VCE Biology Question Thread

[molecular.]

Thanks Cosine and Hopefully Heidi, I will continue working hard!

[TheAspiringDoc]

What are all of the situations in which 3'-5' terminology would show up in VCE bio (e.g. replication, transcription)?
Thank you!
EDIT: 600 POSTS!!!

[cosine]

What are all of the situations in which 3'-5' terminology would show up in VCE bio (e.g. replication, transcription)?
Thank you!

- DNA Replication (S stage during Cell Cycle)
- DNA amplification
- Transcription
- talking about general structure of DNA. For example, the anti parallel feature of DNA.

[vox nihili]

- DNA Replication (S stage during Cell Cycle)
- DNA amplification
- Transcription
- talking about general structure of DNA. For example, the anti parallel feature of DNA.

PCR
Probes

Really, really important for the above two because you really need to know how it all works for them to work

[Ameliajanem]

hey guys, what are some common questions asked on the osmosis egg prac, and what exactly should i be reviewing before my sac on monday??

[Photon]

hey guys, what are some common questions asked on the osmosis egg prac, and what exactly should i be reviewing before my sac on monday??

As aforementioned, the best way is to try to generate questions about the prac itself. With bio you will can always expect them to give you a hypothetical situation and then ask you on it so you should probably try coming up with questions and then directing them at your teacher if you can't answer them. Try to think outside the box. As for stuff you should know, make sure you know your different types of transport really well and try to expose yourself to tricky questions that they might give you. For example on one of my sheets we were told that we had a dialysis tubing that was glucose permeable an then had us explain why some solutions increased in volume. First instinct was to say osmosis but it really was simple diffusion because the tubing was glucose permeable. Make sure you also know your organelles, especially the membrane-bound ones.

[Photon]

- Is an organelle's membranes also called a plasma membranes?

- What is the chemical composition of a vacuole's membrane? Other than the phospholipids

- Generally what are the differences between the cell's membranes and its organelles membrane's in terms of structure and composition?

You don't have to answer all the questions if you don't feel like it but your help is always appreciated.
Thanks.

[cosine]

- Is an organelle's membranes also called a plasma membranes?

- What is the chemical composition of a vacuole's membrane? Other than the phospholipids

- Generally what are the differences between the cell's membranes and its organelles membrane's in terms of structure and composition?

You don't have to answer all the questions if you don't feel like it but your help is always appreciated.
Thanks.

- Yes, every membrane is a phospholipid bilayer or a plasma membrane, they just have plenty of names. (excluding vacuole, read below).

- On every membrane there are various protein molecules, such as glycoproteins, channel and carrier proteins embedded into the bilayer. There are also amphipathic molecules such as glycolipids, and lipid molecules such as cholesterol. Note that the membrane of the vacuole is called tonoplast and not plasma membrane. (tonoplast is not required VCE knowledge, but in real life it is).

- There is no difference, generally.

Hopefully this helped you out a bit. Keep working hard! xD

[vox nihili]

- Yes, every membrane is a phospholipid bilayer or a plasma membrane, they just have plenty of names. (excluding vacuole, read below).

- On every membrane there are various protein molecules, such as glycoproteins, channel and carrier proteins embedded into the bilayer. There are also amphipathic molecules such as glycolipids, and lipid molecules such as cholesterol. Note that the membrane of the vacuole is called tonoplast and not plasma membrane. (tonoplast is not required VCE knowledge, but in real life it is).

- There is no difference, generally.

Hopefully this helped you out a bit. Keep working hard! xD

Plasma membrane refers exclusively to the cell membrane. An organellar membrane is not, for instance, a plasma membrane. Structurally, however they are basically the same. Certainly at a VCE level of knowledge you wouldn't be expected to differentiate between the structures of different membranes.

[cosine]

Plasma membrane refers exclusively to the cell membrane. An organellar membrane is not, for instance, a plasma membrane. Structurally, however they are basically the same. Certainly at a VCE level of knowledge you wouldn't be expected to differentiate between the structures of different membranes.

My bad, I certainly did not know that plasma membrane was an exlcusive name for the membrane of the cell and not organelles, so organelle membranes are called? Just membranes?

[vox nihili]

My bad, I certainly did not know that plasma membrane was an exlcusive name for the membrane of the cell and not organelles, so organelle membranes are called? Just membranes?

Plasma refers to cytoplasm I believe

[organelle name] membrane is how it's done basically. So mitochondrial membrane, ER membrane, Golgi membrane etc. Sometimes they have special names but not often.

[geminii]

Anyone know any common enzyme pracs that could be used in SACs? I have mine on Monday.
Thanks

[HasibA]

Anyone know any common enzyme pracs that could be used in SACs? I have mine on Monday.
Thanks

Mine was with Amylase and starch- we had different concentrations of Amylase  and we reacted it with starch, and measure how long it took to react via iodine solution.

[anniebrejcha]

hi !   
we've started chapter two (unit 3) yesterday on enzymes and i was wondering whether anyone would mind explaining what coenzymes, cofactors and inhibitors are; i know a little bit about them but i feel like i definetly need a deeper understanding. 

[geminii]

Mine was with Amylase and starch- we had different concentrations of Amylase  and we reacted it with starch, and measure how long it took to react via iodine solution.

Thanks so much! I'll look into the prac

hi !   
we've started chapter two (unit 3) yesterday on enzymes and i was wondering whether anyone would mind explaining what coenzymes, cofactors and inhibitors are; i know a little bit about them but i feel like i definetly need a deeper understanding. 

Yes clarification on this would be great too!