VCE Biology Question Thread

[katiesaliba]

For mitosis and meiosis at a VCE level, do we simply need to know prophase (I&II), metaphase (I&II), anaphase (I&II) and telophase (I&II)? Or are we required to know prometaphase and interkinesis (in meiosis) too? 

Also, do we need to understand the specifics behind crossing over (i.e. bonding)?

[Reus]

Ah cheers, sick profile pic by the way

Has anyone else started AoS2 (Evolution) yet?

Yes we're 3 sessions into AoS2 already 

[dankfrank420]

For mitosis and meiosis at a VCE level, do we simply need to know prophase (I&II), metaphase (I&II), anaphase (I&II) and telophase (I&II)? Or are we required to know prometaphase and interkinesis (in meiosis) too? 

Also, do we need to understand the specifics behind crossing over (i.e. bonding)?

I'd say you are required to know the stages of mitosis/meiosis, but not much on prometaphase and interkinesis.

You do need to understand crossing cover/recombination and independent assortment - basically how meiosis creates phenotypic variation with a species.

@Reus

Yeah we're starting this week. Only two more SACs left and it'll finally be over (well, except for the exam of course)

[Reus]

Explain what the term non-selective means?

[katiesaliba]

I'd say you are required to know the stages of mitosis/meiosis, but not much on prometaphase and interkinesis.

You do need to understand crossing cover/recombination and independent assortment - basically how meiosis creates phenotypic variation with a species.

Yes, but do we need to understand the specifics behind crossing over/recombination, such as how chiasmata form? Also, crossing over and recombination in genetics are interchangeable terms, right?

[Scooby]

For mitosis and meiosis at a VCE level, do we simply need to know prophase (I&II), metaphase (I&II), anaphase (I&II) and telophase (I&II)? Or are we required to know prometaphase and interkinesis (in meiosis) too? 

Also, do we need to understand the specifics behind crossing over (i.e. bonding)?

Completely disregard prometaphase for VCE. And nope, just know that the cross-over sites are called chiasmata and that's enough

[MM1]

What's the difference b/w functional group and prosthetic group, or are they the same thing? thanks.

[katiesaliba]

What's the difference b/w functional group and prosthetic group, or are they the same thing? thanks.

Prosthetic groups are tightly bound non-peptide cofactors that facilitate enzyme functioning. They can be organic or inorganic. Functional groups, however, are specific groups of atoms, such as hydroxyl (-OH) groups that are used in condensation reactions (polymerisation of amino acids, monosaccharides and nucleotides to create their respective polymers)

[walkec]

Is recombination during meiosis essentially the trading of genes between homologous pairs?

[DJA]

Is recombination during meiosis essentially the trading of genes between homologous pairs?

Yep! The definition that I always use is -

Recombination: During Prophase 1 in meiosis, homologous pairs have the potential to interact and swap genes through genetic recombination.

[soNasty]

how is it A? I had C. Confused, help 

[Rishi97]

(Image removed from quote.)

how is it A? I had C. Confused, help 

In sex-linked inheritance, it means that the gene is on the X chromosome. Since males have 1 X chromosome, they have a higher chance of getting that disease. So in sex-linked inheritance, a higher majority of males than females have the disease. Thus it is A

[howlingwisdom]

how is it A? I had C. Confused, help 

It cannot be C because for it to be sex-linked recessive, the mother must be affected and all her male sons have to be affected as well - which is not shown.

[vox nihili]

(Image removed from quote.)

how is it A? I had C. Confused, help 

C shows dominant sex linked.

Remember that squares are males and circles are females. The mnemonic that I use is that men are square shouldered and women have curves.

[Scooby]

(Image removed from quote.)

how is it A? I had C. Confused, help 

You could argue C. It's possible (given that the mother is heterozygous for this gene) but unlikely - number of affected male offspring should roughly equal the number of affected female offspring

It could be B as well. Mother is homozygous recessive and the father has a single copy of the defective allele - therefore all female offspring are homozygous recessive and display the affected phenotype

D is the only one that's impossible. For the female offspring to be affected (and therefore be homozygous recessive), their father must display the affected trait