Question

DNA is the genetic material that makes up living things, and folic acid plays an important role in the formation of DNA. Jon wants to study the effect of folic acid on DNA formation in microbes. Which statement accurately describe the variables in this study?

A. The amount of folic acid and DNA synthesized are both dependent variables.
B. The amount of folic acid and DNA synthesized are both independent variables.
C. The amount of folic acid is the independent variable, and the DNA synthesized is the dependent variable.
D. The amount of folic acid is the dependent variable, and the DNA synthesized is the independent variable.
E. The amount of folic acid and DNA synthesized are neither dependent nor independent variables.

Answer 1

Answer: C. The amount of folic acid is the independent variable, and the DNA synthesized is the dependent variable.

Step-by-step explanation:

The independent variable is the one which can be manually altered and manipulated in an experiment so as to determine it's effect over the dependent variable. The dependent variable is the one which cannot be changed manually instead changed by the effect of the independent variable. Such changes are conclusive and recorded in the result.

In the given experiment, the amount of folic acid is the independent variable as the effect of folic acid can be observed on the DNA synthesis which is required to be examined in the experiment. The DNA synthesis is the dependent variable.