QCE BiologyPractice Examination 20

This paper covers

• Allopatric speciation and reproductive isolation in Petrogale (rock wallaby) populations of Queensland's Wet Tropics
• Molecular divergence timelines and phylogenetic evidence for macroevolution
• Loss of gene flow, genetic drift and founder effects in geographically isolated populations
• Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and microevolutionary allele frequency change
• Biodiversity measurement: Simpson's Diversity Index, species richness, evenness
• Linnaean taxonomy, binomial nomenclature and cladistics/molecular phylogeny
• Energy flow across trophic levels and ecological efficiency
• DNA structure, semi-conservative replication, transcription and translation
• Gene and chromosomal mutations and their population-level consequences
• Meiosis as a source of genetic variation
• Inheritance patterns: monohybrid, dihybrid, sex-linked and polygenic
• Biotechnology: PCR, gel electrophoresis and recombinant DNA
• Natural selection types and adaptive radiation
• Ecological niche theory, interspecific interactions and carrying capacity
• Biogeochemical cycling: carbon and nitrogen
• Primary and secondary succession to climax communities
• Epigenetic regulation and transcription factors
• Convergent and divergent evolution with fossil and molecular evidence

Students are permitted to bring into the examination the materials normally allowed for this subject. Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

This is an ATARMAxxing practice paper. It is not an official examination and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by the VCAA, NESA or the QCAA.