Bio Revison Questions

Question 1

1. What are some hormonal responses to an increase in temperature?

Answer 1

An increase in temperature results in an increase of cortisol and can also affect melatonin and growth hormone.

Question 2

2. What is a pathogen?

Answer 2

A pathogen is an organism that produces diseases/infections.

Question 3

3. What is a vector?

Answer 3

A vector is an organism that spreads diseases by conveying pathogens form one host to another.

Question 4

4. Compare Xerophytes and Mesophytes

Answer 4

Xerophytes are adapted to dry climates, whereas mesophytes thrive in wet, well-watered climates.

Question 5

5. What are some structural features of plants to maintain water balance?

Answer 5

Plants have a sunken stomata and thick cuticles in order to increase hydration and maintain water balance.

Question 6

6. What is the zone of inhibition and what experiment could you do to test it?

Answer 6

A zone of inhibition is the circular are surrounding the spot of antibiotic in which bacteria colonies do not grow. Disc diffusion tests can be done in order to test this.

Question 7

7. How are antibodies produced?

Answer 7

Antibodies are naturally produces in the plasma cells within the body.

Question 8

8. What is hibernation, torpor and klemtothermy?

Answer 8

Hibernation is a state of metabolic depression in which the organism is inactive.
Torpor is a state of physical or mental lethargy
Klemtothermy is a form of thermoregulation which an animal shares metabolic thermogenesis with another organism.

Question 9

9. How does a plants immune system work?

Answer 9

Plants have an innate immune system that detects patterns through a pattern recognition system and responds with defensive compounds such as phytoalexins.

Question 10

10. What is a halophyte and how can they increase water absorption?

Answer 10

Halophytes are plants that are adapted to live off of highly salt saturated water sources. They increase water absorption by dropping their leaves to minimise water loss and developing an extensive root system. Additionally, they also have a host of salt glands that excrete excess salt and maintain osmotic balance.

Question 11

11. During exercise, what physiological response causes an increase in temperature?

Answer 11

An increase in metabolic rate and muscle activity generate heat, rising the temperature.

Question 12

12. What is the inflammatory response?

Answer 12

The inflammatory response is when damaged cells release chemicals that cause inflammation and blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissue. Also due to an increase in blood flow and immune cell activity.

Question 13

13. Compare the innate and Acquired (adaptive) immune system

Answer 13

The innate immune system is the bodies first line of defence. It acts very quickly, and provides protection via skin, mucus, and proteins. The Acquired immune system is the next line of defence. It is slower to act as it recognises germs and specially targets them. It is made up of T cells, B cells, and antibodies.

Question 14

14. What is an action potential in a neuron and where does it occur?

Answer 14

The action potential in the neuron is the main source of communication within the neuron. It occurs within the axon hillock. It is a rapid change in voltage.

Question 15

15. What is xylem and Phloem and how do they work?

Answer 15

Xylem and phloem are types of transport tissue in vascular plants. Xylem conveys water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the rest of the plants. Phloem conducts food made in the leaves to all other parts of the plants.

Question 16

16. What is a hormone?

Answer 16

Hormones are chemicals within the body that coordinate different functions. They are specific to the target and bind with the specific receptor.

Question 17

18. How is DNA found in a virus and in bacteria?

Answer 17

The DNA withing a virus is located in the nucleocapsid/capsid, whereas the DNA of a bacteria is found in the Nucleoid.

Question 18

19. What is thermogenesis?

Answer 18

Thermogenesis is an animal’s way of regulating body temperature/ generating heat, often through shivering or brown adipose tissue.

Question 19

20. What are some physiological adaptations for endotherms?

Answer 19

Some physiological adaptations are vasodilation; the animal’s ability to expand and shrink blood vessels, and counter current heating, the animals ability to adjust the flow of blood vessels to optimise heat.

Question 20

21. What are some biological adaptations for endotherms to heat?

Answer 20

Biological adaptations include thermal windows, pockets in the body that specialise in heat dissipation. Fat redistribution, reduce/redistributing body fate to avoid heat being trapped.

Question 21

22. What is an effector when maintaining homeostasis?

Answer 21

An effector is any organism that responds to stimulus from the integrating centre to maintain homeostasis, such as muscles contracting to generate heat.

Question 22

23. What is the complement system of immunity

Answer 22

The complement system is a series of proteins in the blood that help antibodies clear pathogens by enhancing phagocytosis and promoting cell lysis.

Question 23

24. What are the components of the innate immune system?

Answer 23

The innate immune system involves physical barriers (skin, mucus, and proteins), as well phagocytes, natural killers, and the inflammatory response.

Question 24

25. What is the result of a negative feedback cycle?

Answer 24

The negative feedback cycle occurs to counteract a process and to stabilize the organism in order to return to homeostasis.

Question 25

26. What are the main components of the inflammatory system?

Answer 25

The main components of the inflammatory system involve vasodilation, increased permeability, white blood cells, cytokinesis, and the complement system.

Question 26

28. Compare naturally acquired immunity with artificially acquired immunity.

Answer 26

Naturally acquired immunity is inherited from the mother, or from exposure to pathogens whereas artificially acquired immunity is given to the organism via antibodies, often in the form of vaccinations or immunoglobulin treatments.

Question 27

29. How does low water levels affect homeostatic mechanisms?

Answer 27

Low water levels trigger receptors located in the hypothalamus that detects changes in the blood plasma. They send signals to the hypothalamus which triggers thirst ensuring water balance and maintaining homeostasis.

Question 28

30. What is active immunity versus passive?

Answer 28

Active immunity is where an organism’s immune system learns to defend against a pathogen from exposure to all parts of it, whereas passive immunity is given to the organism’s thorough antibodies, particularly in the form of vaccinations.

Question 29

31. Compare T Cells and B Cells

Answer 29

T cells seek to destroy the bodies cell that has been infected, thus ensuring eradication of the disease. B cells produce antibodies that help to fight the disease within the body.