VCE Biology Question Thread

[caqiu]

While the divergent evolution of the founder population due to a different environment may indeed occur, it is not a part of the founder effect as such since the founder effect is a chance event, and natural selection isn't a chance event.
Your definition aside from that is pretty good, you may however want to include that thr founders effect is a chance event, or that the founding population is no representative by chance.
Hope this helps!

Thank you!!

Another question - My teacher said we are allowed to use the 3 dots (therefore) in the final exam, just wanted to confirm this

[Erutepa]

Thank you!!

Another question - My teacher said we are allowed to use the 3 dots (therefore) in the final exam, just wanted to confirm this

I am actually not sure about this. I would imagine that most examiners would know the symbol and would completely understand what you mean, however there is always the chance an examiner isn't familiar with it. As such, just to be on the safe side, i would personally just write 'thus' or 'therefore' instead. It doesn't take that much extra time and it's just a bit safer In my opinion.
I would be keen to know what others think though.

[PhoenixxFire]

^It isn't something that's ever been mentioned in examiners reports as far as I'm aware. I wouldn't risk using it.

[Sine]

I agree with the above. The three dots is definitely more of a mathematical notation so I would be hesitant in using it in a biology exam

[xenx]

When talking about denaturing of enzymes/proteins do we have to include a description of how it denatures (hydrogen bonding within enzymes break and the tertiary structure unravels, leading to to loss of its conformation 3D shape/changing its active site) or change we just say it causes the loss of its conformation 3d shape?

[Erutepa]

When talking about denaturing of enzymes/proteins do we have to include a description of how it denatures (hydrogen bonding within enzymes break and the tertiary structure unravels, leading to to loss of its conformation 3D shape/changing its active site) or change we just say it causes the loss of its conformation 3d shape?

I would personally include how the hydrogen bonding breaks and alters the tertiary structure, thus changing the conformation of the active site and altering its function, however you may get away without it.
Just to be safe though, I would recommend including it in your response.

[YussifK]

feedback, how I can improve it to make it better

[YussifK]

couldnt post 2 attachment in one post soz here is the rubrik teacher says im heading towards a high 70 to low 80 (due Monday coming

[Erutepa]

feedback, how I can improve it to make it better

Here are some tips for your introduction, I'll (or maybe someone else will) give some more feedback on other sections later, but I'll give you this for now.
1.   Your definition of osmosis could be better. If this is the definition your teacher told you to use, then use it – but it not you can improve it. Osmosis is the passive movement of water from a high concentration to a low concentration across a semipermeable membrane
2.   You should try to link in ‘hypertonic’, ‘isotonic’, and ‘hypotonic’ into your introduction since you talk about it later. What do each term mean and how are they relevant in the context of the potato.
3.   Your aim doesn’t have to be explaining how you are going to achieve it, just what it is. You may also want to consider why you would want to determine the concentration of dissolved solids in a potato cell.
4.   Your hypothesis isn’t quite worded right – the grammar is a bit off. Also, you hypothesis doesn’t fully explain the relationship between the IV and the DV. You should also relate this back to your aim.
5.   The way you’ve stated your IV makes it sound like you’re changing the mass of the sucrose, not the mass of the potato slice.
6.   The DV is not specific enough. The gain/loss in the potatoes could be interpreted as a increase/decrease in the number of potatoes. You need to be more specific about what you are measuring
7.   With your controlled variables, like with the other ones, you need to be more specific still. I would say ‘number of potato slices used is controlled’ and instead of saying the amount of solution, use more specific terms. What measurement precisely are you controlling… mass? Volume? You could also add more controlled variables as there are other things that you kept the same across trials (I'm assuming).

Hopefully this is clear, but feel free to ask for any clarification and feel free to disagree with me on something, especially if your teacher has told you to do something in a certain way - after all, they are the ones marking it. Leading on from this, if possible, it would be a good idea to get some feedback from your teacher before submitting it (if they are happy to do so) as they will be able to tell you exactly what they are looking for.

[YussifK]

Here are some tips for your introduction, I'll (or maybe someone else will) give some more feedback on other sections later, but I'll give you this for now.
1.   Your definition of osmosis could be better. If this is the definition your teacher told you to use, then use it – but it not you can improve it. Osmosis is the passive movement of water from a high concentration to a low concentration across a semipermeable membrane
2.   You should try to link in ‘hypertonic’, ‘isotonic’, and ‘hypotonic’ into your introduction since you talk about it later. What do each term mean and how are they relevant in the context of the potato.
3.   Your aim doesn’t have to be explaining how you are going to achieve it, just what it is. You may also want to consider why you would want to determine the concentration of dissolved solids in a potato cell.
4.   Your hypothesis isn’t quite worded right – the grammar is a bit off. Also, you hypothesis doesn’t fully explain the relationship between the IV and the DV. You should also relate this back to your aim.
5.   The way you’ve stated your IV makes it sound like you’re changing the mass of the sucrose, not the mass of the potato slice.
6.   The DV is not specific enough. The gain/loss in the potatoes could be interpreted as a increase/decrease in the number of potatoes. You need to be more specific about what you are measuring
7.   With your controlled variables, like with the other ones, you need to be more specific still. I would say ‘number of potato slices used is controlled’ and instead of saying the amount of solution, use more specific terms. What measurement precisely are you controlling… mass? Volume? You could also add more controlled variables as there are other things that you kept the same across trials (I'm assuming).

Hopefully this is clear, but feel free to ask for any clarification and feel free to disagree with me on something, especially if your teacher has told you to do something in a certain way - after all, they are the ones marking it. Leading on from this, if possible, it would be a good idea to get some feedback from your teacher before submitting it (if they are happy to do so) as they will be able to tell you exactly what they are looking for.

I know I probably don’t seem as smart cause I have mistakes that I need to improve on... but I completely agree... I also told my teacher what score range Might I get he said high 70 to 80’s I hope the minor improvements would boost my mark

Thank you so much... I had a feeling no one will answer... but you just made my day

[Didge123]

Im Confused what detail we need to know about immunity and the innate and adaptive response. Do we need to know the amount of NADPH from photosynthesis and NADH for cellular respiration ect...??!!!

[Erutepa]

Im Confused what detail we need to know about immunity and the innate and adaptive response. Do we need to know the amount of NADPH from photosynthesis and NADH for cellular respiration ect...??!!!

The amounts of NADH and NADPH are not needed, however you do need to know that they are there and what their function is. You do need to know ATP yields for cellular respiration though.

If you are struggling to identify what you need to know, I would recommend looking at the study design here https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vce/biology/2016BiologySD.pdf.
This tells you everything you can be examined on. If you need any help interpreting any of the dot points, feel free to clarify here though.

In terms of Immunology, these are the relevant dot points:

Spoiler

Responding to antigens
•    an antigen as a unique molecule or part of a molecule that initiates an immune response including the distinction
between non-self antigens, self-antigens and allergens
•    invading cellular and non-cellular pathogens as a source of non-self antigens, and preventative strategies
including physical, chemical and microbiological barriers in animals and plants that keep them out
•    the characteristics and roles of components (macrophages, neutrophils, mast cells, dendritic cells, complement
proteins) of the innate (non-specific) immune response to an antigen including the steps in the inflammatory
response
Unit 3: How do cells maintain life? VCE Study Biology Units 1 and 2: 2016–2020; Units 3 and 4: 2017–2021 23
•    the role of the lymphatic system in the immune response including the role of secondary lymphoid tissue (with
reference to lymph nodes) as the site of antigen recognition by lymphocytes, and as a transport system for
antigen presenting cells including dendritic cells
•    the characteristics and roles of components of the adaptive (specific) immune response including the actions
of B lymphocytes and their antibodies (including antibody structure) in humoral immunity, and the actions of T
helper and T cytotoxic cells in cell-mediated immunity.
Immunity
•    the difference between natural and artificial immunity, and active and passive strategies for acquiring immunity
•    vaccination programs and their role in maintaining herd immunity for a particular disease in the human population
•    the deficiencies and malfunctions of the immune system as a cause of human diseases including autoimmune
diseases (illustrated by multiple sclerosis), immune deficiency diseases (illustrated by HIV) and allergic reactions
(illustrated by reactions to pollen)
•    the use of monoclonal antibodies in treating cancer.

I know I probably don’t seem as smart cause I have mistakes that I need to improve on... but I completely agree... I also told my teacher what score range Might I get he said high 70 to 80’s I hope the minor improvements would boost my mark

Thank you so much... I had a feeling no one will answer... but you just made my day

I am happy to help.
Also, don't call yourself not smart - writing scientifically is a hard skill for many to grasp. Thankfully, I had an amazing year 7 science teacher who spent all of year 7 making us write detailed lab reports and developing these skills that served me all throughout high school science.

[Geoo]

I just need a little clarification.

Is there much difference between allopatric speciation and adaptive radiation?

I know both are types of divergent evolution and are generally a result of geographic isolation, with the isolated population being exposed to new selection pressures they undergo natural selection to a point of speciation due to the two species not being able to produce viable, fertile offspring if they interbreed.

Is this correct?

[YussifK]

I am happy to help.
Also, don't call yourself not smart - writing scientifically is a hard skill for many to grasp. Thankfully, I had an amazing year 7 science teacher who spent all of year 7 making us write detailed lab reports and developing these skills that served me all throughout high school science.
[/quote]

My teacher said in year 11 and 12 aim for 70+ in every subject... but what scares me is having to do another scientific report... in year 11... on the other hand if I had a biology sac about immunology (example) I know what to study to do well... but for the scientific report it’s hard...

For my scientific report what mark would you think I’ll get please give me a approx IDC if it’s 60... I need more information. On what I would approximately get for my piece... it’s out of 42....

And also, when I improve my scientific report... may I PM you for feedback

Much appreciated

[Erutepa]

I just need a little clarification.

Is there much difference between allopatric speciation and adaptive radiation?

I know both are types of divergent evolution and are generally a result of geographic isolation, with the isolated population being exposed to new selection pressures they undergo natural selection to a point of speciation due to the two species not being able to produce viable, fertile offspring if they interbreed.

Is this correct?

They are slightly different in the sense that adaptive radiation is the rapid divergent evolution of a species to give rise to many other species. This is a process that particularly happens following mass extinctions where there are a vast number of new environmental niches that drives this rapid evolution.
Allopatric speciation, however, is just a general process of divergent evolution due to a geological barrier rapid or gradual. Thus, I think you could say that adaptive radiation is a category of allopatric speciation, but allopatric speciation is not necessarily adaptive radiation. I don't think you will have to make this distinction though.

My teacher said in year 11 and 12 aim for 70+ in every subject... but what scares me is having to do another scientific report... in year 11... on the other hand if I had a biology sac about immunology (example) I know what to study to do well... but for the scientific report it’s hard...

For my scientific report what mark would you think I’ll get please give me a approx IDC if it’s 60... I need more information. On what I would approximately get for my piece... it’s out of 42....

And also, when I improve my scientific report... may I PM you for feedback

Much appreciated

I am honestly not sure about marking to be honest - asking your teacher would probably be the best option for this.

In terms of continuing to improve your poster, I would recommend posting it here (if you are comfortable) as there are others who may be able to help out with giving some advice.