VCE Biology Question Thread

[melons]

I'm just finishing off my notes for the course - down to hominin evolution.

Can someone please explain to me exactly what a hominoid is? I'm still confused! Specifically characteristics of hominoids for the point on the study design about "shared characteristics which define primates, hominoids, and hominins".

Thanks in advance 

Hominoids are humans, the great apes and all their ancestors. They have relatively big brain capacity, long gestation period, opposable thumbs/big toes and depth vision.

[Reus]

I'm just finishing off my notes for the course - down to hominin evolution.

Can someone please explain to me exactly what a hominoid is? I'm still confused! Specifically characteristics of hominoids for the point on the study design about "shared characteristics which define primates, hominoids, and hominins".

Thanks in advance 

Hominoid is just a classification for humans, their ancestors and great apes. They all share big (evolving) brain capacities, opposable thumbs, bipedalism, long gestation periods and more.

EDIT: Gapster beat me to it 

[dankfrank420]

Can someone explain the ion flow/charges involved to transfer an electrical signal down a neuron?

[anat0my]

For question 24 of the multiple choice exam for Unit 4 2008 VCAA, why isn't option C correct as well? Thanks. 

[melons]

For question 24 of the multiple choice exam for Unit 4 2008 VCAA, why isn't option C correct as well? Thanks. 

Species P essentially becomes extinct when it diverges into species Q and R. Therefore, it won't be in the fossil record after species R.

[anat0my]

Species P essentially becomes extinct when it diverges into species Q and R. Therefore, it won't be in the fossil record after species R.

Woops! Totally misinterpreted the statement. Thanks !!

[Spxtcs]

Could someone please explain why the genotype (in linked format) of a parent SsTt is St/sT and not ST/st?     
The offspring of a cross between SsTt and sstt gave Sstt (220) : ssTt (218) : SsTt (29) : sstt (33). I understand that they're linked, just not why the genotype is shown as St/sT compared to ST/st

Thanks in advance

[Rishi97]

What is the difference between a phagocyte and a macrophage?

Cheers

[vox nihili]

What is the difference between a phagocyte and a macrophage?

Cheers

A phagocyte is any cell that eats shit, a macrophage is a particular type of phagocyte that's particularly good at phagocytosis.

[Jason12]

is osmosis the net movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of higher to lower concentration or lower to higher?

[soNasty]

From a high concentration of water to a low concentration of water
From a low concentration of solutes to a high concentration of solutes

[theBRENDAN97]

Is there any key definitions we should memorise for the exam?

[Reus]

Is there any key definitions we should memorise for the exam?

Just look at the key knowledge section of the SD, you should be able to define them all since they could ask us any of them really.

[Scrono13]

According to the study design, we have to know
The nature of genomes, genes and the genetic code. What exactly is this asking us to know?

[melzwelz]

Hi all!
I was doing a practice exam earlier when I came across a question about pedigrees.

The question asks:
"How is the genetic disorder shown in the pedigree above inherited?"
The answer given in the solutions is "Sex-Linked Dominant" but I wrote "X-linked Dominant."
Would my answer also be correct in this case?
I felt a bit iffy using "sex-linked" because it doesn't really specify whether it is X or Y linked. Or is it automatically assumed you mean X-linked when you say sex-linked?

Thanks in advanced!