The hardest question on the VCAA exam

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Question 4
In the late 1950s, a series of nuclear tests involving the detonation of hydrogen bombs was carried
mid-Pacifi c Ocean. Witnesses of these tests included 500 New Zealand sailors.
Since the tests, the New Zealand sailors have claimed that their lives have been affected because, as a
of radioactivity from the tests, a number of genetic disorders have appeared among them and their
In the year 2000, the New Zealand veterans commissioned research to assess DNA damage that
have.
a. Describe three factors that scientists would need to consider in the design of their research.



dont get how to answer this or approach it .

[Pumpkinator]

Ya, i found this question really difficult, and had a massive mind blank while trying to attempt it.

It was one of the hardest questions on that exam and was not well done at all according to the assesment report

Im given the impression that we need to tackle this question as a experimental design sort of question

e.g large numbers, experimental group, control group, other factors constant etc.

[fdsfsgdfgdf]

 umm i wrote something to do with chromsomes lol i had no idea. hope someone can help

[claire.anglim]

when I answered this question I just treated like a normal experimental design, so I first wrote Control, number of sailers, looking at the chromosomes of offspring, and then just expanded.

I think alot of people listed vague design techniques, so I guess being specific can't hurt.

[fdsfsgdfgdf]

what did you write for control group? i cant think of any.

[n.f]

Think about:
lifestyle factors, how much exposure they may have had, previous DNA mutations etc.

I treated it like I was trying to disprove their theory for that part of the question

[Greggler]

yeah i basically said that  need to:
- analyse as many sailors as possible and compare with as many 'normal people as possible'
- analyse germline cells to see if mutations could be passed on
- analyse offspring, see if they possess same mutations

[Stojad]

My biology teacher crapped on about how difficult students found that question when it should not have been. It's a very abstract question, having very little to do with the actual unit 4 theory. It fits in better with knowledge of experimental design, which is a key skill for both unit 3 and 4 biology.