Living Environment Exam Overview

Introduction

• Title: Living Environment
• Host: University of the State of New York
• Event: Regents High School Examination
• Date & Time: Friday, January 24, 2025, 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Important: No communication devices allowed; examination invalidated if caught using one.
• Equipment: Four-function or scientific calculator required.

Exam Instructions

• Record answers on separate answer sheet for multiple-choice sections (Parts A, B1, B2, and D).
• Open-ended questions to be answered in exam booklet.
• Sign declaration confirming no pre-knowledge of questions, no assistance given or received.

Part A: Multiple Choice Questions

• Question 1: Information for skin repair is in the DNA of neighboring cells (mitotic division).
• Question 2: ATP production occurs in mitochondria.
• Question 3: Trees releasing toxins into the soil is an evolutionary advantage to reduce competition.
• Question 4: Change in gene frequency in a population leads to biological evolution.
• Question 5: Introducing mongooses to Hawaii had unintended ecological consequences.
• Question 6: Recycling, reusing, and repairing reduce the depletion of finite resources.
• Question 7: Advantageous species characteristic: higher number of surviving offspring.

... (continue with similar detail for each question listed)

Part B1: Keystone Species and Environmental Impact

• Question 37: Loss of wolves as a keystone species decreases plant population.
• Question 38: Reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone aimed to increase environmental stability.

Part C: Experimental Evidence and Environmental Impact

• Dietary Impact on Mice: Changing diet to include methyl groups altered gene expression but not DNA sequence.
• Scorpion Venom: Change in venom's effectiveness could decrease predator populations over time.

Part D: Human Impact and Biodiversity

• Question 65: Human population growth correlates with increased species extinction.
• Technology Use: Aerosol scattering could reduce climate change effects, but risks include potential ozone damage and local variability.

Graphs and Data Interpretation

• Loons in Maine and New York: Slow population growth due to long maturation periods.
• Smoking Cessation Impact: Earlier cessation correlates with reduced lung cancer risk.

Additional Topics

• Enzymes and Plastic Degradation: Enzyme specificity limits breakdown capability to certain plastics.
• Mitochondrial DNA Inheritance: Generally maternally inherited; mitochondrial diseases vary in effect based on cell type.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Pancreatic hormone response to blood sugar changes; nutrient availability affects cellular processes.
• FINCH Variations: Environmental factors influence beak variation, supporting diverse populations.

These notes provide a comprehensive summary of key points and themes in the Living Environment exam. They are intended to aid in exam preparation and understanding of core biological concepts discussed.