VCE Biology Question Thread

[vox nihili]

Thanks Vox!
Can someone pls explain Q 18 VCAA 2012 E1?

omg my exam yes

Really tricky question, but the premise is fairly basic. What they're saying is that IgG can get into the baby from the mother, IgM has to come from the baby.

A. Is silly, you'll know why.
B. Closest to being true...the antibodies don't hang around this long.
C. It can't cross the placenta so no
D. Correct...the baby is newborn, so the only way it can have IgM antibodies to rubella is to have produced the antibodies itself. The only time it had to produce the antibodies was in the womb (it's newborn). And the only way it can produce them is to be exposed to the virus

[PhoenixxFire]

Can someone please give me a strategy to answering a speciation question?

For allopatric speciation (the only type we need to know)
G The population is separated by a geographical barrier.
S The populations face different selection pressures, and, without gene flow, they evolve independently.
D The differences between the populations accumulate to the point, where, if they were brought back together, they would not interbreed and produce, viable, fertile, offspring. They are now different species.

[TFAnime123]

Are there any specific recommendations in terms of using the reading time efficiently in the Biology exam?
Thank you in advance.

[PhoenixxFire]

Are there any specific recommendations in terms of using the reading time efficiently in the Biology exam?
Thank you in advance.

I am going to read over the short answer questions and start thinking about how I'm going to answer them - not word for word just what things I need to write. Then I start writing with the multiple choice and go from start to end.

[vox nihili]

Are there any specific recommendations in terms of using the reading time efficiently in the Biology exam?
Thank you in advance.

I wouldn't stress; reading time isn't hugely helpful Just use the timeto have a nice read and to get yourself in the right mindset.

[Sine]

Are there any specific recommendations in terms of using the reading time efficiently in the Biology exam?
Thank you in advance.

15 mins reading time i think
-you can spend 1 minute just flicking through and establishing confidence that you actually know the stuff in the exam.
-read through the short answer paragraphs and questions
-do the first 10 MCQs in your head - but obviously redo them when the exam starts don't want to be remembering wrong

Historically the VCAA use "cheap" exam paper so you can see through onto the first 2-3MCQs so I guess you could do those before even starting LOL (not condoning this ahah).

[Joseph41]

Good luck, everybody!

[Bri MT]

Good luck everyone!
There's going to be done application style questions that throw you,  but be confident in your knowledge: they can only ask you about the course.
Hope it's a great exam!

[PhoenixxFire]

Good luck everyone! Breathe. Read the question twice. You'll be okay. See you on the other side. Don't forget to check out the exam discussion thread afterwards

[Joseph41]

Good luck everyone! Breathe. Read the question twice. You'll be okay. See you on the other side. Don't forget to check out the exam discussion thread afterwards

Yep! Can't wait to hear how it went.

[Mr West]

(1/2 bio btw)

Hey guys just need some clarifaction on some things:

What is the potentcy of the following four kinds of stem cells?
1)   Embryonic
2)   Adult (somatic)
3)   Induced Pluripotent
4)   Parthenotes

and this question:
"State three ways that meiosis enables variation in the resulting cells, and give a brief explanation of each."

Thanks

[vox nihili]

(1/2 bio btw)

Hey guys just need some clarifaction on some things:

What is the potentcy of the following four kinds of stem cells?
1)Embryonic
2)Adult (somatic)
3)Induced Pluripotent
4)Parthenotes

and this question:
"State three ways that meiosis enables variation in the resulting cells, and give a brief explanation of each."

Thanks

Would love to hear what your thoughts are on these questions first. You get absolutely nothing out of copying questions from your homework and waiting for people here to answer them for you. 

[Mr West]

Would love to hear what your thoughts are on these questions first. You get absolutely nothing out of copying questions from your homework and waiting for people here to answer them for you.

well for the first question about potentcy, i my pretty sure that somatic cells are multipotent and induced pluripotent cells are pluripotent, but im unsure of what embryonic and parthenotes are.

and for the second question, "State three ways that meiosis enables variation in the resulting cells, and give a brief explanation of each.", ive got this so far but i dont know the third way it causes variation:
Crossing Over
Chromatids can cross over with others and exchange segments of their genetic information. This creates combinations of genes not found in the parents, creating diversity.
Independent Assortment
Chromosomes assort into gametes independently, meaning there are many different possible kinds of gamtes that can result from meiosis.
Third way
?

thanks

[Mr West]

(1/2 bio btw)

Hey guys just need some clarifaction on some things:

What is the potentcy of the following four kinds of stem cells?
1)   Embryonic
2)   Adult (somatic)
3)   Induced Pluripotent
4)   Parthenotes

and this question:
"State three ways that meiosis enables variation in the resulting cells, and give a brief explanation of each."

Please 

[MLGityaJ^A]

Hey West, another way variation in gametes can occur is through mutations that can introduce new alleles. However, I do admit that this may not be the right answer since meiosis doesn't really make gametes mutate. I'm pretty sure that those two you have listed are correct, but I really think that those are the only two ways meiosis can introduce variation.