How to find data representation in biology - ACT Science

The cells of multicellular organisms must be linked to each other through special structures called cellular junctions. A gap junction is a type of cellular junction, which allows for the passage of small molecules for fast coordination between cells. For example, cardiac cells in the heart and neurons in the brain rely on gap junctions. However, gap junctions are small and there is a limit to how large a molecule can be in order for it to pass through the gap junction.

An experiment is designed to see how large molecules can be to pass through a gap junction. A single layer of cells is grown in a petri dish. A single cell is then injected with a dye labeled with a fluorescent molecule. Researchers observe the following:

Based on the experiment’s data, which of the following is the best conclusion?

| | G | g | | | ---- | -- | -- | | g | Gg | gg | | g | Gg | gg |

Scientist’s believe they have found the gene accountable for intelligence. The allele “G” is dominant, and the allele “g” is recessive. The intelligence gene is optimally expressed in the homozygous recessive form. The chart above shows the trait in the heterozygous form and the homozygous form. The form “gg” is from the mother, and “Gg” is from the father. The parents want to know what the gene might look like in their child.

What genotypes would two parents want to have to increase their chances of a child exhibiting an optimal intelligence phenotype?

A group of scientists wanted to test the effects of Nitra-Grow, a chemical additive that can be given to plants to help them grow. 3 test groups of plants were given all the same time of sunlight, the same type of soil, and the same amount of water. Plant A was given no extra chemicals. Plant B was given 5g of Nitra-Grow. Plant C was given 5g of Ammonia to see if Nitra-Grow worked any better than a basic nitrogen-based household product. The plants are then measured on 5 consecutive days to find their average height (in cm).

On Day 7, what would be plant A’s approximate height?

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 could be added to this experiment to improve the data representation?

A group of scientists wanted to test the effects of Nitra-Grow, a chemical additive that can be given to plants to help them grow. 3 test groups of plants were given all the same time of sunlight, the same type of soil, and the same amount of water. Plant A was given no extra chemicals. Plant B was given 5g of Nitra-Grow. Plant C was given 5g of Ammonia to see if Nitra-Grow worked any better than a basic nitrogen-based household product. The plants are then measured on 5 consecutive days to find their average height (in cm).

Which plant is the control group?

The table above shows measurements for tumor size growth over time within three different possible treatment methods. Each tumor was first documented at an initial size of 2 inches. Every month each tumor was measured, for a total of five measurements of each tumor.

Looking at the "Surgery and Chemotherapy" treatment column, where could one infer that chemotherapy was performed?

The table above shows measurements for tumor size growth over time within three different possible treatment methods. Each tumor was first documented at an initial size of 2 inches. Every month each tumor was measured, for a total of five measurements of each tumor.

Based on the table above, which single method is most effective at reducing tumor size in the shortest period of time?

The table above shows measurements for tumor size growth over time within three different possible treatment methods. Each tumor was first documented at an initial size of 2 inches. Every month each tumor was measured, for a total of five measurements of each tumor.

What information would be most important to know before drawing conclusions based on this data?

Error bars are utilized in scientific graphs to show the difference between data points. If the error bars of data points overlap then they are not statistically independent from one another; therefore, they can be considered to be similar to one another. Only data points that possess non-overlapping error bars are sufficient to make or support a scientific conclusion.

Are these data points statistically independent from one another?

The table above shows measurements for tumor size growth over time within three different possible treatment methods. Each tumor was first documented at an initial size of 2 inches. Every month each tumor was measured, for a total of five measurements of each tumor.

Based on the chart above, what conclusion could be drawn about the "no treatment" option?

The table above shows measurements for tumor size growth over time within three different possible treatment methods. Each tumor was first documented at an initial size of 2 inches. Every month each tumor was measured, for a total of five measurements of each tumor.

What conclusion CANNOT be reached based on the data shown above?

| | G | g | | | ---- | -- | -- | | g | Gg | gg | | g | Gg | gg |

Scientist’s believe they have found the gene accountable for intelligence. The allele “G” is dominant, and the allele “g” is recessive. The intelligence gene is optimally expressed in the homozygous recessive form. The chart above shows the trait in the heterozygous form and the homozygous form. The form “gg” is from the mother, and “Gg” is from the father. The parents want to know what the gene might look like in their child.

What form of the gene expresses optimal intelligence?

| | G | g | | | ---- | -- | -- | | g | Gg | gg | | g | Gg | gg |

Scientist’s believe they have found the gene accountable for intelligence. The allele “G” is dominant, and the allele “g” is recessive. The intelligence gene is optimally expressed in the homozygous recessive form. The chart above shows the trait in the heterozygous form and the homozygous form. The form “gg” is from the mother, and “Gg” is from the father. The parents want to know what the gene might look like in their child.

According to the chart above, what are the chances of the child inheriting the optimal form of the gene?

| | G | g | | | ---- | -- | -- | | g | Gg | gg | | g | Gg | gg |

Scientist’s believe they have found the gene accountable for intelligence. The allele “G” is dominant, and the allele “g” is recessive. The intelligence gene is optimally expressed in the homozygous recessive form. The chart above shows the trait in the heterozygous form and the homozygous form. The form “gg” is from the mother, and “Gg” is from the father. The parents want to know what the gene might look like in their child.

According to the data given, what could one infer about the phenotype for "Gg?"

The significant increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since pre-industrial levels can be seen in the world’s oceans which absorb the CO2 and in turn undergo changes in chemistry. The consequences of increased CO2 include acidification of seawater and a decrease in carbonate ion (CO32-) concentration.

Changes in seawater chemistry affect marine organisms. The early life stages of invertebrates, such as squid, may be particularly vulnerable to changes in carbon dioxide levels. Acting as both predator and prey, squid are a significant component of marine ecosystems. For example, fish and sea birds, such as tuna and albatross, are dependent on squid as a source of prey. Furthermore, the fishing industry is impacted by the health of squid populations. California fisheries produce the majority of market squid.

In order to determine how increased levels of carbon dioxide affect the development of squid, eggs were hatched in two different conditions: normal (380 µatm) and elevated (2100 µatm) levels of CO2. The time to hatch and the size of the larval mantle (the anatomical feature that includes the body wall and fins) were measured and recorded. Two trials were conducted for each carbon dioxide concentration.

Compared to the hatch time data in Trial 1,                   .

The significant increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since pre-industrial levels can be seen in the world’s oceans which absorb the CO2 and in turn undergo changes in chemistry. The consequences of increased CO2 include acidification of seawater and a decrease in carbonate ion (CO32-) concentration.

Changes in seawater chemistry affect marine organisms. The early life stages of invertebrates, such as squid, may be particularly vulnerable to changes in carbon dioxide levels. Acting as both predator and prey, squid are a significant component of marine ecosystems. For example, fish and sea birds, such as tuna and albatross, are dependent on squid as a source of prey. Furthermore, the fishing industry is impacted by the health of squid populations. California fisheries produce the majority of market squid.

In order to determine how increased levels of carbon dioxide affect the development of squid, eggs were hatched in two different conditions: normal (380 µatm) and elevated (2100 µatm) levels of CO2. The time to hatch and the size of the larval mantle (the anatomical feature that includes the body wall and fins) were measured and recorded. Two trials were conducted for each carbon dioxide concentration.

For water with a carbon dioxide concentration of 380 µatm, when would half of squid eggs be expected to be hatched?

The significant increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since pre-industrial levels can be seen in the world’s oceans which absorb the CO2 and in turn undergo changes in chemistry. The consequences of increased CO2 include acidification of seawater and a decrease in carbonate ion (CO32-) concentration.

Changes in seawater chemistry affect marine organisms. The early life stages of invertebrates, such as squid, may be particularly vulnerable to changes in carbon dioxide levels. Acting as both predator and prey, squid are a significant component of marine ecosystems. For example, fish and sea birds, such as tuna and albatross, are dependent on squid as a source of prey. Furthermore, the fishing industry is impacted by the health of squid populations. California fisheries produce the majority of market squid.

In order to determine how increased levels of carbon dioxide affect the development of squid, eggs were hatched in two different conditions: normal (380 µatm) and elevated (2100 µatm) levels of CO2. The time to hatch and the size of the larval mantle (the anatomical feature that includes the body wall and fins) were measured and recorded. Two trials were conducted for each carbon dioxide concentration.

On average, approximately how many days apart do 100% of the eggs hatch in the normal and elevated groups?

The significant increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since pre-industrial levels can be seen in the world’s oceans which absorb the CO2 and in turn undergo changes in chemistry. The consequences of increased CO2 include acidification of seawater and a decrease in carbonate ion (CO32-) concentration.

Changes in seawater chemistry affect marine organisms. The early life stages of invertebrates, such as squid, may be particularly vulnerable to changes in carbon dioxide levels. Acting as both predator and prey, squid are a significant component of marine ecosystems. For example, fish and sea birds, such as tuna and albatross, are dependent on squid as a source of prey. Furthermore, the fishing industry is impacted by the health of squid populations. California fisheries produce the majority of market squid.

In order to determine how increased levels of carbon dioxide affect the development of squid, eggs were hatched in two different conditions: normal (380 µatm) and elevated (2100 µatm) levels of CO2. The time to hatch and the size of the larval mantle (the anatomical feature that includes the body wall and fins) were measured and recorded. Two trials were conducted for each carbon dioxide concentration.

For which group was the rate of egg hatching the slowest?

A new drug is in its clinical trial phase. The graph below shows the data for participants sleep patterns before medication use and then after using the medication for three months. Series 1 shows the average hours slept a night for each participant prior to medication. Series 2 shows the average hours slept a night for each participant after three months of use. The average hours slept a night was obtained by recording sleep every night for one month, and then finding the average. Patients one through five took a placebo pil, not the actual Moonlight medication. Note: The y-axis is measured in hours slept a night, while the x-axis lists each anonymous patient numerically.

The overall trend when comparing sleep before and after mediciation use is                     .

A new drug is in its clinical trial phase. The graph below shows the data for participants sleep patterns before medication use and then after using the medication for three months. Series 1 shows the average hours slept a night for each participant prior to medication. Series 2 shows the average hours slept a night for each participant after three months of use. The average hours slept a night was obtained by recording sleep every night for one month, and then finding the average. Patients one through five took a placebo pil, not the actual Moonlight medication. Note: The y-axis is measured in hours slept a night, while the x-axis lists each anonymous patient numerically.

What information would strengthen the experiment?