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BIOLOGY, M1 2017 HSC 36e

Analyse the impact of the development of the electron microscope on the understanding of chloroplast structure and function.  (7 marks)

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  • Using light microscopes, scientists were able to view and identify chloroplasts. However, it wasn’t until the development of the electron microscope with its greater magnification and resolution, that scientists were able to view a chloroplast’s internal structure.
  • Structures such as the grana, stroma and thylakoids could then be identified. The role of each in the process of photosynthesis could then be studied.
  • Thylakoids are flattened, hollow discs which are arranged in stacks called grana. The stacking of the layers into grana increases stability and surface area for the capture of light.
  • The membranes of these thylakoids contain chlorophyll and are the site for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
  • The space outside the thylakoid is called the stroma, which is an aqueous fluid present within the inner membrane of the chloroplast. It contains DNA, ribosomes, lipid droplets and starch granules. This is where the light independent reactions, the Calvin cycle, takes place.
  • The functions described would not have been linked to the internal structures of the chloroplast without the development of an electron microscope.
Show Worked Solution
  • Using light microscopes, scientists were able to view and identify chloroplasts. However, it wasn’t until the development of the electron microscope with its greater magnification and resolution, that scientists were able to view a chloroplast’s internal structure.
  • Structures such as the grana, stroma and thylakoids could then be identified. The role of each in the process of photosynthesis could then be studied.
  • Thylakoids are flattened, hollow discs which are arranged in stacks called grana. The stacking of the layers into grana increases stability and surface area for the capture of light.
  • The membranes of these thylakoids contain chlorophyll and are the site for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
  • The space outside the thylakoid is called the stroma, which is an aqueous fluid present within the inner membrane of the chloroplast. It contains DNA, ribosomes, lipid droplets and starch granules. This is where the light independent reactions, the Calvin cycle, takes place.
  • The functions described would not have been linked to the internal structures of the chloroplast without the development of an electron microscope.

BIOLOGY, M1 2017 HSC 18 MC

A student used a microscope to estimate the size of blood cells. Two types of cells were observed. The student estimated one type to be about 50% larger than the other.

Which of the following could be used to assess the accuracy of the student's findings?

  1. The size of other body cells
  2. The sizes of blood cells estimated by other students
  3. The expected sizes of blood cells quoted in scientific literature
  4. The average size of blood cells from three repetitions of the investigation
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\(C\)

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By Elimination

  • Comparing to other body cells would have no relevance to the estimation being addressed (Eliminate A).
  • Both options B and D would assess the reliability of the findings, not the accuracy. (Eliminate B and D).

\(\Rightarrow C\)

♦ Mean mark 44%.