Biology Exam Chat + Exam Copy + Answers (now)

[Namit]

True - however in the past they accepted 2 answers due to similar circumstances. miswording in the question etc...

[Truck]

If you're right, the VCAA assessors will mark you as right
They're not idiots, they don't need to be told how to do their jobs by students

Disagree, based off some of the questions on the 2011 exam, they clearly are idiots!

[thushan]

Going B.

Whilst the term 'DNA replacement' may describe what is being done, it is not an accepted biology jargonistic term - sorry mate.
It's gene therapy!

[nubs]

If you're right, the VCAA assessors will mark you as right
They're not idiots, they don't need to be told how to do their jobs by students

Disagree, based off some of the questions on the 2011 exam, they clearly are idiots!

Haha I'm pretty sure the assessors weren't the ones who wrote the exam, they saw the exam the same time we did

[TheEscapist]

I already emailed VCAA.
Project manager of examinations told me that i should not regard answers from the internet as official VCAA answers to examinations and that they are aware of problems as they are every year, and will discuss all possible solutions before correcting any exams.

Looks like we sit back, wait, and hope the examiners are reasonable. All we could do from day one, i'm pretty sure.

[nooshnoosh95]

hey guys
you know for question one of short answer it asks which structure RNA polymerase can be found
i know its involved in transcription so in the nucleus
but did anyone else think we had to chose from the labelled M and P structures
and if so which one is the correct answer??

thanks

[lexitu]

As mentioned many times, we think the question was unclear and confusing, but nucleus was the most appropriate answer. Also note that the structures were referred to in later questions, so it's not like they were there for no reason.

[simpak]

I think they would have written: In which structure, M or P, is RNA polymerase found?
If they had wanted you to choose from them anyway.
They really should have written 'In which organelle' or 'At what location in the cell' but the mind of a VCAA writer is a mysterious realm and far too difficult and complexly ridiculous for mere mortals to understand.

[hawlii]

is the dispute for question five that it says homozygous so we dont know if they mean all homozygous or just recessive homozygous die?

[LittleMunckin]

A teacher at my school is an official exam assessor this year, and it has been released that they are giving everyone a mark for 1a) based on its ambiguity! SO YAYYAYAYYA

[Panicmode]

A teacher at my school is an official exam assessor this year, and it has been released that they are giving everyone a mark for 1a) based on its ambiguity! SO YAYYAYAYYA

That's amazing yay =D

is the dispute for question five that it says homozygous so we dont know if they mean all homozygous or just recessive homozygous die?

Yeah, kinda. But to be honest it seemed like it was trying to say that it was an autosomal recessive trait. People might have inferred that heterozygous advantage occurred, but thinking about it logically, this doesn't make sense. The mortality rate of horses would have to be 1/2 (as only heterozygous horses can breed) and we know this just isn't the case.

[liuetenant]

YAY!!!!! that question was so screwed!

[LittleMunckin]

[WhoTookMyUsername]

It's only in a very specific breed (or species, cant remember) of horses, and not one we observe on a regular basis, so that isn't evidence enough. How many of you have seen a horse die soon after birth anyway (or at birth)?

I thought it was recessive, but i think VCAA will have to accept both options, with Homo dom + rec the most acceptable according to their (dodgy) phrasing

[LittleMunckin]

It has to be recessive, as the very fact that it needs to be tested infers that it is a recessive trait. If if was both dominant/recessive homozygous, only heterozygous would survive, thus the testing to see the genotype of the animal would be unneeded as its genotype would already been known (if that makes sense?