Bicarbonate Solution (Baking Soda)

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Post-Lab Questions

What is the purpose of determining the pH of the acetic acid and the sodium bicarbonate solution before testing the other household substances?
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Compare and contrast acids and bases in terms of their H+ ion and OH- ion concentrations.
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Name two acids and two bases you often use.