Biology

Birth defects in humans can be caused by chromosomal abnormalities.

Outline the trend shown in the data.

Birth defects in humans can be caused by chromosomal abnormalities.

Explain the cause of a type of chromosomal mutation.

Offspring are rarely identical to their parents.
Compare the ways in which genetic variation can arise from asexual and sexual reproduction.

Jelly Bush honey has been used by Aboriginal Peoples to treat cuts, sores and burns. Recent studies have shown that Jelly Bush honey has a very high level of methylglyoxal which is known to help fight infection.
A scientist wants to test the effectiveness of Jelly Bush honey using agar plates.
Design a safe procedure that the scientist could use in a laboratory to investigate the effectiveness of Jelly Bush honey as a pharmaceutical to inhibit bacterial growth.

The incidence of cervical cancer in the Australian population is shown in the graph from 1985−2015. Public health campaigns commenced during this period to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. This included a national screening program to detect pre-cancerous cells and a vaccination program against human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes most cervical cancers.

Evaluate the success of these campaigns in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in Australian women. Include reference to the data in your answer.

Describe the process of DNA replication.

Soon after the discovery of the structure of DNA, scientists began investigating how DNA replicated. Three models were proposed.

Identify which of the models above is currently accepted.

Outline the ways in which the DNA of prokaryotes and eukaryotes differ.

Bt cotton has been genetically engineered to produce an insecticide that kills cotton bollworm. It was introduced to a cotton-producing nation in 2002. The graphs show trends of national cotton yield, % Bt cotton grown, total insecticide use, insecticide use to control bollworms and insecticide use to control another insect pest (hemiptera).

Explain ONE reason why cotton yield changed between 2002 and 2013.

Bt cotton has been genetically engineered to produce an insecticide that kills cotton bollworm. It was introduced to a cotton-producing nation in 2002. The graphs show trends of national cotton yield, % Bt cotton grown, total insecticide use, insecticide use to control bollworms and insecticide use to control another insect pest (hemiptera).

To what extent do the data support the use of Bt cotton as a method of disease control in cotton?

Malaria is a disease transmitted by a mosquito vector. There has been no effective vaccine developed. Refer to the maps below to answer Question 30.

Discuss possible reasons for the differences in the distribution of malaria and its vector. Include detailed reference to Map 1 and Map 2.

Which of the following are both non-cellular pathogens?
A. Bacteria and virus.
B. Prion and protozoa.
C. Protozoa and bacteria.
D. Virus and prion.

A patient felt tired, weak and had a swollen neck. After following the doctor’s advice to eat more foods containing iodised salt, her symptoms disappeared.
What was the most likely cause of the patient’s symptoms?
A. Cancer
B. Genetic disorder
C. Nutritional deficiency
D. Environmental exposure

Which of the following photographs shows an example of sexual reproduction?

Mutations occurring in cells which do not go on to form gametes can be classified as:
A. somatic mutations
B. germ line mutations
C. morphological mutations
D. oncogenes

In the diagram, X represents a cell with the function of secreting chemicals that stimulate the cloning of B and T lymphocytes. What type of cell is X?
A. T plasma cell
B. T memory cell
C. T suppressor cell
D. T helper cell

A scientist transferred male gametes from one plant to another to achieve a desired characteristic in the offspring. Which genetic technology was the scientist using?
A. Gene cloning
B. Artificial pollination
C. Artificial insemination
D. Whole organism cloning

Which is the most effective strategy for treating non-infectious diseases? A. Hygiene B. Pharmaceuticals C. Quarantine D. Vaccination

The table below shows the water gained and lost by 2 species of mammals. Which of the following statements is consistent with the given data?
A. The high proportion of water lost through evaporation in species A shows that species A is adapted to survive in a hot and dry climate
B. The higher metabolic rate of species B compared to species A indicates that species B could be a desert animal.
C. 0% water gain and 13.5 ml water loss through urine are indicators of mammal A being a hibernating animal.
D. The overall water gain and loss is higher for mammal B than mammal A, indicating that mammal B has larger surface area.

Glucose levels are maintained by the hormones insulin and glucagon. Which statement best describes the changes in hormone levels of a healthy human soon after a high glucose meal? A. Insulin levels fall and glucagon levels rise. B. Insulin levels fall and glucagon levels fall. C. Insulin levels rise and glucagon levels fall. D. Insulin levels rise and glucagon levels rise.

In 2014, during an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa thousands of local people and several healthcare workers died. Infections resulted from human-to- human transmission through contact with broken skin, mucus, bodily fluids, and secretions. Which of the following measures could prevent future outbreaks of EVD?
A. Administration of antibiotics
B. Isolation of infected people
C. Use of education programs
D. Vaccination of infected people

A mutation involving a DNA deletion is illustrated. Which statement about the mutation is correct? A. It will have an effect on many genes. B. It will have an effect on only one codon. C. It may be the result of an error during translation. D. It may be the result of an error during transcription.