VCE Biology Question Thread

[Jason12]

where do we draw the carrier protein in a diagram of a plasma membrane? Same place as the protein channels?

[anat0my]

-Would it be sufficient to define a placebo as a substance that is administrated purely for psychologically effect rather than for physiological benefit? Do I have to mention it as being a control?

My definition intertwined with VCAA's: A placebo is a chemical that lacks the active ingredient, i.e it lacks the factor being tested and is used as a control to show the effects of the treatment.

[anat0my]

where do we draw the carrier protein in a diagram of a plasma membrane? Same place as the protein channels?

Yes but draw it with a different conformation to protein channel to show that it literally 'carries' something.

[AllG_]

-Would it be sufficient to define a placebo as a substance that is administrated purely for psychologically effect rather than for physiological benefit? Do I have to mention it as being a control?

-Omg, every single 'process' question I end up writing an essay. But SURELY when describing light dependent photosynthesis, examiners will want want than 'water splits to form O2/H+. ATP is formed'?!
Does anyone mention photosystems? I end up writing about how, upon light-incited excitation, chlorophyll in photosystems I and II loses electrons. Electrons from photosystem I combine with H+ ions in the stroma to form NADHP, where as electrons from photosystem II move to replenish those lost from photosystem I creating a concentration gradient of H+ ions within the thylakoid space. Meanwhile, water splits to form O2, electrons and H+ ions. The electrons replenish those lost from photosystem II and the H+ ions combine with those congregated in the thylakoid space to facilitate the production of ATP from ATP synthase.

And then for allergy questions, should we mention macrophages, T-helper cells, B-cells producing IgE?? I do  Should I just mention:
-allergen identification
-mast cell activation by cross linking of said antigen between IgE antibodies
-mast cell degranulation, resulting in histamine release.

Guys, help. I'm a verbose mess ahaha.

Woaah haha ok

- I'm not aware of any physiological benefits, but yes you should mention as being the control
- There's no way VCAA is expecting that much detail, so no need to talk about photosystems. This is about the level of detail that I have been seeing in the examination reports:
Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll on the thylakoid membrane. Water breaks down to form hydrogen ions and oxygen gas. O2 is released.
Light energy absorbed excites electrons in chlorophyll, and these highly energised electrons flow through electron transport chain on the thylakoid membrane producing energy to power the formation of ATP FROM ADP + Pi
Hydrogen ions and energised electrons are accepted BY NAP+ to form loaded carrier molecule NADPH.
- Not sure what VCAA expects for allergy questions.

Also I haven't been taught 'cross-linking' and 'degranulation'? Can anyone explain this to me?

[vox nihili]

-Would it be sufficient to define a placebo as a substance that is administrated purely for psychologically effect rather than for physiological benefit? Do I have to mention it as being a control?

-Omg, every single 'process' question I end up writing an essay. But SURELY when describing light dependent photosynthesis, examiners will want want than 'water splits to form O2/H+. ATP is formed'?!
Does anyone mention photosystems? I end up writing about how, upon light-incited excitation, chlorophyll in photosystems I and II loses electrons. Electrons from photosystem I combine with H+ ions in the stroma to form NADHP, where as electrons from photosystem II move to replenish those lost from photosystem I creating a concentration gradient of H+ ions within the thylakoid space. Meanwhile, water splits to form O2, electrons and H+ ions. The electrons replenish those lost from photosystem II and the H+ ions combine with those congregated in the thylakoid space to facilitate the production of ATP from ATP synthase.

And then for allergy questions, should we mention macrophages, T-helper cells, B-cells producing IgE?? I do  Should I just mention:
-allergen identification
-mast cell activation by cross linking of said antigen between IgE antibodies
-mast cell degranulation, resulting in histamine release.

Guys, help. I'm a verbose mess ahaha.

It is a careful balance. If you're confident with the details, then they won't hurt. With that said, if you're thinking to yourself "fuck I'm smart, they won't know that" you've said too much :p


Story time:

In year 11, I did really poorly in Biology. Average was probably C+, B. Went to my teacher's office to get to my exam and he said "your exam drove me mental, Travis. You'd write the correct thing, then you'd want to show off and write more, and it'd be wrong. Don't write bullshit. Answer the question and don't write bullshit".

In year 12, I took that advice with me. I didn't expect to do well in Biology (everything else was straight As in year 11, so Biol was sure to be in my bottom two), so I just bludged around. At least until SAC 3 came back and they were all fairly good scores. Long story short, ended up doing reasonably well with Biol—at least it was the highest our school had had in donkey's years—and going on to study it at uni.

Moral of the story: Don't write bullshit guys

[AllG_]

It is a careful balance. If you're confident with the details, then they won't hurt. With that said, if you're thinking to yourself "fuck I'm smart, they won't know that" you've said too much :p


Story time:

In year 11, I did really poorly in Biology. Average was probably C+, B. Went to my teacher's office to get to my exam and he said "your exam drove me mental, Travis. You'd write the correct thing, then you'd want to show off and write more, and it'd be wrong. Don't write bullshit. Answer the question and don't write bullshit".

In year 12, I took that advice with me. I didn't expect to do well in Biology (everything else was straight As in year 11, so Biol was sure to be in my bottom two), so I just bludged around. At least until SAC 3 came back and they were all fairly good scores. Long story short, ended up doing reasonably well with Biol—at least it was the highest our school had had in donkey's years—and going on to study it at uni.

Moral of the story: Don't write bullshit guys

Will try to keep that in mind on Friday!


Shiz that's tomorrow

[katiesaliba]

Woaah haha ok

- I'm not aware of any physiological benefits, but yes you should mention as being the control
- There's no way VCAA is expecting that much detail, so no need to talk about photosystems. This is about the level of detail that I have been seeing in the examination reports:
Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll on the thylakoid membrane. Water breaks down to form hydrogen ions and oxygen gas. O2 is released.
Light energy absorbed excites electrons in chlorophyll, and these highly energised electrons flow through electron transport chain on the thylakoid membrane producing energy to power the formation of ATP FROM ADP + Pi
Hydrogen ions and energised electrons are accepted BY NAP+ to form loaded carrier molecule NADPH.
- Not sure what VCAA expects for allergy questions.

Also I haven't been taught 'cross-linking' and 'degranulation'? Can anyone explain this to me?

Thank you! 
The allergen just kinda binds to two IgE antibodies which makes the mast cells release histamine (the process of releasing the histamine is termed as degranulation)

It is a careful balance. If you're confident with the details, then they won't hurt. With that said, if you're thinking to yourself "fuck I'm smart, they won't know that" you've said too much :p


Story time:

In year 11, I did really poorly in Biology. Average was probably C+, B. Went to my teacher's office to get to my exam and he said "your exam drove me mental, Travis. You'd write the correct thing, then you'd want to show off and write more, and it'd be wrong. Don't write bullshit. Answer the question and don't write bullshit".

In year 12, I took that advice with me. I didn't expect to do well in Biology (everything else was straight As in year 11, so Biol was sure to be in my bottom two), so I just bludged around. At least until SAC 3 came back and they were all fairly good scores. Long story short, ended up doing reasonably well with Biol—at least it was the highest our school had had in donkey's years—and going on to study it at uni.

Moral of the story: Don't write bullshit guys

Thanks for this :')

[mahler004]

It is a careful balance. If you're confident with the details, then they won't hurt. With that said, if you're thinking to yourself "fuck I'm smart, they won't know that" you've said too much :p


Story time:

In year 11, I did really poorly in Biology. Average was probably C+, B. Went to my teacher's office to get to my exam and he said "your exam drove me mental, Travis. You'd write the correct thing, then you'd want to show off and write more, and it'd be wrong. Don't write bullshit. Answer the question and don't write bullshit".

In year 12, I took that advice with me. I didn't expect to do well in Biology (everything else was straight As in year 11, so Biol was sure to be in my bottom two), so I just bludged around. At least until SAC 3 came back and they were all fairly good scores. Long story short, ended up doing reasonably well with Biol—at least it was the highest our school had had in donkey's years—and going on to study it at uni.

Moral of the story: Don't write bullshit guys

To add to this, at VCE level, they're expecting you to know the study design really well. Knowing extra stuff is great, but you don't want to confuse your examiner, and you don't want to know extra stuff and be wrong (which is the moral of the story above.)

Keep in mind that most examiners are just high school teachers, and they may not have seen some of the more esoteric details of biology since uni (so you don't want to confuse them.)

I'm definitely not saying don't learn extra stuff - do, don't let VCE get in the way of reading more about biology, but as far as exams go, just know the study design really, really well (or know what VCAA wants you to know.)

(I basically just rewrote the quote, but it's something I'm guilty of as well so I feel the need to reinforce it.)

[vox nihili]

To add to this, at VCE level, they're expecting you to know the study design really well. Knowing extra stuff is great, but you don't want to confuse your examiner, and you don't want to know extra stuff and be wrong (which is the moral of the story above.)

Keep in mind that most examiners are just high school teachers, and they may not have seen some of the more esoteric details of biology since uni (so you don't want to confuse them.)

I'm definitely not saying don't learn extra stuff - do, don't let VCE get in the way of reading more about biology, but as far as exams go, just know the study design really, really well (or know what VCAA wants you to know.)

(I basically just rewrote the quote, but it's something I'm guilty of as well so I feel the need to reinforce it.)

That would have to be the nicest way of saying that sometimes they don't know all that much hahaha.

Absolutely second all of this though. You want to prove that you know the stuff you're meant to know well, not stuff beyond that. Do completely agree that it's actually a good idea to read outside of the course. A lot of teachers say not to, and I can appreciate why, but this is science and you should be interested and motivated to learn more, so go forth and learn!

[Reus]

The exam is basically tomorrow :/ omg 

[AllG_]

VCAA 2011 BIOL EXAM 2
"Which cells in the body of Polo Bueno were affected by the mutation allowing HERDA to be inherited?"
The answer is gametes, but isn't it the germline cells which produce the gametes?

[vox nihili]

VCAA 2011 BIOL EXAM 2
"Which cells in the body of Polo Bueno were affected by the mutation allowing HERDA to be inherited?"
The answer is gametes, but isn't it the germline cells which produce the gametes?

Yeah either is true (I think)

[walkec]

Do monogenic traits always show continuous variation?

[althepal]

Do monogenic traits always show continuous variation?

Nooo!

[walkec]

Nooo!

Ah okay thanks. I was away that class and I have my friend's notes from it. Wanted to clarify because her notes say one thing and my textbook says another!

Also, does the 9:3:3:1 ratio indicate linkage or no linkage between genes?