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AP Biology 8.1 Responses to the Environment Questions

Practise AP Biology 8.1 questions by linking environmental cues, communication and organismal responses with fitness and population success.

Syllabus
Effective Fall 2025
Course
AP Biology

Exam points

  • explain how internal or external cues trigger behavioral or physiological responses
  • connect organismal communication, innate or learned behavior and cooperation with survival and reproductive success
  • use experimental and behavioral data to infer stimulus-response relationships and selection effects

Covered syllabus points

8.1.A—Explain how the behavioral and physiological response of an organism is related to changes in internal or…8.1.B—Explain how the behavioral responses of organisms affect their overall fitness and may contribute to the success…

Question 1

[Maximum number: 6]

Many insects rely on pheromones (chemical signals) that are released by the females to find mating partners. Scientists hypothesize that, in a certain type of moth, the behavior of male moths in response to pheromones is regulated by the extracellular signaling molecule 20E.

To investigate whether the binding of 20E to its receptor, DopEcR, affects behavior in moths, scientists injected male moths with saline (control solution) or with small interfering RNA molecules (siRNAs) that inhibit the expression of the gene encoding DopEcR. The scientists then exposed the moths to the pheromone and determined the percent of total time observed that the moths engaged in general activity, defined as movement in any direction. The scientists also determined the percent of the general activity time that the moths spent in oriented activity, defined as movement toward an area of high pheromone concentration (Table 1).

Table 1. Average General and Oriented Activity in Male Moths Injected With Saline or siRNA Molecules

Table 1. Average General and Oriented Activity in Male Moths Injected With Saline or siRNA Molecules

DopEcR is a G protein-coupled receptor. When 20E binds to DopEcR, GTP displaces the GDP bound to the G protein, and a signaling pathway is activated. The scientists hypothesize that this leads to the transcription of genes associated with the oriented activity observed in the male moths (Figure 1).

Figure 1. A simplified model of a signaling pathway activated by the binding of 20E to its receptor, DopEcR

Figure 1. A simplified model of a signaling pathway activated by the binding of 20E to its receptor, DopEcR

Question (a)

(a)

B.

[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Using the template in the space provided for your response, construct an appropriate type of graph that represents the data in Table 1. Your graph should be appropriately plotted and labeled.

[ 3 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Based on the data in Table 1, determine the type of activity that was affected by inhibiting the expression of the DopEcR receptor.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

C.

[ 1 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Based on Table 1, identify the treatment group in which the oriented activity was greater than 50% of the general activity.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

D.

[ 1 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Use evidence from the information provided to support the scientists' claim.

[ 1 ]

Question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

Many insects rely on pheromones (chemical signals) that are released by the females to find mating partners. Scientists hypothesize that, in a certain type of moth, the behavior of male moths in response to pheromones is regulated by the extracellular signaling molecule 20E.

To investigate whether the binding of 20E to its receptor, DopEcR, affects behavior in moths, scientists injected male moths with saline (control solution) or with small interfering RNA molecules (siRNAs) that inhibit the expression of the gene encoding DopEcR. The scientists then exposed the moths to the pheromone and determined the percent of total time observed that the moths engaged in general activity, defined as movement in any direction. The scientists also determined the percent of the general activity time that the moths spent in oriented activity, defined as movement toward an area of high pheromone concentration (Table 1).

Table 1. Average General and Oriented Activity in Male Moths Injected With Saline or siRNA Molecules

Table 1. Average General and Oriented Activity in Male Moths Injected With Saline or siRNA Molecules

DopEcR is a G protein-coupled receptor. When 20E binds to DopEcR, GTP displaces the GDP bound to the G protein, and a signaling pathway is activated. The scientists hypothesize that this leads to the transcription of genes associated with the oriented activity observed in the male moths (Figure 1).

Figure 1. A simplified model of a signaling pathway activated by the binding of 20E to its receptor, DopEcR

Figure 1. A simplified model of a signaling pathway activated by the binding of 20E to its receptor, DopEcR

D.

Use evidence from the information provided to support the scientists' claim.

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