VCE Biology Question Thread

[TheBigC]

Just have a couple of questions about the EPI:

1. In the results section, what can I comment on without doing too much explanation?

2. Where can I justify the use of oxygen gas production as a suitable dependent variable?

3. How can I comment on whether the investigation generated useful results?

4. How can I effectively comment on the meaning/significance of results obtained?

Thanks.

(1) Firstly, within the results section, comments or any descriptions are often unnecessary, merely data points and charts are adequate. I must mention, however, if your results have a qualitative component then laconic descriptions such as 'solutions altered from pink to blue' are sufficient etc.

(2) In terms of oxygen gas production acting as a dependent variable, justification throughout your poster is often implicit, that is, one doesn't often need to explicitly state that it is an appropriate dependent variable because... Rather, focus on identifying the process being observed in your introduction (i.e. photosynthesis), then briefly outline how it works (here you can acknowledge that oxygen is a product of the light-dependent reactions).

(3) In my opinion, this can be done in the discussion (in a far more detailed manner) or in the conclusion where it can be hastily stated and supported. (i.e. the findings of this investigation, in coinciding with current scientific theory, acts to bolster what is currently known, thus demonstrating the credibility of [insert aim of investigative research here etc].

(4) Lastly, when interpreting results (i.e. significance of results), this can be performed within the discussion where further drawings upon the data can be established and used to explain other scientific concepts etc.

Good luck

DISCLAIMER: I recommend you discuss these questions with your teacher when possible. My suggestions are merely my own opinion and due to the subjectivity of various schools' marking schemes for the Extended Practical Investigation, your teacher/(s) may expect different renditions of the poster to what I envisage.

[PopcornTime]

How do I reference the Heinemann chemistry 2 and biology 2 textbook in a report?

[PhoenixxFire]

How do I reference the Heinemann chemistry 2 and biology 2 textbook in a report?

Unless your teacher gives you a specific way to do it you can just use an online reference generator, put in the information it requires and then make a references section at the bottom of your poster/report and put it there.

[Ironiic]

Hiya, I've just got a few questions on photosynthesis:

- How do you reduce/increase the amount of chlorophyll in plants? Is the amount of chlorophyll in chloroplasts affected by temperature/climate/other factors?
- What is carbon fixation?
- In photosynthesis when ADP+Pi becomes ATP, is this particular process cellular respiration? Does cellular respiration occur IN photosynthesis?
- Do chloroplasts only contain chlorophyll, and does chlorophyll only contain green pigment? Can there be different pigments in chloroplasts?

Thanks

[PhoenixxFire]

Hiya, I've just got a few questions on photosynthesis:

- How do you reduce/increase the amount of chlorophyll in plants? Is the amount of chlorophyll in chloroplasts affected by temperature/climate/other factors?

After the plant is dead (i.e. if you've pulled a leaf off) I don't know of any way to change the amount of chlorophyll. If you're growing live plants you  probably could change it by varying climate/other environmental conditions but its not relevant for VCE bio.

- What is carbon fixation?

Carbon fixation happens in photosynthesis (and chemosynthesis, which you don't need to know about). It's when inorganic carbon (e.g. carbon dioxide) is changed into organic carbon (e.g. as part of glucose).

- In photosynthesis when ADP+Pi becomes ATP, is this particular process cellular respiration? Does cellular respiration occur IN photosynthesis?

It is not cellular respiration. It is part of photosynthesis. ATP is produced during photosynthesis as well as cellular respiration, but you don't need to know exactly how much.

- Do chloroplasts only contain chlorophyll, and does chlorophyll only contain green pigment? Can there be different pigments in chloroplasts?

Thanks

They contain other types of pigments (called accessory pigments) but you don't need to know about them.

Welcome to AN

[Ironiic]

After the plant is dead (i.e. if you've pulled a leaf off) I don't know of any way to change the amount of chlorophyll. If you're growing live plants you  probably could change it by varying climate/other environmental conditions but its not relevant for VCE bio.
Carbon fixation happens in photosynthesis (and chemosynthesis, which you don't need to know about). It's when inorganic carbon (e.g. carbon dioxide) is changed into organic carbon (e.g. as part of glucose).
It is not cellular respiration. It is part of photosynthesis. ATP is produced during photosynthesis as well as cellular respiration, but you don't need to know exactly how much.
They contain other types of pigments (called accessory pigments) but you don't need to know about them.

Welcome to AN

Okay cool, thank you!!

[PopcornTime]

Fibrous proteins have strength and flexibility as properties, what properties do globular proteins have? I assume strength?

[Qwerty1234qwerty]

- water soluble due to the Arrangement  of hydrophobic polar amino acids on the interior and hydrophilic amino acids on the exterior
- spherical compact shape

[MAGGOT]

Hi guys,
I was looking though different reading materials when one said mitochondria is the site of aerobic respiration and the other, site of cellular respiration so which one is it, i'm leaning more towards cellular respiration

Thanks.

[darkz]

Hi guys,
I was looking though different reading materials when one said mitochondria is the site of aerobic respiration and the other, site of cellular respiration so which one is it, i'm leaning more towards cellular respiration

Thanks.

Hey
So from what I've been told, the more specific and correct answer would be that the mitochondria is the site of aerobic respiration. This is because when oxygen is not available - cells still undergo respiration (glycolysis/fermentation) which only occurs within the cytosol. Therefore, saying that the mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration isn't wrong, but it isn't the most specific as anaerobic respiration does not occur in the mitochondria.

[Poet]

Hi guys,
I was looking though different reading materials when one said mitochondria is the site of aerobic respiration and the other, site of cellular respiration so which one is it, i'm leaning more towards cellular respiration

Thanks.

Hey MAGGOT,
I'm pretty sure that mitochondria actually do both of these processes, because they are actually the same process. Enzymatic reactions occur largely in the mitochondria in cellular respiration, and most of these require oxygen, hence the name 'aerobic' respiration. That's just the part of cellular respiration that requires oxygen as an input. So one of your reading materials was just being more specific about the processes.
Hope this helps!

[MAGGOT]

Then in terms of exams and sacs would; the mitochondria is the site of aerobic respiration be the preferred answer rather than the site of cellular respiration? 

[Poet]

Then in terms of exams and sacs would; the mitochondria is the site of aerobic respiration be the preferred answer rather than the site of cellular respiration? 

Yes. The answer of 'cellular respiration' would be extremely vague.

[darkz]

Then in terms of exams and sacs would; the mitochondria is the site of aerobic respiration be the preferred answer rather than the site of cellular respiration?

I personally would write aerobic respiration

[DBA-144]

How might the structure of the cytoplasm relate to its function?

Like its fluid so it can suspend the organelles or..?