VCE Biology Question Thread

[tigerclouds]

Wide pelvis: because it's short and wide, it can support the weight of the upper body while allowing free locomotion of the legs
S-shaped spine: similar to pelvis, allows the weight of the upper body to be distributed evenly

Evidence for Out of Africa hypothesis: If the oldest hominin fossil is found in Africa that suggests that hominins had originated in africa and then migrated out. Also, if Africans have a larger genetic variation to the rest of us, that's essentially an example of founder's effect. As a small amount of population of hominins moved OUT of Africa and interbred over time with each other, more genetic differences accumulated between Africans and the rest of us.

Hope that helped!!

Thank you so much, that really helped! Also, I read your earlier post and yeah I feel the same way because I did the Psych exam today but I guess you just have to remind yourself of the work you've put into preparing for the exam and convince yourself that you are ready for whatever they throw at you. They wouldn't (shouldn't) ask you anything outside the study design so if you're comfortable with that, you will be ok, it'll just be a matter of applying your knowledge

[PhoenixxFire]

Hey! I heard that the psych exam was super hard, way harder than the previous years and now I'm really scared of the Bio exam tomorrow. Like I keep thinking what if the difficulty level is super high and I won't do well, and I'm kinda freaking out. Any advice?

It won't matter if it is harder than previous years because it'll be harder for everyone and cutoffs depend on how well everyone else does.

[homeworkisapotato]

~
All the best!

Thank you soso much whys! It means a lot! And all the best to you, you're gonna smash this <3

They wouldn't (shouldn't) ask you anything outside the study design so if you're comfortable with that, you will be ok, it'll just be a matter of applying your knowledge

Thank you so much tigerclouds for being so encouraging! I hope the psych exam went well for you and all the best for the bio exam!

It won't matter if it is harder than previous years because it'll be harder for everyone and cutoffs depend on how well everyone else does.

Ohh that makes so much sense! Thank you PhoenixxFire!!

[Coolgalbornin03Lo]

What are some ways to detect pathogen type? Is ELIZA one? And if so how would it be explained concisely?

[homeworkisapotato]

What are some ways to detect pathogen type? Is ELIZA one? And if so how would it be explained concisely?

An easier way is to visualise the pathogen under a microscope or even do the whole DNA sequencing. By doing that, you can find the shape of the antigen and make a vaccine.

ELIZA
- in a patient's blood sample, put the antigen of the pathogen. IF the patient has encoutered the pathogen before, antibodies will bind to the antigen forming an antigen-antibody complex. A colour test can then be applied to isolate the proteins
Correct me if I'm wrong tho


Hey! Last minute sudden mind blanks but do you include light as an input for photosynthesis? Such a dumb question but I had a complete mind blank! Hope this won't happen in the exam..
Thank you!!

Mod edit: merged double posts

[Erutepa]

An easier way is to visualise the pathogen under a microscope or even do the whole DNA sequencing. By doing that, you can find the shape of the antigen and make a vaccine.

ELIZA
- in a patient's blood sample, put the antigen of the pathogen. IF the patient has encoutered the pathogen before, antibodies will bind to the antigen forming an antigen-antibody complex. A colour test can then be applied to isolate the proteins
Correct me if I'm wrong tho

What are some ways to detect pathogen type? Is ELIZA one? And if so how would it be explained concisely?

when identifying a pathogen, within VCE biology's scope, you won't need to talk about different diagnostic procedures like ELISA.
The study design states "the use of scientific knowledge to identify the pathogen" which means that given data/features of a pathogen you will need to be able to determine what it is. Often questions will tell you that pathogen x contains nucleic acids, doesn't have a membrane, ect. from which you will have to reason what type of pathogen it is using you knowledge of pathogens.
Sometimes questions do refer to pathogen diagnostic methods (like in Q.11 of the 2019 exam) but these questions don't require you to know about these diagnostic methods, but rather for you to apply other knowledge to the situation.

Hey! Last minute sudden mind blanks but do you include light as an input for photosynthesis? Such a dumb question but I had a complete mind blank! Hope this won't happen in the exam..
Thank you!!

When writing the chemical equation you don't have to include light in the equation. however if you are describing the reaction you need to refer to the role of light in the reaction

[homeworkisapotato]

Sometimes questions do refer to pathogen diagnostic methods (like in Q.11 of the 2019 exam) but these questions don't require you to know about these diagnostic methods, but rather for you to apply other knowledge to the situation.
When writing the chemical equation you don't have to include light in the equation. however if you are describing the reaction you need to refer to the role of light in the reaction

Thank you!! I meant like if they ask us to list the inputs for photosynthesis would you also write light?
Also my teacher taught me that when writing the chemical equation you have to write light above the arrow and chlorophyll below the arrow..is that not right?

[ezdebebe]

not necessary i think

[Erutepa]

Thank you!! I meant like if they ask us to list the inputs for photosynthesis would you also write light?
Also my teacher taught me that when writing the chemical equation you have to write light above the arrow and chlorophyll below the arrow..is that not right?

If you are listing out the inputs of photosynthesis I think you would probably get away without listing light, however its probably best to include it - better to be safe than sorry. Just make sure the question isn't asking for chemical or molecular inputs - there was a past question like this and it was incorrect to list light (as it is not a chemical or molecule).
When writing the chemical equation, I don't think you need to include light above the arrow although if you wanted to you most certainly can. I would be very confident in saying that you wouldn't need to put chloroplasts below the arrow though.

i need help with this question would it be b

is this a biology question or is it physics?

[Coolgalbornin03Lo]

In Q18 MCQ of 2018 exam why is it an animal hormone if it diffuses into target cell? I thought animal hormones were always proteins?

[ActivationEnergy]

In Q18 MCQ of 2018 exam why is it an animal hormone if it diffuses into target cell? I thought animal hormones were always proteins?

Animal hormones undergo endocrine signalling which is essentially travelling in the bloodstream and long distances to target cells. In the image, it can be seen that the source cell releases molecules which travel through a blood vessel. Therefore, indicative of an animal hormone.

[Bri MT]

In Q18 MCQ of 2018 exam why is it an animal hormone if it diffuses into target cell? I thought animal hormones were always proteins?

Animal hormones can be protein or lipid based. E.g. estrogen and testosterone are definitely not proteins

[Coolgalbornin03Lo]

Is it acceptable to call them T-cells in the cell mediated response?

I.e Naive T cells proliferate into cytotoxic T cells and T memory cells?

[Bri MT]

Is it acceptable to call them T-cells in the cell mediated response?

I.e Naive T cells proliferate into cytotoxic T cells and T memory cells?

Calling them t cells is fine, VCAA has done this many times in the past


Edit: if you have an exam tomorrow pulling an all-nighter is a bad idea, please get some sleep

[WhatisaMeMe]

yo good luck everybody for bio exam tommorow also i would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of atarnotes biology thread for helping me through this tough journey by answering my questions ect. thanks