Major Lab Quiz #1 Flashcards
What are the steps in the scientific method (in order)?
- Observation
- Hypothesis
- Prediction
- Test
- Results
- Conclusion
Dependent Variable
The observed result of the independent variable being manipulated
Independent Variable
The variable representing the value being manipulated or changed
Control
What is held constant between experimental groups
What is the cycling process?
The cycling of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and other elements essential to life via assimilation and decomposition.
Assimilation
When microbes convert inorganic elements into forms that are usable by other microbes, plants, and animals
Decomposition
When microbes break down organic matter and recycle it so it can once again be made available to other organisms
How are microbes used in industry?
Food industry → making bread, cheese, yogurt, wine and beer
Medical industry → used to produce insulin, interferon, human growth hormone, and vaccines
What is the goal of the Minnesota Mississippi Metagenomics Project (M3P)?
To understand the function and diversity of microbial life in the Mississippi River and how humans impact it.
What is the M3P’s hypothesis?
Humans do impact the structure and function of the microbial community and this impact is magnified downstream as the Mississippi accumulates water and pollutants from its tributaries and confluences.
Why is the M3P important?
Because we know very little about the microbes inhabiting the Mississippi, which is a large and important river that provides drinking water to ~18 million people in more than 50 cities
Taxonomy
The science of finding, describing, and naming organisms
Taxon (singular taxa)
Different groups of organisms, which are organized through a process called classification
Phylogeny
Evolutionary relationships between organisms
Clades
Groups on a cladogram that are delineated by the two branches and their common ancestory
What is a phylogenetic tree and why is it important?
Similar to family trees, but can provide information about the evolution of a species.
• Important because it can show evolutionary relationships