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Quizzes > Science > Biology

Biology 101 Lab Practical Quiz: Test Your Skills

Ready for the Bio 101 Lab Practical Challenge? Ace your biology lab exam now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art test tubes, microscope, pipette, petri dishes on sky blue background for Biology 101 lab practical quiz

This Biology 101 lab practical quiz helps you practice real lab skills - identifying equipment, pipetting, titration, microscope focus, and safety - so you feel steady at the bench. Get instant feedback to spot weak areas before your lab exam, and when you're done, try a broader Biology 101 practice quiz .

Which micropipette would you use to accurately measure 10 µL?
P10
P1000
P200
P20
Micropipettes are designed for specific volume ranges. A P20 pipette measures between 2 and 20 µL, making it the most accurate choice for dispensing 10 µL. Using a P200 or P1000 at such low volumes would decrease precision.
What is the primary function of a centrifuge in the lab?
To separate sample components by density
To measure pH
To sterilize equipment
To heat samples
A centrifuge spins samples at high speeds to create a centrifugal force that separates components based on density. Denser particles form a pellet at the bottom of the tube. This method is commonly used for blood fractionation and cell harvesting.
When focusing on high magnification with a light microscope, which knob should you primarily use?
Coarse focus knob
Stage control knob
Fine focus knob
Diaphragm adjustment
The fine focus knob makes small adjustments to bring the specimen into sharp detail at high magnification. The coarse focus knob is used for larger adjustments at lower magnifications. Using coarse focus on high power risks crashing the objective into the slide.
What safety equipment is essential when handling corrosive chemicals?
Goggles only
Apron only
Lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves
Face shield only
When working with corrosive chemicals, a lab coat protects your body, goggles safeguard your eyes, and gloves protect your hands from burns or chemical exposure. Face shields and aprons add protection but do not replace full PPE. Always follow your institution's safety protocols.
Which piece of glassware is calibrated to deliver an exact volume of liquid?
Beaker
Test tube
Erlenmeyer flask
Pipette
A volumetric pipette is calibrated to deliver an exact volume with high precision. Beakers and flasks are used for mixing or rough measurements and are not as precise. Accurate volume delivery is critical for reproducible results.
What is the primary purpose of a buffer solution in a laboratory setting?
To maintain a stable pH
To increase reaction rate
To change color at endpoints
To sterilize solutions
Buffer solutions resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added. They consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base. Maintaining stable pH is vital for enzyme activity and many biochemical reactions.
On a P200 micropipette, which digital display reading corresponds to 25 µL?
025
250
200
002
The P200 pipette's display shows three digits representing tens, units, and tenths of microliters. Setting it to "025" dispenses 25 µL. Misreading the dial can lead to inaccurate volumes and affect experimental results.
Which device is used to sterilize laboratory media using high-pressure steam?
Oven
Autoclave
Incubator
Laminar flow hood
An autoclave uses high-pressure saturated steam at 121°C to sterilize media, glassware, and instruments. Incubators regulate temperature for culture growth but do not sterilize. Laminar flow hoods provide a sterile work area but do not sterilize items.
What agarose gel concentration is commonly used to separate DNA fragments around 500 base pairs?
3%
1%
0.5%
2%
A 1% agarose gel provides good resolution for DNA fragments around 500 bp. Lower concentrations (e.g., 0.5%) are better for larger fragments, while higher concentrations (e.g., 2%) resolve smaller fragments. Choosing the right gel concentration ensures clear band separation.
When performing a 1:10 serial dilution, transferring 100 µL into 900 µL of diluent results in which dilution factor?
1:100
1:10
9:1
1:9
Dilution factor is calculated as the total volume divided by the aliquot volume. Transferring 100 µL into 900 µL yields a total of 1000 µL, so the dilution is 1 part sample to 10 parts total, or 1:10. Accurate pipetting is essential for correct dilutions.
What does an OD600 measurement on a spectrophotometer estimate?
pH of the sample
Protein concentration
Bacterial cell density
DNA purity
OD600 measures optical density at 600 nm, which correlates with bacterial cell concentration in liquid culture. It detects light scattering by cells. This method provides a quick estimate of growth phase and cell density.
In a Bradford assay, what reagent causes the color shift when binding proteins?
Ethidium bromide
Coomassie Brilliant Blue
Coomassie R-250
Bromophenol blue
Bradford reagent contains Coomassie Brilliant Blue dye, which binds to basic and aromatic amino acids in proteins. The binding shifts the dye's absorbance maximum, producing a color change measured at 595 nm. This provides a rapid estimate of protein concentration.
Which equipment provides an aseptic environment for cell culture manipulations?
Laminar flow hood
Autoclave
PCR machine
Water bath
A laminar flow hood directs HEPA-filtered air across the workspace to prevent contamination. It provides a sterile environment for tissue culture and sample preparation. Autoclaves sterilize materials but are not used for open manipulations.
Which sterilization method is best for heat-sensitive solutions?
Filtration
UV irradiation
Dry heat
Autoclaving
Filtration through a 0.22 µm membrane removes microbes without applying heat, preserving heat-sensitive components like enzymes or antibiotics. Autoclaving and dry heat denature proteins. UV irradiation has limited penetration and is not suitable for opaque solutions.
When blanking a spectrophotometer for an enzyme assay, what should the blank contain?
All reagents except the enzyme substrate
Only distilled water
Buffer and substrate
Enzyme solution only
The blank should contain everything in the sample except the analyte that absorbs light (usually substrate or product). This zeroes the baseline and accounts for absorbance from buffers and reagents. Proper blanking ensures accurate measurements.
What best practice prevents aerosol contamination when pipetting?
Touch tip to tube wall
Use filtered pipette tips
Pre-wet the tip only once
Depress plunger to second stop immediately
Filtered tips contain a barrier that stops liquids and aerosols from entering the pipette body, reducing cross-contamination. Other techniques help accuracy but do not fully prevent aerosol carryover. Always change tips between samples.
Which component in PCR binds to a specific DNA sequence to initiate synthesis?
Primer
Template DNA
dNTPs
DNA polymerase
Primers are short oligonucleotides that anneal to complementary sequences flanking the target region. DNA polymerase uses these primers to begin synthesizing new strands. dNTPs are building blocks but do not initiate binding.
What is the purpose of the annealing step in a PCR cycle?
Allow primers to bind to template DNA
Denature double-stranded DNA
Activate DNA polymerase
Extend new DNA strands
During the annealing step, the reaction temperature is lowered to allow primers to hybridize specifically to their complementary sites on the template DNA. Accurate annealing temperature is crucial for specificity. Denaturation and extension occur in other steps.
In SDS-PAGE, what role does SDS play in protein separation?
Crosslinks the polyacrylamide gel
Acts as a reducing agent
Stains proteins for visualization
Denatures proteins and imparts uniform negative charge
Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) unfolds proteins and coats them with negative charges proportional to their mass. This ensures proteins migrate based on size during electrophoresis. It does not crosslink gel or stain proteins.
Which membrane material is most commonly used for protein transfer in Western blotting?
Nitrocellulose
Nylon
Agarose
Polyethylene
Nitrocellulose membranes bind proteins strongly and have low background in immunodetection. PVDF is another option, but nitrocellulose is often preferred for its ease of use and cost. Agarose and polyethylene are not used for blotting proteins.
Which fluorescent dye is commonly used for quantitative real-time PCR detection?
SYBR Green
DAPI
Coomassie Blue
Ethidium bromide
SYBR Green binds double-stranded DNA and fluoresces upon excitation, allowing real-time monitoring of PCR amplification. Ethidium bromide intercalates DNA but is not suitable for quantitative real-time assays. DAPI stains DNA in cells.
In an ELISA, which enzyme is most frequently conjugated to the secondary antibody?
Horseradish peroxidase
DNase
Lipase
Kinase
Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is widely used in ELISA due to its stability and ability to catalyze colorimetric or chemiluminescent reactions. It provides a sensitive readout when substrate is added. Other enzymes are rarely used in standard ELISAs.
Why must the reaction time be consistent when reading a Bradford protein assay absorbance?
Color intensity develops over time, affecting absorbance
Buffer evaporates at different rates
Protein structure changes after timing
Coomassie dye degrades instantly
The Bradford assay color develops as Coomassie dye binds to proteins, and this reaction continues over several minutes. Measuring absorbance at a consistent time point ensures comparability between standards and samples. Variations in timing lead to inaccurate concentration calculations.
In differential centrifugation of cell lysate, which organelle pellets first at low speed (?1,000 × g)?
Nuclei
Microsomes
Mitochondria
Ribosomes
At low centrifugal forces (~1,000 × g), the densest organelles, the nuclei, sediment first to form a pellet. Subsequent spins at higher speeds pellet mitochondria, lysosomes, and microsomes. This stepwise separation exploits size and density differences.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Essential Lab Equipment -

    Recognize and name key tools used in a biology 101 lab practical, from pipettes to microscopes. This outcome ensures you can match each instrument to its primary function.

  2. Demonstrate Proper Instrument Setup -

    Show how to calibrate and prepare common lab devices, such as micropipettes and spectrophotometers. Accurate setup skills promote reliable experimental results.

  3. Apply Standard Safety Protocols -

    Implement critical safety measures for handling specimens, chemicals, and glassware. Understanding these protocols reduces the risk of lab accidents.

  4. Interpret Quiz Feedback -

    Use instant quiz results to identify areas of strength and gaps in your bio 101 lab practical knowledge. This feedback-driven approach guides targeted study efforts.

  5. Compare Apparatus Functions -

    Distinguish between similar tools - like Bunsen burners vs. hot plates - and know when to use each. Comparing functions helps streamline your workflow.

  6. Analyze Procedure Steps -

    Break down common lab protocols into sequential actions to ensure accurate execution. This analytical skill underpins effective experimental design and troubleshooting.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Mastering Microscopy Basics -

    For any biology 101 lab practical, understanding how to clean lenses, set coarse and fine focus, and calculate total magnification (e.g., 10× ocular lens × 40× objective = 400×) is key. Use the mnemonic "CFO" (Clean, Focus, Observe) to recall each step during your biology lab exam. Regularly practice slide placement and stage controls to build confidence for your bio lab quiz.

  2. Accurate Pipetting & Dilutions -

    Precision in pipetting is vital for a bio 101 lab practical, so always pre-wet tips and hold the pipette vertically to avoid air bubbles. Remember the dilution formula C₝V₝ = C₂V₂ when preparing standard solutions or performing 1:10 serial dilutions. Label tubes clearly and double-check volumes to ace your biology practical quiz.

  3. Aseptic Techniques & Agar Preparation -

    Maintaining sterility is crucial in a biology lab exam: flame-sterilize loops, open plates at a 45° angle, and work near an open flame or laminar flow hood. Autoclave media at 121 °C for 15 minutes, cool to ~50 °C before pouring to prevent condensation. A quick memory phrase - "FLAME, POUR, COOL, SEAL" - helps you recall each step under timed conditions.

  4. Centrifugation Principles & Calculations -

    Balance samples opposite each other to prevent rotor damage and use the RCF formula (RCF = 1.118×10❻❵ × radius(cm) × RPM²) to set correct speeds for your bio lab quiz protocols. Always brake and open the rotor only when fully stopped to avoid spills. Practicing tube placement and speed settings beforehand will tip the scales in your favor during the biology practical quiz.

  5. Lab Safety & Proper Documentation -

    Wearing goggles, gloves, and a lab coat is non-negotiable for any biology 101 lab practical to protect against spills and aerosols. Record every step in ink - date, objective, reagents, observations - and use a single line to cross out mistakes rather than erasing. Clear, consistent notes not only impress graders but also serve as your best study tool for future bio lab exams.

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