Bio1a – Lab Test 1 Review Sheet
Anything in the lab manual is fair game, especially the questions. However, there will be a
practical component to this quiz.
You will receive a test sheet that contains a list of tasks and questions. For many tasks, you will
need to use lab equipment to produce a particular result or answer a specific question.
Your instructor will evaluate your written answers or observe certain results that you obtain.
Some observations will occur during the test, others will occur after you are finished with the
test.
Content
Collecting and using data to interpret results
1. Graphing a. differentiate between bar (categories) and a scatter plot and when to use them
b. Given a set of data, be able to draw a good graph that follows the guidelines given in
class
 proper axis, axis labeled, to scale, use of space, title,
 Given a set of data, be able to determine the mean, median and mode
2. Use and understanding of general techniques for measuring liquids. (I.e. what device to use
when)
a. Be able to select the best instrument to measure out a given volume.
 Rule: use the smallest instrument possible, where only one measurement is needed
 Example: for 201 µl, you would use a P1000
b. Given a volume, be able to measure out that volume using a micropipettor and given a
micropipettor, be able to write the volume that it’s set to deliver
c. Be able to fill a graduated cylinder with a specified volume of water to the nearest 0.5ml.
d. Be able to use a glass pipette and pipettor to transfer a specified volume.
e. Be able to use a micropipettor to transfer a specific volume of dye to a tube of water.
f. Understand the difference between precision (consistency) and accuracy (closeness).
3. Use and understanding of microscope
a. Proper use of microscope: Given a sample slide, be able to focus sharply and specifically
on a specimen, at an appropriate magnification, or at a magnification as directed.
b. Given the purpose of a part of the microscope, be able indicate the relevant part of the
microscope.
c. Be able to identify the microscope part by the official name and be able to state its
function
d. Be able to put away the microscope properly.
e. Describe the difference between a compound and dissecting scopes
f. Know how to compute the total magnification of a compound scope
Collecting and using data to interpret results
4. Given a set of data, be able to draw a good graph that follows the guidelines given in class (
a. proper axis, axis labeled, to scale, use of space, title,
b. Given a set of data, be able to determine the mean, median and mode
Scientific method
5. Describe the difference between a fact a theory and a hypothesis
6. Understand the reasons for a positive and negative control
a. Given specific experimental conditions, determine the positive and negative controls
b. Given specific experiments from lab manual, state the positive and negative controls
c. Using given controls analyze results
Qualitative analysis of biological molecules
7. State what the tests (Benedict’s, Iodine, Biuret’s, and Sudan) detect
8. Given a physical or hypothetical set of results from the aforementioned tests, determine the
possible composition of a substance
9. Explain how DNA was extracted from cheek cells
Microbiological techniques
10. Know the reason for, and be able to perform, a 4 way streak
11. Know the basis, technique, and application of the Gram stain
12. Given a microscopic specimen, determine if it’s gram positive or negative
Diffusion & osmosis
13. Understand general principles of diffusion and osmosis and how they applied to the plate, tube,
potato, red blood cell, and Elodea experiments
14. Given a saline solution of unknown concentration, and a blood sample, be able to use a
microscope to estimate the NaCl concentration of the mystery solution.
Enzyme activity
15. Understand the principle and uses of a spectrophotometer and absorbance vs. transmittance
16. Describe the purpose of a blank and how it is performed
17. Explain how the spectrophotometer was used to measure enzyme activity
Glycolysis & fermentation in yeast
18. Explain how a respirometer works
Photosynthesis
19. Describe paper chromatography and its use
20. Predict the characteristics of substances given their migration on a chromatogram
21. Given a colored filter, predict what colors of light will pass through
22. Explain photorespiration and describe the mechanisms plants use to compensate
WARNING! This is NOT a comprehensive list of material on this quiz.
Biotechniques - Cloning
1. Be able to read a restriction map
2. Given a plasmid and insert be able to make different combinations of plasmids
a. Know the enzymes used for cloning and what they will do.
i. Restriction enzymes, ligase
b. Know the requirements of a plasmid and what they do
i. Antibiotic resistance
ii. Ori
c. Know what the other elements are the were used in pGLO
i. Promoter operator
ii. Activator - araC
d. Understand what a tagged protein is and how that affects properties of the
fusion protein
i. N-ter vs C-term
ii. Size
iii. Requirements to visualize - UV
e. Be able to extrapolate using a Lac operon, or gal promoter, different
restriction enzymes, different tags, different antibiotics, etc.
Biotechniques - Transformation – general protocol
3. Purpose of the transformation
4. Know the growth conditions for plasmids and expression
a. +/- antibiotic, +/- arabinose
b. UV as additional requirement for GFP
c. Given conditions, be able to predict growth outcome of colonies (ex: no
growth, growth, color, fluorescence)
5. Growth condition for DNA prep
i. Liquid media containing antibiotic
a. How to analyze DNA
i. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis,
ii. Given a map - Be able to predict bands that would appear on a restriction
digest of constructs
iii. Given bands on a gel be able to draw a restriction map