Module 5 - Heredity
Module 6 - Genetic Change
Module 7 - Infectious Disease
Module 8 - Non Infectious Disease and Disorders
Skills/Exam Technique
100
Distinguish between meiosis and mitosis
Mitosis - cell division for somatic cells (body cells).
Meiosis - cell division for gametes (sperm and egg cells).
100
Outline the process of whole organism cloning and provide an example.
Whole organism cloning is a method used to make an identical copy of an entire multi-cellular organism by reproducing identical copies of genetic material.
e.g, Dolly the sheep was cloned using a cell from a sheep's mammary gland and had identical genetic makeup to its parent.
100
Define infectious disease and provide ONE example
A disease that can be transmitted from an infected person to a non-infected person (or organism)
Example: COVID-19, Influenza, Dengue Fever, Malaria
100
Name THREE categories of non-infectious disease
Genetic, Environmental, Nutritional
100
How are data points plotted on a graph?
Using crosses, not dots
200
Outline the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction involves the production of offspring from one parent only while sexual reproduction involves two parents with the union of a gamete from each parent.
200
Outline the importance of meiosis for the continuity of a species.
• process of cell division: cell divides into four daughter cells (gametes) with half the number of chromosomes.
• allows for the combination of gametes through crossing over, independent assortment and random segregation
• creates new organisms with inherited traits from both parents.
• introduces genetic variation.
200
Outline the difference between incidence, prevalence and mortality
Incidence - number of new cases
Prevalence - total number of cases
Mortaility - number of deaths related to the disease
200
Distinguish the difference between Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 - Genetic (this is something inherited from parents, requires insulin injections, is not reversible and is a lifelong condition)
Type 2 - Lifestyle/Environmental/Nutritional (also known as 'adult onset diabetes'. The person acquires this as a result of poor lifestyle choices (diet/exercise). A person is able to reduce their risk and can reverse this by employing a healthy lifestyle. Management includes medications like Metformin.
200
Exams can provide hints for other questions throughout the paper. Identify where this may occur.
1. Multiple choice
2. Stimulus material
300
What does DNA in prokaryotes look like?
Prokaryotes consist of one very long circular DNA molecule
300
Identify and describe the two steps of polypeptide synthesis.
1. transcription
Process where genetic information is transferred from a double helical DNA to a single stranded mRNA used to transmit information out of the nucleus for processing.
2. translation
Process of turning information encoded as mRNA into a polypeptide chain.The sequence of the mRNA strand is read by ribosomes in the cytoplasm.
300
Outline THREE modes of transmission
Direct Contact - when disease-causing microorganisms pass from the infected person to the healthy person via direct physical contact with blood or body fluids
Indirect Contact (vehicle transmission) - transfer via a contaminated intermediate object (fomite) or person (eg via needles, equipment, contaminated surface or object, or hands after inadequate hand hygiene)
Vector - utilizes insects to transport the pathogen. Insects such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitos are unharmed by the pathogens they potentially carry but can transmit the bacteria or virus when they bite a host. Examples: Mosquito: West Nile Virus. Fleas: Bubonic Plague (Yersinia pestis)
300
When designing an epidemiological study, what needs to be considered?
1. Sample size
2. Control group and experimental group are reflected (same parameters)
3. Validity maintained
4. Method is appropriate and used consistently
300
Identify the key components of a graph
1. Even scale
2. Labelled axes with units
3. Graph title
4. Line or curve of best fit
400
What are the nitrogenous bases in DNA?
Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine
400
Describe two ethical issues of genetic technologies
1. Misuse - unknown how it will be used (if it will be misused) (e.g. designer babies, misuses of technologies for purposes other than its intended use)
2. Future ramifications - the long lasting effects of the technologies may be unknown. For example, there may not be known issues when the technology is first released, however, future impacts in many years to come are unknown
400
Using an example, explain how pathogens can adapt to continue its survival
Example: Influenza
Influenza changes its spike protein each year, this allows it to try and bypass the immune system's ability to recognise the pathogen and target the immune response. Vaccines a person receives each year are formulated on previous strains of the virus. This allows a person to have some immunity. However, once a person has been ill with the current strain, the body is able to recognise the pathogen and target the immune response if the person falls ill with the same influenza infection again.
400
Using an example of a feedback loop, explain the importance of homeostasis in the human body. Draw this feedback loop on the board.
1. Ensures the body processes are being maintained at the optimal rate
2. Glucoregulation - stimulus (food) - blood sugar increases - pancreas releases insulin - liver absorbs insulin to store glucose as glycogen - blood sugar levels return to homeostatic state. Stimulus (no food) - blood sugar levels low - pancreas release glucagon - liver absorbs glucagon - liver uses glucagon to break down glycogen to glucose - glucose released into bloodstream - blood sugar levels rise - homeostasis maintained
400
How do you deconstruct the exam question?
1. Highlight key verb
2. Highlight the topic of the question
3. Identify if specific examples have been provided for you to use
4. Plan response (this can be annotating)
5. Write response
500
Outline the process of transcription and translation
1. Transcription - Double strand of DNA unwinds. RNA moves along strand linking complementary nucleotides together to form mRNA. The mRNA then moves from the nucleus into the cytoplasm.
2. Translation - mRNA strand binds onto ribosome. tRNA binds to mRNA within the ribosome. The ribosome moves along the strand linking the amino acids, forming a polypeptide chain. When a stop codon is reached, the chain is released into the cytoplasm
500
Using an example, explain selective breeding
1. Artificial pollination (plants) - pollen from the reproductive part of the male is used to pollinate the reproductive part of the female plant. Can lead to decreased genetic diversity but can also increase desirable traits.
2. Artificial insemination (animals) - sperm from a male animal (example a bull) is used to fertilise the ova (egg) of a female. This can lead to an increase in desirable traits, increased offspring but can also lead to decreased genetic diversity in a population.
500
Explain the link between antimicrobial resistance and pharmaceuticals
Antibacterial resistance occurs when the bacteria is no longer receptive to the antibiotic used to treat the infection. When antibiotics are prescribed for an infection and the course if stopped too early or the wrong medication is prescribed for the infection, the strain of bacteria becomes resistant to the treatment. This results in the medication no longer being effective against the strain of infection and the medication either requiring a stronger dose with a longer course to treat the infection or an entirely different medication being required. An example of a well known antibiotic resistant bacteria is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), commonly called "Golden Staph". MRSA is unable to be treated with broad spectrum antibiotics such as penicillin and requires treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (brand name: Bactrim), clindamycin, minocycline, linezolid, or doxycycline. For more severe infections, treatment in hospital via intravenous drip is required
500
Explain the differences between myopia and hyperopia. Include references to technologies used to help treat or manage these conditions
1. Myopia - (short-sightedness) objects focus short of the retina - thus the name. They also see close up objects more clearly.
2. Hyperopia - (long-sightedness) objects focus behind the retina or too long. They can see distant objects more clearly as their eyes can often easily adjust focus to make them clear.
Glasses are a technology used for both myopia and hyperopia. The prescription of the glasses, shape of the lenses will depend on the condition. Concave lenses are used for myopia and convex lenses are used for hyperopia. The lenses work to redirect the beam of light entering the retina so there are not multiple focal points but a singular point.
500
List ALL equipment required for the biology exam
1. Ruler
2. Eraser
3. Pencil (2B)
4. Pens (black only)
5. Highlighters
All must be in a CLEAR (fully transparent) pencil case or plastic sleeve