All 8 Uses of

hypothesis
in
Oryx and Crake

You could have an objective conversation with him, a conversation in which events and hypotheses were followed through to their logical conclusions.†
p. 69.5

hypotheses = ideas or explanations that are seemingly reasonable, but unproven

On the second to last evening, Crake said, "Let me walk you through a hypothetical scenario."
p. 210.1

hypothetical = of something temporarily treated as true to advance a discussion or to further investigation

Hypothetical scenarios were a favourite thing of Crake's.
p. 210.2 *

hypothetical = temporarily treating something as true to advance discussion

Nothing hypothetical here: that was what HelthWyzer actually did.
p. 210.6

hypothetical = of something temporarily treated as true to advance a discussion or to further investigation

Hypothesis, demonstration, conclusion, if A then not B.
p. 218.7 *

hypothesis = an idea to be tested

Then they'd load this hypothetical wonderkid up with their bloated expectations until the poor tyke burst under the strain.
p. 250.5

hypothetical = of something temporarily treated as true to advance a discussion or to further investigation

He was thinking about his hypothetical brother, the one that wasn't born yet.
p. 289.4

Definitions:

(1) (hypothesis as in: a study to test her hypothesis)
a seemingly reasonable, but unproven idea or explanation based upon known facts

In casual conversation, theory is a synonym for hypothesis, but a scientist would say that a hypothesis needs to pass rigorous tests before it could be accepted as a theory.
(2) (hypothesis as in: assume as a working hypothesis)
something that may or may not be true, but is temporarily treated as true to advance a discussion or to further investigation

This sense of hypothesis is typically seen in the form, hypothetical, or hypothetically.