I am providing some information to assist you in your revision and preparation for the examination on this course. The exam this year will follow the same format as last years.

Previous Years Questions on Macroalgae

1996 Briefly describe the uses of algae in biotechnology with emphasis on the production of polysaccharides.

1997 Give an account of the commercial exploitation of the red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) with reference to the functional properties of products obtained from them.

1998 What is the molecular basis of the modern brown seaweed industry and how does it operate.

1999 The structure depicted above represents 3,6,anhydro galactose 2-sulphate. Where is it found and what are the consequences of its occurrence for the commercial applications of seaweed products.

1999 Exam Report

Exam Technique

These questions are all essay type questions which require a coherent description of the information requested. Remember that structure in an essay is very important, always plan your answers before you start writing. It is a good idea to use the spare page provided to note down related topics and structure your answer. Unfortunately it is usually obvious that most students fail to do this sufficiently, of course you feel pressed for time, but fewer coherent and logically presented sentences are much better than a random jumble. Writing an essay does not however mean that all you can do is write Illustrate your answers wherever possible. Use graphs and diagrams as a rapid and efficient means to explain complex concepts. It can be much quicker to sketch a graph or diagram than spend half a page trying to explain something and having to worry about your grammar. It can often be easier to remember something in a pictorial representation. But if you do use a figure, don't forget to label it! Every year too few students use figures even in situations where it would be the most obvious way to answer a point.