VCE Biology Question Thread

[vox nihili]

Oh so according to Mr T rav then krebs cycle is also anaerobic as oxygen is not used? Im confused.. :/

It is in and of itself anaerobic, but when you discuss them in VCE, consider Krebs a part of aerobic respiration.

It's more a functional definition in this case. Glycolysis can be used as an alternative to aerobic respiration, whereas Krebs cannot. So functionally, Krebs is part of aerobic respiration.

Yes, it's horribly confusing.


Anaerobic: glycolysis
Aerobic: Krebs, ETC

[cosine]

It is in and of itself anaerobic, but when you discuss them in VCE, consider Krebs a part of aerobic respiration.

It's more a functional definition in this case. Glycolysis can be used as an alternative to aerobic respiration, whereas Krebs cannot. So functionally, Krebs is part of aerobic respiration.

Yes, it's horribly confusing.


Anaerobic: glycolysis
Aerobic: Krebs, ETC

So if a question asks us to list the stages in aerobic respiration and describe them, would you exclude glycolysis?

[Biology24123]

How do people know their ranking in the cohort

[TheAspiringDoc]

How do people know their ranking in the cohort

Ask your teacher I'd say.

[vox nihili]

So if a question asks us to list the stages in aerobic respiration and describe them, would you exclude glycolysis?

Hmmm I'd say so

[Biology24123]

Ask your teacher I'd say.

Didn't know they are allowed to tell people

[BakedDwarf]

Are we required to know how secondary structures, such as alpha helices, beta-pleaded sheets etc, are important in the function of a protein?

The question below was form VCAA 2006 exam 1 and i honestly had no idea how to answer it until I saw the assessment report.

[Biology24123]

Are we required to know how secondary structures, such as alpha helices, beta-pleaded sheets etc, are important in the function of a protein?

The question below was form VCAA 2006 exam 1 and i honestly had no idea how to answer it until I saw the assessment report.

Just recently did this question. I wrote that it determines the active site of the enzyme

[Sine]

So this is from the FAQ's from VCAA

Question: Do I need to teach about action potentials in nerve pathways? What about the interference of nerve messages by drugs and toxins?
Answer: Details related to the mechanism of the transmission of an action potential through an axon in terms of specific ionic changes are not required. Students are expected to understand the roles of the nerve pathway, neurotransmitters and chemical signals in the transmission of information. Mechanisms of action such as the mechanism of polarisation, depolarisation, repolarisation, hyperpolarisation and resting potential in terms of ion movement are not required, nor are details related to the mechanism of interference of nerve messages by drugs and toxins. However, students are expected to understand in general terms that there are some membrane proteins that allow the passage of ions that would ordinarily be stopped by the lipid bilayer of the membrane, and that electrical transmission through an axon is facilitated by Na+/K+ pumps on the membrane. They are also expected to know that Ca2+ ions are involved in neurotransmitter release into a synapse, with further details not required. Students are expected to recognise that nerve transmission is an ‘all-or-nothing’ response, that electrical transmission occurs through the axon, that there is a ‘refractory’ or ‘resting’ period during which the neuron does not respond to incoming stimuli, and that the impulse is transmitted across a synapse to another neuron via neurotransmitters. Students are expected to understand that different proteins serve as receptors for different neurotransmitters; specific names of neurotransmitters are not required.

What exactly are we meant to know about the Na+/K+ pump and Ca2+ions? Is it just knowing that they are present or do we need a greater understanding?

Also saw somewhere that knowledge on plant hormones are no longer necessary, can someone confirm this?

Can someone explain Cofactor vs Coenzyme.

[vox nihili]

So this is from the FAQ's from VCAAWhat exactly are we meant to know about the Na+/K+ pump and Ca2+ions? Is it just knowing that they are present or do we need a greater understanding?

Also saw somewhere that knowledge on plant hormones are no longer necessary, can someone confirm this?

It's all there. You just need to know that the pump and calcium ions allow it to happen, nothing else.

[cosine]

Do we need to know what ions come in and what go out of the axon during an action potential? Also, so key terms like depolarisation, repolarisation etc are not needed, right?

Also, do we need to know about the myelin sheath, i.e. it's function and location?

[Sine]

Can someone explain Cofactor vs Coenzyme

[cosine]

Can someone explain Cofactor vs Coenzyme

A cofactor is any inorganic substance, such as an ion, that assists an enzyme in it's function, whereas a coenzyme is any substance, but is organic, and activates the enzyme, hence allowing it to function.

[Sine]

A cofactor is any inorganic substance, such as an ion, that assists an enzyme in it's function, whereas a coenzyme is any substance, but is organic, and activates the enzyme, hence allowing it to function.

Cheers
Is one a subset of the other.
My Biology Dictionary says that a cofactor includes prosthetic groups and coenzymes.
If a coenzyme is a cofactor how is one organic and the other inorganic.
What level of detail are we required?

[vox nihili]

Cheers
Is one a subset of the other.
My Biology Dictionary says that a cofactor includes prosthetic groups and coenzymes.
If a coenzyme is a cofactor how is one organic and the other inorganic.
What level of detail are we required?

Coenzyme-Organic
Cofactor-inorganic

They do almost precisely the same thing