4Blue Zigger

BZOS

Orange Spiralers
1Blue Zigger

Orange Spiraler

10BZ

1OS2016

7-

1000

BZ

382

OS614

BS

3OZ

1aBZ

OSBSOZb
BZ

OS-BZ

OS

10227

22008

2017

a/

b2a/

2020

7OS

c2a/
/

d22c3

BZ

BZ

OSX
5
X1
X2
X3
X4
X5

X1-X5
BZ
BSOZ

4OS

abcd5

Short Paper

NumberName

This examination is aimed at measuring your creativity, your abilities in logicalthinking and writing (including drawing schematics), as well as your basic knowledge inbiology. The setting of the questions is basically imaginary. You are free to choose
experimental settings unless they are described, but please describe your settings
clearly in the answer sheet.
When we evaluate the answers, we will take your research backgrounds and future
research interests into consideration.

Read the following story and answer Q1 to Q4.
* Effective use of schematics and/or tables is highly recommended.
* When multiple answers are requested, answers from different angles are preferable.
* Please write and draw your answers within the assigned spaces in the answer sheet.

Mishima Firefly Park in Mishima city is home to a firefly population in which individuals fall into
two clearly distinct “types”. One firefly type emits a blue-colored light and flies in a zig-zagpattern. The other emits an orange-colored light and shows a spiral flight pattern. These
characteristics are stable throughout the lifetime of an individual firefly. The flight patterns
for “Blue Ziggers” (hereafter called BZ) and “Orange Spiralers” (hereafter called OS) are
shown in Fig 1.

Blue Zigger

Orange Spiraler

Fig 1. Firefly phenotypes. Typical patterns are shown for the two types.

1

Short Paper

NumberName

Yata high school students have been collecting data at the firefly park for over 10 years.
They have determined that the population consists of a single species (BZ and OS
interbreed).
In July 2016, the observed counts among 1000 fireflies were as follows:Blue Ziggers

(BZ)

382

Orange Spiralers

(OS)

614

Blue Spiralers

(BS)

3

Orange Ziggers

(OZ)

1

Q1a)
Assuming two genetic differences underlying the observed differences between BZ and OSfireflies, propose two possible reasons why Blue-Spiralers (BS) and Orange-Ziggers (OZ)
were rare in this population. You do not need any numerical calculations in your answer.

Q1b)
Explain the observed differences between BZ and OS fireflies by assuming a single rather
than two genetic differences. You do not need any numerical calculations in your answer but
please state any assumptions that you make in your answer.

2Short Paper

NumberNameFig. 2 below shows the ratio of Blue Zigger (BZ) to Orange Spiraler (OS) fireflies over a 10year span. Collections were undertaken once in the winter (February) and once in thesummer (July) every year. Other phenotypes were absent or very rare in all years.

Fig. 2. Ratio of firefly types in Mishima Firefly Park from 2008 to 2017.
Q2a)
Describe two key patterns/regularities in the graph.
Q2b)
Based on the patterns/regularities you described in Q2a, predict the ratio of BZ to OS in July
2020. Please be sure to describe your reasoning and/or calculation in addition to yourprediction.
Q2c)
Propose two different hypotheses (hypothesis ① and hypothesis ②) each of which explains
both of the patterns/regularities you described in Q2a. Please be sure to explain how they
relate to the patterns/regularities in the graph.
Q2d)
Yata high school students have other observation data from the time period shown in Fig. 2.
What additional information would help to test each of the hypothesis you proposed in Q2c(hypothesis ① and hypothesis ②)? Please clearly describe how the information would
support or refute your hypotheses.
3Short Paper

NumberName

Hayama, a “sister city” to Mishima, has its own firefly park. In Hayama Firefly Park, the firefly
population consists of a single “type” that switches between BZ (blue color emission / zig-zagflight) and OS (orange color emission / spiral flight) phenotypes within their lifetime.
Whole genome sequencing of fireflies in Mishima and Hayama showed that theirgenomes differ only at a single region (region X) that encodes the following proteins.
X1

Transcription factor

X2

Receptor-type membrane protein

X3

Microtubule regulator

X4

Protein kinase

X5

Protein with unknown function

Q3
Propose a model at the molecular level to explain the difference between Hayama andMishima firefly phenotypes. Your answer should include at least one of the genes (X1-X5).
Schematics are encouraged. Your idea should explain the two main phenotypes (BZ and OS)
in Mishima and the rarity of “mixed” types (BS and OZ). In addition, your hypothesis should
explain the switching of the color/flight phenotypes in the Hayama population.

Q4
The Mishima/Hayama exchange foundation supports collaborative research projects
between these cities. Write a proposal to further understand the biology of Mishima andHayama fireflies based on the findings or information given above (Q1-Q3). Please use
schematics where helpful.
Q4a)

Title of the project

Q4b)

Motivation/specific hypothesis

Q4c)

Experimental design

Q4d)

Possible results and interpretation (please state how particular results will

support/refute your hypothesis)4解答用紙： 受験番号

問1a

氏名

可能性１

可能性２

問 1b1

解答用紙： 受験番号

問 2a

氏名

パターン/規則性 1

パターン/規則性 2

問 2b

予測した比理由・計算法

問 2c 仮説 ①仮説 ②2

解答用紙： 受験番号

氏名

問 2d 仮説 ①
役立つ情報

情報によって仮説がどのように支持または反証されるのか

仮説 ②役立つ情報

情報によって仮説がどのように支持または反証されるのか

3

解答用紙： 受験番号

氏名

問3問 4a

研究タイトル

問 4b

研究の動機・仮説4

解答用紙： 受験番号

氏名

問 4c

実験方法

問 4d

予想される結果とその解釈

5

Answer sheet： Number

Q1a)

Name

Possible reason 1

Possible reason 2Q1b)

1

Answer sheet： Number

NameQ2a) Patterns/regularities 1

Patterns/regularities

2Q2b) Predicted ratio
Reasoning/calculation

Q2c) Hypothesis ①

Hypothesis ②2

Answer sheet： Number

NameQ2d) For hypothesis ①
Additional information

How the information would support or refute your hypothesis

For hypothesis ②
Additional information

How the information would support or refute your hypothesis

3Answer sheet： NumberName

Q3)

Q4a) Title

Q4b) Motivation/specific hypothesis

4Answer sheet： NumberName

Q4c) Experimental designQ4d) Possible results and interpretation

5