BISC 113 BIOLOGY IN EVERDAY LIFE

SAMPLE MIDTERM EXAMINATION

50 marks

SECTION I. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (20 marks)

 

Answer each of the following questions briefly, in a few words or sentences. Point form is acceptable.

 

1.     (2 marks)

a.      What is the source of genetic variation in organisms that only reproduce asexually?

b.     Name two sources of genetic variation in sexual organisms.

 

2.     (3 marks) Distinguish between the terms telomere and telomerase.

 

3.     (2 marks) Explain the importance of empirical evidence in scientific investigation.

 

4.     (3 marks) Define the term adaptation. Name an adaptation that is found in human populations and explain why this trait is adaptive.

 

5.     (4 marks) Fruit flies quickly evolved resistance to DDT, a potent insecticide. Laboratory populations of fruit flies were established from flies collected in the wild in the 1930s (before the widespread use of insecticides) and the 1960s (after 20 years of DDT use). Lab strains established in the 1930s do not have versions of genes (alleles) for DDT resistance. In laboratory strains established in the 1960s, 37% of fruit flies have alleles conferring DDT resistance.

  Identify each of the statements below as true or false. If a statement is false, rewrite

   it to produce an accurate statement.

a.      Alleles for DDT resistance arose by mutation during the period of DDT use because of selection for pesticide resistance.

b.     DDT resistance is an adaptive trait for fruit flies if their environment includes DDT.

 

6.     (3 marks) Briefly (in one sentence) describe the function of each of the following organelles:

a. Nucleus

b. Ribosome

c. Endoplasmic reticulum

 

7.     (3 marks) Clearly distinguish between a haploid and a diploid cell.

         

 

 

 

 

SECTION II. SHORT PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS (22 marks)

 

Answer each of these questions in full sentences.  Do not use point form.

 

1.     (3 marks) Define the term metabolism and explain the role of enzymes in cell metabolism.

 

2.     (3 marks) Define the term hypothesis. State a hypothesis that would be appropriate for a scientific investigation.

 

3.     (7 marks) Rosemary and Peter Grant have been studying Galápagos finches on the island of Daphne Major since 1973.

• Between 1976 and 1977, a drought hit Daphne Major, reducing the number of seeds available to the medium ground finches. For much of the drought, only large, hard seeds were available. Only birds with beaks deeper than 10.5 mm were able to eat these seeds. More than 80% of the finches died during the drought.
• The Grants measure beak depth of each bird on the island. In 1976 (before the drought) and in 1978 (after the drought), the Grants plotted beak depth of finch offspring against the average beak depth of their parents.

 

 

Beak depth (mm)

Figure 1. Offspring beak depth vs. midparent beak depth of medium ground finches in 1976 and 1978

 

Explain how natural selection may have acted on beak depth of medium ground finches to bring about evolutionary change in the finch population during the drought. In your discussion, include (1) the three conditions necessary for natural selection to bring about evolutionary change and (2) whether these conditions are met in the medium ground finch population. Make sure that you refer to all the information above in your answer.

 

4.     (5 marks) Define the term virulence. Explain why a disease spread by personal contact may evolve to display lower virulence than a disease that is spread by a vector such as a mosquito.

 

5.     (4 marks) Describe the roles of (1) mitosis and (2) gastrulation in human development.

 

 

 

SECTION III: EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN (8 marks)

Read the question carefully and write a well-constructed, thoughtful answer. Write in full sentences.

 

You are undertaking an undergraduate research semester and decide to investigate whether students do better on exams if they have slept well the week before the exam.

(1) State the hypothesis that you wish to test.

(2) Carefully design and fully describe an experiment to test your hypothesis.

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