Biology 9700/43 May/June 2024: question paper and mark scheme

Question

Fig. 1.1 outlines the effect of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) on the cells of the collecting duct. The cell-signalling mechanism of ADH is similar to that of glucagon on liver cells. collecting duct cell receptor lumen of protein blood collecting duct ADH A cell surface ATP membrane enzyme adenylyl cascade cyclase water water C water B P Fig. 1.1 (a) Name structures A, B and C. A …… B …… C …… [3] (b) ADH is secreted by the posterior pituitary gland when the water potential of the blood decreases. Suggest reasons why the water potential of the blood may decrease. …… [3] (c) Diabetes insipidus is a condition affecting osmoregulation by the kidney. One form of diabetes insipidus is caused by a tumour in the pituitary gland, which results in a decreased secretion of ADH. Suggest the symptoms that would occur in a person with diabetes insipidus. …… [2] (d) Neurogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is another form of diabetes insipidus. In NDI, ADH molecules cannot bind to the receptor proteins located in the cell surface membranes of the cells of the collecting duct. With reference to Fig. 1.1, explain the effect on the cell surface membrane labelled P if ADH cannot bind to the receptor proteins. …… [2] (e) NDI is caused by a recessive allele of the gene coding for the receptor protein. The gene is located on the X chromosome. Explain why a man with NDI could not have inherited the condition from his father. …… [2] [Total: 12]

Question

Phenotypic variation exists in many forms. (a) Some examples of phenotypic variation in plants and animals are described in Table 2.1. Complete Table 2.1 by stating whether the cause of variation for each described example is likely to be due to: • genetic factors, VG • environmental factors, VE • a combination of genetic and environmental factors, VG + VE. Table 2.1 description of phenotypic variation cause of variation Tomato plants grown in a glasshouse and grown outside vary in the yield of tomatoes they produce. Seventeen genes associated with tomato yield have been identified. New strawberry plants from the variety called Sweet Ann are made by asexual reproduction. The new plants grow to different sizes and produce different numbers of fruit. The domestic cat has a blood group system with three possible blood types: A, B and AB. The blood types are determined by antigens present on the cell surface membrane of red blood cells. Over 50 genes have variants that are associated with excessive weight gain in humans. Other risk factors for excessive weight gain include diet and exercise. Resting heart rate in humans varies between different individuals. Some factors that influence resting heart rate include: biological sex, family history of heart disease, number of cigarettes smoked, medication taken. [3] (b) Name a spontaneous, random event occurring in cells that can be a source of phenotypic variation. …… [1] (c) Other than the event named in (b), describe the features of sexual reproduction that contribute to the production of genetically different offspring. …… [3] [Total: 7]

Question

In plants and humans, the phenotype of an organism is determined by the genotype and the environment. (a) Plants from the genus Primula have different petal colours. The presence of the pigment malvidin results in blue petals. The metabolic pathway for malvidin synthesis is controlled by gene T/t. The presence of the dominant allele T results in blue petals. Another gene, gene D/d, at a different locus, also influences the malvidin synthesis pathway. When the dominant allele D is present, its gene product suppresses the malvidin synthesis pathway. This is summarised in Fig. 3.1. allele T precursor malvidin blue petals precursor no malvidin non-blue petals allele D Fig. 3.1 A genetic cross was carried out between two plants heterozygous at both gene loci. The resulting offspring genotypes are shown in a Punnett square in Fig. 3.2. TD Td tD td TD TTDD TTDd TtDD TtDd Td TTDd TTdd TtDd Ttdd tD TtDD TtDd ttDD ttDd td TtDd Ttdd ttDd ttdd Fig. 3.2 (i) State which of the genotypes shown in Fig. 3.2 have blue petals. …… [1] (ii) State the ratio of non-blue to blue petals for the cross shown in Fig. 3.2. …… [1] (iii) Name the type of gene interaction that has caused the offspring ratio you have stated in (a)(ii). …… [1] (iv) Gene T/t and gene D/d code for proteins that are involved in the control of the production of malvidin. Discuss the possible roles of the proteins coded for by gene T/t and gene D/d in the control of the production of malvidin. …… [5] (b) Some humans have the inherited condition haemophilia. Explain the relationship between the F8 gene, factor VIII and the condition haemophilia. …… . [4] [Total: 12]

Question

Genetic engineering is a technique used to modify the genetic material of a specific organism to change a characteristic. (a) (i) Genetic engineering uses specific enzymes and commonly involves the use of plasmids for the transfer of genes into an organism. Four enzymes that are used in genetic engineering techniques involving plasmids are: • restriction endonuclease • DNA ligase • DNA polymerase • reverse transcriptase. Outline the role of these enzymes in genetic engineering involving plasmids. restriction endonuclease …… DNA ligase …… DNA polymerase …… reverse transcriptase …… [4] (ii) Explain why a promoter, as well as the desired gene, is often transferred into an organism. …… [3] (b) The production of insulin by genetic engineering involves the use of plasmids and the bacterium Escherichia coli. Multiple copies of a gene that codes for an insulin polypeptide are mixed with cut plasmids. During the process, only some of the plasmids that are taken up by host bacteria will lead to the expression of insulin polypeptides. Fig. 4.1 shows: • a cut plasmid and the gene coding for the insulin polypeptide • three different plasmids that have been formed as part of the genetic engineering process. complementary sticky ends ready for gene promoter introduction Key: gene that codes for insulin polypeptide direction of transcription marker gene plasmid X plasmid Y plasmid Z Fig. 4.1 Comment on whether a bacterium will produce the insulin polypeptide if it has either plasmid X or plasmid Y or plasmid Z and explain the reason for your choice. plasmid X …… plasmid Y …… plasmid Z …… [3] [Total: 10]

Question

BRCA2 is a tumour-suppressor gene. Its gene product, BRCA2, is involved in DNA repair. If the DNA cannot be repaired, BRCA2 has a role in causing the cell to die. BRCA2 is found in cells of breast tissue. When a mutation occurs in BRCA2, damaged DNA may not be repaired and this increases the risk of breast cancer. When a double-stranded piece of DNA breaks, BRCA2 binds to the damaged DNA directly and interacts with the enzyme RAD51 to repair the damage. Repairing DNA prevents other mutations and gene rearrangements from occurring which could otherwise lead to breast cancer. (a) Double-stranded DNA breaks occur naturally during meiosis. State the event that is initiated as a result of double-stranded breaks during meiosis. …… [1] (b) Scientists have identified hundreds of mutations in BRCA2, but not all of these mutations will increase the risk of cancer. One specific mutation in BRCA2, known as 999del5, is found in 0.6% of the general global population. Iceland is an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean. The ancestors of most of the current population are people who arrived to settle in Iceland in AD 874. In the Icelandic population, mutation 999del5 is the cause of 7–8% of breast cancer cases in women and 40% of breast cancer cases in men. This is much higher than the percentage of breast cancer cases in the general global population. (i) Suggest and explain how mutation 999del5 accounts for a very high percentage of breast cancer cases in Iceland compared with the general global population. …… [3] (ii) One of the largest global genetic screening programmes for breast cancer involves identifying people with mutations in BRCA2. Outline the advantages of genetic screening for mutations in BRCA2. …… [3] (iii) Suggest one advantage to a country of a genetic screening programme for breast cancer that screens for specific mutations in BRCA2 in the population. …… [1] (c) Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is a cancer-promoting gene (oncogene). When Lcn2 is expressed, it can result in breast cancer. Research is being carried out to see if gene editing of Lcn2 could be used to treat breast cancer. Gene editing was used to treat human cancer cells that had been implanted into mice to form a tumour. The treatment stopped Lcn2 from being expressed in the cancer cells and resulted in a significant reduction in the growth of the tumour. There was no negative effect in normal tissues. (i) Suggest how DNA editing stopped Lcn2 from being expressed in cancer cells. …… [2] (ii) Suggest why the expression of only Lcn2 was affected. …… [1] [Total: 11]

Question

(a) In plants, stomata open and close in response to changes in environmental conditions. Explain why stomata need to open and close according to environmental conditions. …… [3] (b) Describe the mechanism occurring in guard cells that leads to the opening of a stoma. …… [6] [Total: 9]

Question

(a) Experiments were carried out to determine the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis of a species of the unicellular protoctist, Chlorella. A cell suspension of Chlorella was used. Carbon dioxide uptake was used as a measure of the rate of photosynthesis. • The suspension of Chlorella was illuminated at a light intensity of 3 lux for 20 seconds. • The carbon dioxide uptake by Chlorella was measured at the end of the 20 second period of illumination. • The experiment was repeated at 6 lux, 9 lux, 12 lux and in a dark room. • The suspension was maintained at a temperature of 20 °C. Table 7.1 shows the results of the experiments. Table 7.1 total CO2 uptake after light intensity rate of photosynthesis 20 seconds / lux / μmol s–1 / μmol 0 0 0.0 3 20 1.0 6 44 9 72 3.6 12 80 4.0 (i) Use Table 7.1 to calculate the rate of photosynthesis at a light intensity of 6 lux. Complete Table 7.1 by writing your calculated value in the space provided. [1] (ii) Plot a graph of the data in Table 7.1 on the grid in Fig. 7.1 to show the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis. Draw a curve and extend your curve to show what would happen to the rate of photosynthesis if the experiment is carried out at 18 lux. 5 4 rate of 3 photosynthesis / μmol s−1 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 light intensity / lux Fig. 7.1 [3] (iii) Suggest an explanation for the shape of your curve from 12 lux to 18 lux. …… [2] (b) In photophosphorylation, photoactivation of chlorophyll results in the synthesis of ATP. Describe how photoactivation of chlorophyll results in the synthesis of ATP in photophosphorylation. …… [4] [Total: 10]

Question

(a) Fig. 8.1 is a diagram of a mitochondrion. inner outer membrane membrane Fig. 8.1 Outline the roles played by the mitochondrial membranes in respiration. …… [4] (b) The shapes and numbers of mitochondria are continually changing due to fission. Fission occurs when one mitochondrion splits to form two mitochondria. (i) Suggest reasons why mitochondria carry out fission. …… [2] (ii) Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) is a molecule that is used as a source of energy in some reactions, instead of ATP. Guanosine is composed of a purine, similar to adenine, and ribose. Suggest why GTP can be a suitable source of energy in some reactions. …… [1] (c) Old or damaged mitochondria reduce the ability of a cell to carry out aerobic respiration and produce the ATP needed for the metabolic processes of the cell. Suggest what occurs to these mitochondria to allow the cell to maintain the same overall rate of respiration and ATP production. …… [2] [Total: 9]

Question

(a) Fig. 9.1 shows how the mean global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has changed over the 800 000 (800 ×103) years leading up to the year 2020. 810 720 mean global 630 atmospheric A carbon dioxide 540 concentration / mg m−3 450 360 270 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 years before 2020 ×103 the year 2020 Fig. 9.1 (i) Calculate the percentage increase in carbon dioxide concentration between point A and the year 2020. Show your working. Write your answer to one decimal place. percentage increase = ……% [2] (ii) Suggest how the changes in carbon dioxide concentration between A and the year 2020 may have affected the environment and biodiversity. …… [4] (b) Outline reasons for maintaining plant biodiversity. …… [4] [Total: 10]

Question

(a) Fig. 10.1 is a diagram of part of a neurone membrane while the resting potential is maintained. tissue fluid cell surface membrane axoplasm Fig. 10.1 On Fig. 10.1, use label lines and letters to label: K – potassium ions A – ATP. [2] (b) Describe the sequence of events that occur during an action potential. …… [4] (c) Table 10.1 shows the axon diameter, myelination and transmission speed of impulses of motor neurones for three animals: squid, cockroach and cat. Table 10.1 axon diameter transmission speed animal myelination / mm / m s–1 squid 1.5 no 30 cockroach 0.05 no 10 cat 0.02 yes 100 Describe and suggest explanations for the results shown in Table 10.1. …… [4] [Total: 10] The boundaries and names shown, the designations used and the presentation of material on any maps contained in this question paper/insert do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by Cambridge Assessment International Education concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area or any of its authorities, or of the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.