Animal Physiology, Spring, 1997

Bi 377, Hour Exam II

Instructions:

1) After receiving the exam, you are free to work on the answers in any classroom in Boyd Hall.

2) You may not use any information other than what you have stored in your brain (no notes, books, etc.)

3) Please limit your answers to the space provided beneath each answer. Feel free to use labeled diagrams to enhance your answers. Write clearly and concisely.

4) You have 1.5 hours to complete this examination. Remember that you have agreed not to discuss this examination with anyone else in the class until all have taken it (I will let you know in class).

5) Please sign below if you agree to the above policies.

GOOD LUCK!

Honor Statement: I have read the above instructions and agree to them. I promise to neither give nor receive any help on this examination.

Signed,

Short Answer. Choose seven out of the following eight questions. Each is worth 10 points. These questions can be answered in 3-6 sentences or a labeled diagram and 2-3 sentences.

1) Many physiological processes are controlled by the hypothalamus/pituitary system. Briefly describe this "system' and give at least one specific physiological process that is controlled in this way.

2) Diagram the neural pathways involved in the crossed extensor (withdrawel) reflex.

3) Summarize Page’s (1982) paper entitled " Transplantation of the cockroach....” or Chabot and Menaker”s paper entitled “Infusion of Physiological Levels of Melatonin...”.

4) Identify/define four (out of five) following in one or two sentences: (10)

a) thalamus or the visual cortex

b) impedance matching

c) phototransduction

d) entrained versus free-running rhythms

e) temperature compensation

5) Circadian clocks have been localized in the tissues of only a few animals. List at least three types of animals and the tissues that have been demonstrated to be clocks.

6) Draw and label a figure which shows the locomotor activity of a crab (Carcinus sp.) under the following conditions:

a) 12:12 LD cycle

b) Dim LL

c) removal of the circadian clock

d) transplantation of another clock which has a different property (you decide which property is different)

BE SURE THAT THE LABELS ARE DESCRIPTIVE - YOU CAN INCLUDE A FIGURE LEGEND.

7) A new species of vertebrate has just been discovered in a cave in SW Arizona. This species apparently orients in caves using a very acute sense of hearing. Since you are an expert on auditory physiology, you have been flown in (all expenses paid!) to examine this species. Describe several adaptations in the auditory system that you might expect to find after you have made a thorough (years perhaps) electrophysiological and neuroanatomical study of this organism. Assume money and time are unlimited!

8. Give a brief accounting of the early history in the field of biological rhythms. Be sure to mention names, general dates and a few details about the findings.

Essay Questions: Answer the following questions in essay format (a paragraph or two with topic sentences followed by information supporting the topic sentence). You can also use the back side of this sheet of paper. DIAGRAMS (FIGURES) ARE ALSO STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!

1) Compare and contrast the processing (be SURE to focus on this only) of visual information in Necturus (an amphibian) and Limulus (the horseshoe crab).

2) There is much evidence from your reading and from what we have discussed in class that circadian rhythms are controlled or at least under the influence of genes. Discuss the evidence that supports this contention. Try to include information from at least two different species. HINT: Think of some of the species that we studied and the conclusions from some of the experiments.