Saturday, June 4, 2016

The Not-So-Short Answer Test Questions for Your Exam

On the day of your Exam, we will choose 4 questions out of 1-6 and 4 questions out of 7-12, and you will answer 6 questions total.   (I am doing it this way to make sure that there are questions chosen from both quarters).  Once again, I have put some terms in parentheses below to help you prepare, but they will not be there on the day of the test.  6 pts each.
There will also be a multiple choice section with 40 questions and a data-based question with several parts. Scratch that. No data-based question!!


  1. List the aim of the Human Genome Project and describe how it was carried out.  What was surprising about the project and what can we do with the information we obtained from it?
  2. Outline 3 factors that promote genetic variation.  Make sure that you explain how they promote the variation and don’t just name them.  You may use drawings to help explain.
  3. Describe the genetic cause, effect on the body, treatment, etc of either Huntington’s disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, or Down Syndrome.
  4. Outline the process of DNA replication, including names and functions of all the enzymes, direction of replication  and other details about the process.  (leading strand, lagging strand, continuous, discontinuous, Okazaki fragments, replication fork, etc)
  5. Outline the process of translation (protein synthesis) from start to finish.  (initiation, elongation, termination, mRNA, tRNA, large ribosomal subunit, small ribosomal subunit, translation initiation complex, exit, aminoacyl and peptidyl sites, translocate, peptide bonds, GTP, etc)
  6. Outline the control of gene expression, including nucleosomes, epigenetics, promoters, enhancers, silencers, etc.
  7. Outline the function of enzymes (including what they do, how they do it, inhibitors, etc).  Then list 3 enzymes that we couldn’t live without, including what function they serve in our bodies.
  8. Outline a basic technique used for gene transfer involving plasmids, bacteria, and named enzymes.  Also, list 3 specific examples of gene transfer in action.
  9. Discuss the pros and cons of the use of stem cells (at least 3 pros and 3 cons).  Also, list 3 examples of stem cell use in action.
  10. Draw and label a diagram showing the internal and external structures of a dicotyledonous seed.  Also, give a brief function of each part.  You should label at least 6 parts. (testa, micropyle, hilum, cotyledon, plumule, radicle, etc)
  11. Compare and contrast xylem and phloem in terms of their structures and their functions.  You may use a chart.  Include at least 4 similarities and 4 differences.  Be specific.
  12. Plants are different from animals in that they are not mobile and have had to evolve adaptations to carry out functions of life like nutrition, reproduction, response, homeostasis, etc. from a fixed position.  DESCRIBE 3 good examples of ingenious adaptations by plants that allow them to get their needs met while being stuck in place.