VCE Biology Question Thread

[Reus]

Can someone betteer explain the difference in terms of structure and function of:
-alpha helices and beta-pleated chains?

i have "that alpha helices are more  flexible than beta-pleated sheets, so are involved more in regulatory proteins etc., whilst beta-pleated sheets are stronger and less flexible than alpha helices, so are a component of structural proteins."

Also, in terms of the actual physical difference in strucutres, is saying that alpha helices are helical in shape and beta pleated sheets are more like a layer in top of another ok?

thanks!

Sounds perfect to me.

[Sense]

Is it just me, or are biology NEAP exams way way harder than all the other practice exams? Are people here getting similar, better or worse scores in the practice exams, compared to the previous exams from VTAC? I just got under 60% in two NEAP exams, lol...

[Sense]

B.

Thanks!

[Reus]

Is it just me, or are biology NEAP exams way way harder than all the other practice exams? Are people here getting similar, better or worse scores in the practice exams, compared to the previous exams from VTAC? I just got under 60% in two NEAP exams, lol...

I've definitely been getting higher marks for VCAA past exams than company-based exams.

[dankfrank420]

Is it just me, or are biology NEAP exams way way harder than all the other practice exams? Are people here getting similar, better or worse scores in the practice exams, compared to the previous exams from VTAC? I just got under 60% in two NEAP exams, lol...

NEAP are generally harder, Insight/engage generally easier, TSSM and QATS about the same I've found.

[flares]

Can someone betteer explain the difference in terms of structure and function of:
-alpha helices and beta-pleated chains?

i have "that alpha helices are more  flexible than beta-pleated sheets, so are involved more in regulatory proteins etc., whilst beta-pleated sheets are stronger and less flexible than alpha helices, so are a component of structural proteins."

Also, in terms of the actual physical difference in strucutres, is saying that alpha helices are helical in shape and beta pleated sheets are more like a layer in top of another ok?

thanks!

and also, alpha helix takes up less space because it is an alpha helix, where as the beta pleated sheet, it takes up more space, cuz its a sheet.

[shivaji]

and also, alpha helix takes up less space because it is an alpha helix, where as the beta pleated sheet, it takes up more space, cuz its a sheet.

thanks! do we need to know exactly how these shapes form? (like how the hydrogen bonds interact to form the sheet or helix) and if so, does somebody mind explaining how please?

[flares]

thanks! do we need to know exactly how these shapes form? (like how the hydrogen bonds interact to form the sheet or helix) and if so, does somebody mind explaining how please?

uhh, no? Well, we know that hydrogen bonds hold the shape together. thats where i'm gonna leave it.

[katiesaliba]

Is it just me, or are biology NEAP exams way way harder than all the other practice exams? Are people here getting similar, better or worse scores in the practice exams, compared to the previous exams from VTAC? I just got under 60% in two NEAP exams, lol...

Same! NEAP are actually ridiculous in comparison to VCAA exams.

thanks! do we need to know exactly how these shapes form? (like how the hydrogen bonds interact to form the sheet or helix) and if so, does somebody mind explaining how please?

You'll need to know that the hydrogen bonding occurs between the R variable groups of each amino acid in the polypeptide chain (secondary structure) ...I'm pretty sure, unless I'm confusing bio with chem 

[vox nihili]

thanks! do we need to know exactly how these shapes form? (like how the hydrogen bonds interact to form the sheet or helix) and if so, does somebody mind explaining how please?

Not that you need to actually know, but these structures are mediated by hydrogen bonding between backbone structures (N-H or C=O). Whether they form an alpha helix or a beta pleated sheet depends on the angles that the backbone makes, but let's not worry about those!

[Reus]

Does anyone know the biotech method/appliance when a laser beam is used to detect nucleotides?

[katiesaliba]

Does anyone know the biotech method/appliance when a laser beam is used to detect nucleotides?

Is this from a NEAP exam by any chance? I think I remember doing a similar question

[shivaji]

Does anyone know the biotech method/appliance when a laser beam is used to detect nucleotides?

isn't the method dna sequencing (like using dideoxyribose nucleotides)?

[Reus]

Is this from a NEAP exam by any chance? I think I remember doing a similar question

Noooo from a past VCAA exam actually.

isn't the method dna sequencing (like using dideoxyribose nucleotides)?

The image attached is the method... no idea :/

[vox nihili]

Noooo from a past VCAA exam actually.
The image attached is the method... no idea :/

You don't need to understand the technique, just the basic principles of DNA to be able to answer this question. IT was actually relatively well answer.