Question

Identify the following elements of hypothesis-based science in this

example: (a) question, (b) hypothesis, (c) prediction, (d) control group, and (e) experimental group.

Short answer

1. The predation resulting in the natural selection of guppies’ color patterns is asked in hypothesis-based science.
2. The rate of bright-colored guppies is analyzed and compared based on the susceptibility of guppies to predation.
3. The color pattern of descendant species or bright-colored guppies in a population is observed.
4. The control group is the source where guppies are available in the pool.
5. The experimental group considers the comparison of the bright-colored guppies population after 22 months (15 generations).

Step-by-step solution

Hypothesis based science

The form of scientific theory that explains the nature and cause of observation through experimentation is hypothesis-based science.

The observational discovery in hypothesis-based science leads to asking questions and a potential solution that can be estimated through the scientific method.

Explanation for part (a)

Asking a question at the beginning of observation is considered one of the elements of hypothesis-based science.

The scientific question asked in a hypothesis must provide a testable answer to that question.

In guppies, can predation result in the natural selection of the color pattern? This is the question that was asked by the researcher during the testing prediction.

Explanation for part (b)

The brighter colored guppies are lesser in number than the drab-colored guppies; more predation occurs on brighter colored fish due to their higher susceptibility.

When there are fewer predators, the number of brighter-colored guppies rises in the pool due to a higher reproduction rate by females (choose bright-colored fish).

Explanation for part (c)

When drab-colored guppies transfer into another pool containing only predator fish, there will be more descendants of bright guppies. Hence, the survival rate of male guppies increases in the guppies’ population due to no predation of adult guppies.

Explanation for part (d)

The pool which comprises guppies and adult preying fish (pike cichlid fish) is the control group.

Explanation for part (e)

The experimental group involves the transplanted 200 guppies in the pool containing predator fish (killifish) with adult-preying fish.