ACT Science : How to find experimental design in biology
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Example Question #1 : How To Find Experimental Design In Biology
The chart above shows the height growth of three different plant species after a period of 2 weeks. Each plant species was grown in 4 different soil mediums. All the plants were grown in the same environment with equal amounts of light, water, and oxygen.
What factor would weaken the design of this experiment?
Plant 1 requires more light than Plant 2 and Plant 3 in order to reach maximum growth.
All three plants require equal amounts of oxygen and water.
All four mediums contain different soil nutrients.
The water used by the plants had mineral levels tested through out the experiment.
Plant height growth was measured by a computer program.
Plant 1 requires more light than Plant 2 and Plant 3 in order to reach maximum growth.
Since the experiment design leaves light constant for all three plant species, a factor such as a different light preference for one plant species would weaken the control environment for the experiment.
Example Question #1 : How To Find Experimental Design In Biology
The chart above shows the height growth of three different plant species after a period of 2 weeks. Each plant species was grown in 4 different soil mediums. All the plants were grown in the same environment with equal amounts of light, water, and oxygen.
Based on the chart, soil Medium C has what effect on plant growth?
Soil Medium C is beneficial for Plant 2, but detrimental for Plant 1 and Plant 3.
Soil Medium C has a negative effect on the height growth of all three plants.
Soil Medium C does not seem to have a noticable effect on Plant 1, but has a beneficial effect on Plant 2 and Plant 3.
Soil Medium C is beneficial for all three plant types.
Soil Medium C is beneficial for Plant 1, but has negative effects on Plant 2 and Plant 3.
Soil Medium C is beneficial for Plant 1, but has negative effects on Plant 2 and Plant 3.
Plant 1 is the only plant that had an increased height growth in Medium C. Plant 2 and Plant 3 had decreased height when in Medium C.
Example Question #1 : How To Find Experimental Design In Biology
Mitochondria make 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life. The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging (MFRTA) theorizes that individuals who live longest produce fewer mitochondrial oxygen reactive species than individuals that have a shorter life span. Therefore, lifespan will increase if fewer mtROS are produced, and lifespan will decrease if more mtROS are produced. An experiment was done to test this theory, and the results are shown in the chart below. Four test groups of flies were involved, two groups consisted of females, and two groups consisted of males.
|
Test group 1 |
Test group 2 |
Test group 3
|
Test group 4 |
|
|
# of mtROS |
3.9 |
2.5 |
3.2 |
2.7 |
|
Lifespan |
110 days |
120 days |
95 days |
89 days |
Does this data support or dispute the MFRTA theory?
The data supports the theory because some test groups had low numbers of mtROSs and also had long lifespans.
The data does not support the theory because the experiment does not test the information needed to address the MFRTA theory.
The data does not support the MFRTA theory because it was not able to show an inverse relationship between the number of mtROS and the lifespan of the organisms.
The data does not support the theory because it shows an inverse relationship between the mtROS amount and the length of lifespan.
The data supports the theory because it shows an inverse relationship, a high mtROS amount correlates to a high lifespan.
The data does not support the MFRTA theory because it was not able to show an inverse relationship between the number of mtROS and the lifespan of the organisms.
According to the theory, test group 1 had the greatest number of mtROS, therefore it should have the shortest lifespan. However, it has a lifestpan of 110 days, the second longest life span in the experiment.
Example Question #511 : Biology
Mitochondria make 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life. The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging (MFRTA) theorizes that individuals who live longest produce fewer mitochondrial oxygen reactive species than individuals that have a shorter life span. Therefore, lifespan will increase if fewer mtROS are produced, and lifespan will decrease if more mtROS are produced. An experiment was done to test this theory, and the results are shown in the chart below. Four test groups of flies were involved, two groups consisted of females, and two groups consisted of males.
|
Test group 1 |
Test group 2 |
Test group 3
|
Test group 4 |
|
|
# of mtROS |
3.9 |
2.5 |
3.2 |
2.7 |
|
Lifespan |
110 days |
120 days |
95 days |
89 days |
What information would weaken the experiment's results?
An experiment suggesting mitochondria make more than ninety percent of the body's energy.
An experiment testing the lifespan of flies in an oxygen-deprived environment.
A separate experiment done with a different test species that had similar results.
An experiment suggesting there is a high-percent error in measuring mitochondrial oxygen reactive species.
An experiment consisting of a control group of both males and females.
An experiment suggesting there is a high-percent error in measuring mitochondrial oxygen reactive species.
An experiment casting doubt on the accuracy of mtROS measurement, which is the independent variable, would drastically weaken the experiment's results.
Example Question #1 : How To Find Experimental Design In Biology
Mitochondria make 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life. The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging (MFRTA) theorizes that individuals who live longest produce fewer mitochondrial oxygen reactive species than individuals that have a shorter life span. Therefore, lifespan will increase if fewer mtROS are produced, and lifespan will decrease if more mtROS are produced. An experiment was done to test this theory, and the results are shown in the chart below. Four test groups of flies were involved, two groups consisted of females, and two groups consisted of males.
|
Test group 1 |
Test group 2 |
Test group 3
|
Test group 4 |
|
|
# of mtROS |
3.9 |
2.5 |
3.2 |
2.7 |
|
Lifespan |
110 days |
120 days |
95 days |
89 days |
What, if added, would strengthen the results of the experiment?
A test group living in an isolated environment that showed a lifespan of 100 days and a mtROS amount of three.
Two test groups consisting of a mixed male and female population that showed an overall decrease in lifespan with higher mtROS amounts.
All of the answers listed.
Two test groups consisting of a mixed male and female population that had a mtROS amount of 5 and a lifespan of 150 days.
Two test groups, one male and one female, having a genetic mitochondrial disease but a significantly long lifespan.
Two test groups consisting of a mixed male and female population that showed an overall decrease in lifespan with higher mtROS amounts.
The experiment's results would be strengthened if the influence of sex was addressed. Two test groups with mixed sex populations would eliminate the sex variable from the results. Showing the inverse relationship with males and females in a mixed group would add another layer to the experiment.
Example Question #2 : How To Find Experimental Design In Biology
An experiment was done to test the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria Pseudomonas flourescens and Escherichia coli by using the antibiotic disk sensitivity method. Four different antibiotics were tested on each bacterium. Media were prepared with each type of bacterium and a drop of each antibiotic was added to each corner of the plates, a different antibiotic in each corner. The cultures were observed for eighteen hours. After this period of time, the zones of inhibition (where the bacteria was not able to grow due to the antibiotic) were measured. The table below shows the results of the four antibiotics on the two bacteria, Pseudomonas flourescens and Escherichia coli.
|
|
Antibiotic 1 |
Antibiotic 2 |
Antibiotic 3 |
Antibiotic 4 |
|
Pseudomonas flourescens |
11mm |
2mm |
5mm |
20mm |
|
Escherichia coli
|
10mm |
8mm |
3mm |
10mm |
Which of the following changes would weaken the experimental results?
The experiment looked at two antibiotics instead of four
The experiment tested one bacterial strain instead of two
The zone of inhibition was measured after five hours of plating
Two of the antibiotics tested had synergistic effects
All of the scenarios listed would weaken the experiment
All of the scenarios listed would weaken the experiment
All of the answer choices would weaken the experiment. If the experiment only tested one bacterial strain, it would remove data relevant to the effectiveness of the antibiotic on multiple diseases. Testing two antibiotics instead of four would weaken the ability to compare the zones of inhibition. If two of the antibiotics had synergistic effects, it would be impossible to make conclusions because you would not know to what degree the resistance was due to the combination of two antibiotics. Lastly, looking at the results after only five hours would stunt any possible progress made by an antibiotic. The zone of inhibition might double from four hours to eighteen hours.
Example Question #7 : How To Find Experimental Design In Biology
An experiment was done to test the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria Pseudomonas flourescens and Escherichia coli by using the antibiotic disk sensitivity method. Four different antibiotics were tested on each bacterium. Media were prepared with each type of bacterium and a drop of each antibiotic was added to each corner of the plates, a different antibiotic in each corner. The cultures were observed for eighteen hours. After this period of time, the zones of inhibition (where the bacteria was not able to grow due to the antibiotic) were measured. The table below shows the results of the four antibiotics on the two bacteria, Pseudomonas flourescens and Escherichia coli.
|
|
Antibiotic 1 |
Antibiotic 2 |
Antibiotic 3 |
Antibiotic 4 |
|
Pseudomonas flourescens |
11mm |
2mm |
5mm |
20mm |
|
Escherichia coli
|
10mm |
8mm |
3mm |
10mm |
Which change to the experimental design would strengthen the results?
Testing the four antibiotics on separate plates
Observing the cultures after two hours instead of eighteen hours
Focusing on only two antibiotics instead of four
Focusing on only one bacteria strain and using more than four antibiotics
All of the choices listed would strengthen the experiment
Testing the four antibiotics on separate plates
Testing the antibiotics on different plates would eliminate any possible combination reactions. All of the other answer choices would weaken the results instead of strengthen.
Example Question #8 : How To Find Experimental Design In Biology
A biologist wanted to do an experiment involving two species of large cat (species A and species B) around a potential new food source.
He isolated the populations of each cat in a location that closely approximated their natural environment, except this potential new food source was the only food source available to them.
Experiment 1:
When species A was left alone with the new food source, their numbers decreased rapidly until none were left.
Experiment 2:
When species B was left alone with the new food source, their numbers increased and the species flourished.
Experiment 3:
When an equal number of species A and B were placed with the new food source, both species maintained relatively constant numbers.
Which of the following changes would most alter the results of the experiments?
Raising the temperature in the environment
Decreasing the starting number of each species of animal
Introduction of an alternative food source
Increasing the amount of fresh water in the environment
Introduction of an alternative food source
This experiment, at its heart, is to determine the relationship between the species of cat, a new food source, and the change in population. If an alternative food source is introduced into the experiment, that would most likely change the results of the experiment by introducing a second independent variable. Fluctuations in population size could be attributable to either of the food sources, and the effects of a single food source could not be determined.
Changes in temperature, water availability, and sample size would likely have some impact on the results, but nearly as severe of an effect as adding a secondary food source.
Example Question #9 : How To Find Experimental Design In Biology
A biologist wanted to do an experiment involving two species of large cat (species A and species B) around a potential new food source.
He isolated the populations of each cat in a location that closely approximated their natural environment, except this potential new food source was the only food source available to them.
Experiment 1:
When species A was left alone with the new food source, their numbers decreased rapidly until none were left.
Experiment 2:
When species B was left alone with the new food source, their numbers increased and the species flourished.
Experiment 3:
When an equal number of species A and B were placed with the new food source, both species maintained relatively constant numbers.
The biologist wants to recreate this experiment, but with fish. Which of the following will he NOT need?
Environments that recreate the natural habitat of the fish
Similar-sized aquariums
Only one food source for both fish
Two different species of fish
Similar-sized aquariums
The experiment requires two different species of the animal, only one food source, and for the location to closely mimic their natural environment. The size of the aquarium is irrelevant, as long as it mimics each fish's natural environment.
Example Question #521 : Biology
A biologist wanted to do an experiment involving two species of large cat (species A and species B) around a potential new food source.
He isolated the populations of each cat in a location that closely approximated their natural environment, except this potential new food source was the only food source available to them.
Experiment 1:
When species A was left alone with the new food source, their numbers decreased rapidly until none were left.
Experiment 2:
When species B was left alone with the new food source, their numbers increased and the species flourished.
Experiment 3:
When an equal number of species A and B were placed with the new food source, both species maintained relatively constant numbers.
Why is it important that each species was in a location that closely approximated their natural environment?
This will make the cats more comfortable, and thus more agreeable to the experiment
This is the only way to isolate their response to the new food source
This is the safest way to keep them away from predators
It is irrelevant data
This is the only way to isolate their response to the new food source
For this experiment, the goal is to isolate the response of the cats to the food source. Everything else must be controlled; there can only be one indirect variable: the food source. Any variation aside from the variable being tested could result in unwanted additional changes in the cats' behaviors. By keeping their environments constant, any changes can be assumed to be the result of the altered food source.
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