VCE Biology Question Thread

[anat0my]

Q.1 - Is auxin produced or is it always present in the meristem?

Q.2 - In the case of fruit ripening, when a ripe banana is placed in a batch of unripe ones, the unripe bananas will eventually ripen. Can another fruit such as a tomato be placed in the batch of bananas and still release ethylene that affects the unripe fruits?

Q.3- Apart from the Galapagos finches, what's another example of adaptive radiation?

Thanks!

[shivaji]

Q.3- Apart from the Galapagos finches, what's another example of adaptive radiation?

Thanks!

The large flightless birds (emus, cassowary, ...)

[millie96]

in the 2013 insight paper i was asked to identify a product in photosynthesis (pointed to a molecule) and I wrote glucose but the answer was PGAL.. do we have to know this detail? I don't know what PGAL is

[kk.08]

Hey okay so someone correct me if I'm wrong...

So in the Calvin Cycle there are two stages. In the first stage Carbon fixation occurs where the enzyme RuBisCo grabs a C02 molecule and makes it react with a five carbon molecule hence producing a 6 carbon molecule.
This six carbon molecule is then carried onto the next stge of the Calvin Cycle where it is split into two 3-carbon molecules known as phosphoglycerate or PGAL.

Therefore, PGAL is a 3 Carbon molecule while Glucose consists of a six carbon molecule therefore it is not exactly the same thing. Hope this helps!

[kk.08]

I was doing checkpoints and came across this question - Draw a diagram of a leaf section . Use labels to show how various materials involved in photosynthesis move to and from the site of production.

Ilooked through the study design and it looks like we don't need to know this...does anyone know for sure whether or not we need to know leaf structure.

[Reus]

I was doing checkpoints and came across this question - Draw a diagram of a leaf section . Use labels to show how various materials involved in photosynthesis move to and from the site of production.

Ilooked through the study design and it looks like we don't need to know this...does anyone know for sure whether or not we need to know leaf structure.

What year exam?

[millie96]

How do you guys manage to remember the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

[Tyleralp1]

How do you guys manage to remember the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

You might want to try visualise the situation and then input any missing links.

For example, the Light-Dependent Stage of Photosynthesis:
-Light energy (I) splits the Water (I) molecule
-Think "Okay, splitting means energy is released, ATP (O). Oh, but then this requires ADP + Pi (I ) to be made.
-Think "The remaining Hydrogen forms NADPH (O), but to do so thus needs NADP (I)

So, basically remember two main components from each section, and you should be able to do the above. Just try to picture where each substance would go, what it needs to create it, and the like. To continue on, then Light-Independent, the NAPDH must combine with the CO2 to produce Glucose. This requires energy, so ATP is input, thus ADP+Pi output. The hydrogen ions were given, so output is NADP.

However, it may be easier for you to just rote learn the inputs and outputs. Try to repeatedly say the inputs and outputs for each section, then cover to test yourself. Maybe even writing it out each time may be useful for you to remember.

Hopefully this helps

[kk.08]

What year exam?

Oh nah it wasn't in a trial exam but it was in the Unit 3 & 4 2014 Biology Chechpoints as one those revision questions before the past exam multiple choice questions.

[Scrono13]

Hey guys, sorry to be broad,but can someone tell me what we have to know about human evolution? Thanks

[melons]

Hey guys, sorry to be broad,but can someone tell me what we have to know about human evolution? Thanks

We need to know:
- features of hominids and hominins
- general changes through human evolution (eg face becomes less sloped)
- be able to analyse information given to us (like case studies)
- cultural and technological evolution
I think that's all...

[Reus]

Do we need to know factual information on homo habilis, erectus etc or will it be given data for us to interpret on the exam?

[kk.08]

Hey so I've been told that aside from the fact that H.Sapiens left Africa successfully and spread across the globe 80,000 years ago...we don't really need to know/memorise much in terms of the individual species and that any specific details will be most likely given in the question.

[dankfrank420]

Do we need to know factual information on homo habilis, erectus etc or will it be given data for us to interpret on the exam?

I think you need to know the general trends from our ancestors to modern humans. Beyond that, it will be as you said.

[vox nihili]

I think you need to know the general trends from our ancestors to modern humans. Beyond that, it will be as you said.

Second this. Know the basic trends and the rough order (and by rough I mean Australopithecus then Homo).