§-Biology Q&A
WA · SCSA← Biology
Biology Q&A by dot point
A short Q&A bank for every WA Biology syllabus dot point. Each question and answer is drawn directly from our worked dot-point page, so you can scan key concepts before opening the long-form answer.
Unit 3: Continuity of Species
Describe key biotechnology techniques and evaluate their applications and implications
Describe the structure of DNA, how genes code for proteins, and how DNA is packaged into chromosomes
Explain the semiconservative process of DNA replication and the roles of the enzymes involved
Evaluate the evidence for evolution from fossils, comparative anatomy, biochemistry and biogeography
Explain natural selection and the mechanisms that drive evolution and lead to speciation
Explain how a gene is expressed through transcription and translation to produce a polypeptide
Explain how genetic drift, gene flow, the founder effect and bottlenecks change allele frequencies in a gene pool
Describe the techniques of gene technology including restriction enzymes, PCR, gel electrophoresis and DNA profiling
Apply models of inheritance and explain the sources of genetic variation in populations
Use the Hardy-Weinberg principle to calculate allele and genotype frequencies and test for change
Explain how crossing over, independent assortment and random fertilisation generate genetic variation
Compare mitosis and meiosis and explain how meiosis generates genetic variation
Describe the types of gene and chromosomal mutations, their causes, and their effects on phenotype
Explain how natural selection acts on variation through selection pressures to change populations
Apply patterns of inheritance including dihybrid, codominance, multiple alleles, sex linkage and polygenic inheritance
Interpret pedigrees to determine the mode of inheritance and predict genotypes
Describe selective breeding, transgenic organisms and cloning, and evaluate their applications and implications
Explain how reproductive isolation leads to allopatric and sympatric speciation
Unit 4: Surviving in a Changing Environment
Explain how insulin and glucagon regulate blood glucose concentration by negative feedback
Explain epidemiological terms and evaluate strategies used to control the spread of disease
Explain how animals maintain homeostasis using negative feedback, with reference to thermoregulation and osmoregulation
Explain how plants maintain water balance and respond to environmental stimuli
Distinguish types of immunity and explain how vaccination and herd immunity protect populations
Explain the strategies used to predict and manage the spread of epidemics and pandemics
Explain how the kidney regulates water and solute balance and removes nitrogenous waste
Classify pathogens and explain how infectious diseases are transmitted
Describe the physical, chemical and active defences plants use against pathogens
Explain how tropisms and plant hormones such as auxin allow plants to respond to their environment
Describe the lines of defence and explain the specific immune response and immunity
Explain how endotherms and ectotherms regulate body temperature using behavioural and physiological mechanisms
Describe the modes of transmission of infectious disease and the factors that affect their spread