How many NESA Biology questions cover Inheritance Patterns in a Population?

AusGrader has 57 NESA Biology questions on Inheritance Patterns in a Population, all with instant AI grading and detailed marking feedback.

NESA (HSC) Biology — Inheritance Patterns in a Population Questions & Answers | AusGrader

Q2

2024

QCAA

Paper 1

1 mark

Q2

1 mark

Polymerase chain reaction is a technique used in DNA profiling to

A

cut DNA at specific sites.

B

create more copies of DNA.

C

determine the order of nucleotides.

D

separate DNA fragments based on size.

Q9

2025

SCSA

1 mark

Q9

1 mark

DNA profiling is used to

A

measure gene expression.

B

quantify gene flow.

C

identify individuals and species.

D

create transgenic organisms.

Q7

2021

QCAA

Paper 2

3 marks

Q7

3 marks

Koalas were once widespread in Australia. Due to a variety of factors, their population decreased and fragmented into small pockets, forcing them to inbreed. They have recently been hit by devastating epidemic diseases.

Explain why koalas face an increased extinction risk from disease.

High genetic diversity may allow for some members of the population to survive diseases and later reproduce and pass on their resistance to increase the survivability of the population.
However, inbreeding creates low genetic diversity, which makes koalas vulnerable to extinction due to disease.

Marking Criteria

Descriptor	Marks
Explains how genetic diversity can prevent extinction during rapid environmental change, e.g. disease	1
Describes why koalas have low genetic diversity (inbreeding)	1
States that koalas are more vulnerable to extinction due to low genetic diversity	1

Q40

2025

SCSA

20 marks

Q40

The Pacific Islands are made up of small, widely spread islands. Although migration between them has occurred, vast distances have historically made travel difficult for the inhabitants. As a result, genetic studies have shown that some of the island populations have distinctly unique gene pools.

Q40a

8 marks

Identify and explain the evolutionary mechanism that would have led to the populations in the Pacific Island countries being genetically different when compared to the original population from which they migrated.

The evolutionary mechanism is the founder effect/genetic drift.

The original population contains variation and a wide variety of phenotypes.

A small group of individuals moves to a new area and establishes a new population. This new group is not genetically representative and has a different allele frequency to the original population, resulting in decreased genetic variation in the new population.

There is no breeding between populations as the populations are isolated from each other. Over many generations, the ratio of allele frequency will differ to that of the original population, and these changes in allele frequency are non-directional or by chance.

Marking Criteria

Evolutionary mechanism

Descriptor	Marks
Identifies the evolutionary mechanism as the founder effect/genetic drift	1

Explanation

Descriptor	Marks
States that the original population contains variation/wide variety of phenotypes	1
Describes that a small group of individuals moves to a new area and establishes a new population	1
Explains that the new group is not genetically representative/has a different allele frequency to the original population	1
States that this results in decreased genetic variation in the new population	1
Identifies that there is no breeding between populations/populations are isolated from each other	1
Explains that over many generations, the ratio of phenotypes/allele frequency will differ to that of the original population	1
States that changes in allele frequency are non-directional/by chance	1

Q40b

4 marks

Define comparative genomics and explain how it is used to compare the genomes of different species.

Comparative genomics involves comparing the genome sequence of different species to determine relatedness.

DNA is sequenced to determine the order of nucleotides or bases. Over time, populations accumulate more and more differences in their genome. More similar DNA suggests species are more closely related and have a more recent common ancestor.

Marking Criteria

Descriptor	Marks
Defines comparative genomics as comparing the genome sequence of different species to determine relatedness	1
States that DNA is sequenced to determine the order of nucleotides or bases	1
Explains that over time, populations or species accumulate more and more differences in their DNA or genome	1
Explains that more similar DNA suggests species are more closely related or have a more recent common ancestor	1

Q40c

8 marks

Compare how nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA are used to provide evidence for evolution and migration.

Nuclear DNA is found in the nuclei of cells and is inherited from both parents. Due to recombination, migration is difficult to track; hence, it is used to trace evolutionary relationships between species.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is found in the mitochondria and is only inherited from the mother. It has a high mutation rate; hence, it is used to trace migration routes between populations within a species.

Marking Criteria

Nuclear DNA

Descriptor	Marks
States that nuclear DNA is found in the nuclei of cells	1
States that it is inherited from both parents	1
Explains that due to recombination, migration is difficult to track	1
Concludes that it is used to trace evolutionary relationships between species	1

Mitochondrial DNA

Descriptor	Marks
States that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is found in the mitochondria	1
States that mtDNA is only inherited from the mother	1
Identifies that mtDNA has a high mutation rate	1
Concludes that it is used to trace migration routes between populations within a species	1

Q4

2021

QCAA

Paper 2

2 marks

Q4

2 marks

Explain the purpose of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process and provide an example of its application.

Polymerase chain reaction is used to amplify (i.e. make many copies) of a DNA template because usually only a small amount of DNA is available for analysis.
For example, crime scene DNA is sometimes found only at trace levels. PCR amplifies this small amount to allow analysis to be carried out.

Marking Criteria

Descriptor	Marks
Explains purpose of PCR as amplifying a DNA sample for further analysis	1
Provides an example	1

NESA Biology Inheritance Patterns in a Population

Evolutionary mechanism

Explanation

Nuclear DNA

Mitochondrial DNA

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