Login

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

March 30, 2024, 02:27:04 am

Author Topic: VCE Biology Question Thread  (Read 3571893 times)  Share 

0 Members and 8 Guests are viewing this topic.

darkz

  • Forum Obsessive
  • ***
  • Posts: 413
  • Respect: +154
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10560 on: July 20, 2018, 07:46:32 pm »
+1
Hey guys,

What's the difference between phylogenetic trees and a cladogram? I'm stuck trying to wrap my head around these two.

Just from a quick google search - cladograms show branching order where the lengths of the branches are meaningless. While phylograms show branch order and branch lengths which mean something (e.g. the number of differences in their nucleotide sequences or time in mya from where they diverged/converged etc)
2018: Biology [50 + Prems]
2019: English [46], Latin [45], Chemistry [41], Mathematical Methods [48], Specialist Mathematics [41]
ATAR: 99.95

2020: BMedSci, M.D. @ Monash Uni

VCE Biology Units 1&2 and 3&4 Tutoring for 2021

Scribe

  • Forum Regular
  • **
  • Posts: 69
  • Respect: 0
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10561 on: July 21, 2018, 11:13:33 am »
0
Are 'punctuated equilibrium' and 'gradualism' on the current study design?

Poet

  • MOTM: JUN 18
  • Part of the furniture
  • *****
  • Posts: 1612
  • Love. ~she/they
  • Respect: +2790
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10562 on: July 21, 2018, 05:40:17 pm »
+1
Are 'punctuated equilibrium' and 'gradualism' on the current study design?
I didn't see that terminology when I did a quick skim-through, but I may have missed it.
Why don't you take a look for yourself? :)
Thoughts are only thoughts.
They are not you. You do belong to yourself,
even when your thoughts don't.

Dealing with Year 12 - Put Your Mental Health at the Forefront
A Little Guide to Healthy Eating

LifeisaConstantStruggle

  • Forum Obsessive
  • ***
  • Posts: 324
  • Respect: +104
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10563 on: July 22, 2018, 01:32:10 pm »
+1
Are 'punctuated equilibrium' and 'gradualism' on the current study design?

Nope.
2018-2020: Bachelor of Actuarial Science (+ Econometrics), Monash
2021: Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), Econometrics & Financial Mathematics, Monash
2022-2023: Work and some soul-searching

pinguuu

  • Fresh Poster
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Respect: 0
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10564 on: July 24, 2018, 08:43:42 pm »
0
Hi all! What do we need to know about mass extinctions? I understand that is a new topic that has just been added to the study design but the textbook is overwhelming and I just wanted to know what I should learn.
Thanks  ;D

darkz

  • Forum Obsessive
  • ***
  • Posts: 413
  • Respect: +154
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10565 on: July 24, 2018, 09:10:15 pm »
0
Hi all! What do we need to know about mass extinctions? I understand that is a new topic that has just been added to the study design but the textbook is overwhelming and I just wanted to know what I should learn.
Thanks  ;D

Hey,
Firstly, you should know what mass extinctions are, and then just know a bit about what causes them. I don't think that you need to know specific ones, although that would be beneficial, you probably just need to know the causes of them and their implications.
2018: Biology [50 + Prems]
2019: English [46], Latin [45], Chemistry [41], Mathematical Methods [48], Specialist Mathematics [41]
ATAR: 99.95

2020: BMedSci, M.D. @ Monash Uni

VCE Biology Units 1&2 and 3&4 Tutoring for 2021

$noopDodd

  • Trailblazer
  • *
  • Posts: 29
  • Respect: +3
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10566 on: July 29, 2018, 10:32:41 pm »
0
Need help with a couple pf VCAA questions on the concept of one gene producing many proteins:

2015 Q7c

In the rat pituitary gland, GC stimulates the production of the growth hormone protein. However, in the rat liver, GC stimulates the production of the enzyme tryptophan oxygenase. Given that the genetic sequence is identical in all somatic rat cells, explain how the production of distinct proteins in different cell types could occur.  (2 marks)

Answer: Factors expressed by regulator genes could lead to production of the different proteins.
Students were required to relate their answer to how the same genetic sequence could produce different proteins.

​I understand VCAA's solution, however, would I still get the marks for other explanations?

- Different receptors/second messengers between the cells leading to different genes being activated
- Alternative splicing in RNA processing e.g. exon shuffling/intron retention

2017 Q1c

Different cells within an organism have different proteins. In some cases different proteins can be coded for by the same gene. Explain how the expression of a single gene can lead to the production of different proteins. (3 marks)

Answer:
• different post-transcriptional modification or modifications of the pre-mRNA
• different exons are joined or alternative splicing
• different nucleotide sequences/mRNA sequences, code for a different protein
• post-translational changes to the protein; for example, alternative folding


I'm unsure how much detail would be required here for the 3 marks, would I have to mention 3 different reasons, or just thoroughly explain one?
Cheers
2018: Biology
2019: English, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Chemistry, MUEP Chem

2020: Latrobe Dent

vox nihili

  • National Moderator
  • Great Wonder of ATAR Notes
  • *****
  • Posts: 5343
  • Respect: +1447
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10567 on: July 29, 2018, 11:53:17 pm »
+2
Need help with a couple pf VCAA questions on the concept of one gene producing many proteins:

2015 Q7c

In the rat pituitary gland, GC stimulates the production of the growth hormone protein. However, in the rat liver, GC stimulates the production of the enzyme tryptophan oxygenase. Given that the genetic sequence is identical in all somatic rat cells, explain how the production of distinct proteins in different cell types could occur.  (2 marks)

Answer: Factors expressed by regulator genes could lead to production of the different proteins.
Students were required to relate their answer to how the same genetic sequence could produce different proteins.

​I understand VCAA's solution, however, would I still get the marks for other explanations?

- Different receptors/second messengers between the cells leading to different genes being activated
- Alternative splicing in RNA processing e.g. exon shuffling/intron retention

2017 Q1c

Different cells within an organism have different proteins. In some cases different proteins can be coded for by the same gene. Explain how the expression of a single gene can lead to the production of different proteins. (3 marks)

Answer:
• different post-transcriptional modification or modifications of the pre-mRNA
• different exons are joined or alternative splicing
• different nucleotide sequences/mRNA sequences, code for a different protein
• post-translational changes to the protein; for example, alternative folding


I'm unsure how much detail would be required here for the 3 marks, would I have to mention 3 different reasons, or just thoroughly explain one?
Cheers

have only looked at this briefly.


First one: I think those are perfectly reasonable explanations you've given.

Second one: yeah really tricky. My suspicion is you'd only have to choose one reason and explain it.
2013-15: BBiomed (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), UniMelb
2016-20: MD, UniMelb
2019-20: MPH, UniMelb
2021-: GDipBiostat, USyd

BananaMash

  • Fresh Poster
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Respect: 0
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10568 on: July 30, 2018, 08:36:07 pm »
0
how much detail do we need to know about the ethical and social issues surrounding gene tech?

PhoenixxFire

  • VIC MVP - 2018
  • Honorary Moderator
  • ATAR Notes Legend
  • *******
  • Posts: 3695
  • They/them/theirs
  • Respect: +3102
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10569 on: July 30, 2018, 08:44:08 pm »
+1
how much detail do we need to know about the ethical and social issues surrounding gene tech?
Welcome to AN :)

For the exam you need to be able to list and very briefly describe a few positives and negatives of gene tech in terms of how it benefits society and also be able to describe a few social and ethical issues that might arise from its use. You won’t need to memorise entire lists or anything like that.

For your SAC it might be a bit different though. It really depends on your teacher, for mine I had to know about one issue in depth. If your teacher doesn’t tell you in advance to learn about a specific issue/give you handouts on it then the above should be enough.

I doubt it will be assessed in detail on the exam, you’ll probably get a question in relation to a specific scenario.
2019: B. Environment and Sustainability/B. Science @ ANU
2020: Just Vibing
2021: B. Paramedicine/B. Nursing @ ACU Canberra

tm11

  • Fresh Poster
  • *
  • Posts: 2
  • Respect: 0
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10570 on: July 31, 2018, 06:19:26 pm »
0
How does bacteria become resistant against antibiotics when people overuse or misuse them?

samebz

  • Fresh Poster
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Respect: 0
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10571 on: July 31, 2018, 06:26:59 pm »
+1
Overuse and misuse of antibiotics allows the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, hence every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria (bacteria that antibiotics can still attack) are killed, but resistant bacteria are left to grow and multiply. Resistance bacteria exists due to random mutation; hence some bacteria may contain a resistant gene. This is how repeated use of antibiotics can increase the number of drug-resistant bacteria.

darkz

  • Forum Obsessive
  • ***
  • Posts: 413
  • Respect: +154
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10572 on: July 31, 2018, 06:28:31 pm »
+7
How does bacteria become resistant against antibiotics when people overuse or misuse them?

In your question, we can apply Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection. So in the population of bacteria, there will already be variation in the population. Therefore, there may exist certain bacteria which are somehow different and are resistant to the antibiotics (due to a random mutation). Then when a person uses antibiotics, it acts as a selective pressure. All of the bacteria without the resistance will die while a small amount of bacteria resistant ones will remain (they have a selective advantage). So when you overuse the antibiotics, you will kill all of the non-resistant ones leaving the resistant ones to breed with each other and they will increase in numbers slowly and then eventually when you try to cure the same infection with the antibiotics, most of the bacteria will be resistant
2018: Biology [50 + Prems]
2019: English [46], Latin [45], Chemistry [41], Mathematical Methods [48], Specialist Mathematics [41]
ATAR: 99.95

2020: BMedSci, M.D. @ Monash Uni

VCE Biology Units 1&2 and 3&4 Tutoring for 2021

PhoenixxFire

  • VIC MVP - 2018
  • Honorary Moderator
  • ATAR Notes Legend
  • *******
  • Posts: 3695
  • They/them/theirs
  • Respect: +3102
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10573 on: July 31, 2018, 06:45:30 pm »
+2
As well as natural selection, antibiotic resistance can be spread between bacteria. Genes for antibiotic resistance are commonly found on plasmids. Plasmids can be transferred between bacterial species, effectively giving more and more bacteria the resistant gene.
2019: B. Environment and Sustainability/B. Science @ ANU
2020: Just Vibing
2021: B. Paramedicine/B. Nursing @ ACU Canberra

adeena33

  • Fresh Poster
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Respect: 0
Re: VCE Biology Question Thread
« Reply #10574 on: July 31, 2018, 10:28:25 pm »
0
Hey,
Just wanted to know what are the main concepts covered in Biology unit 1 and 2.
Just wanted to have an overview type.
Thanks
Adeena