Feversham College

Q1.(a)     Describe and explain how cell fractionation and ultracentrifugation can be used to isolate
mitochondria from a suspension of animal cells.

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(5)

(b)     Describe the principles and the limitations of using a transmission electron microscope to
investigate cell structure.

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(5)
(Total 10 marks)

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Q2.          (a)     Small samples of plant tissue were placed in a cold, isotonic solution and then treated
to break open the cells to release the organelles. The different organelles were then
separated. Describe a technique that could be used to

(i)      break open the cells;

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(ii)     separate the organelles.

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(2)

(b)     One group of organelles was placed in a hypotonic solution. The diagram shows one of
these organelles seen under an electron microscope before and after it was placed in the
hypotonic solution.

Name the organelle.

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(1)

(Total 3 marks)

 Q3.          Read the following passage.

In a human, there are over 200 different types of cell clearly distinguishable from each other.
What is more, many of these types include a number of different varieties. White blood cells,
for example, include lymphocytes and granulocytes.

Although different animal cells have many features in common, each type has adaptations.
5       associated with its function in the organism. As an example, most cells contain the same
organelles, but the number may differ from one type of cell to another. Muscle cells contain
many mitochondria, while enzyme-secreting cells from salivary glands have particularly large
amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum.

The number of a particular kind of organelle may change during the life of the cell. An
10      example of this change is provided by cells in the tail of a tadpole. As a tadpole matures into
a frog, its tail is gradually absorbed until it disappears completely. Absorption is associated
with an increase in the number of lysosomes in the cells of the tail.

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Use information from the passage and your own knowledge to answer the following questions.

(a)     Explain the link between.

(i)      mitochondria and muscle cells (lines 6 - 7);

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(3)

(ii)     rough endoplasmic reticulum and enzyme-secreting cells from salivary glands
(lines 7 - 8).

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(2)

(b)     Use information in the passage to explain how a tadpole’s tail is absorbed as a tadpole
changes into a frog.

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(2)

(c)     Starting with some lettuce leaves, describe how you would obtain a sample of
undamaged chloroplasts. Use your knowledge of cell fractionation and ultracentrifugation
to answer this question.

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(6)
(Total 13 marks)

 Q4.          Liver was ground to produce a homogenate. The diagram shows how fractions containing
different cell organelles were produced from the filtered homogenate.

(a)     Explain why the homogenate was filtered before spinning at low speed in the centrifuge.

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(2)

(b)     The main organelles present in sediment B were mitochondria. Suggest the main
organelles present in

(i)      sediment A;

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(1)

(ii)     sediment C.

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(1)

(c)     What property of cell organelles allows them to be separated in this way?

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(1)

(d)     Explain why the organelles in sediment C could be seen with a transmission electron
microscope but not with an optical microscope.

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(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q5.(a)     Describe how you could make a temporary mount of a piece of plant tissue to observe the
position of starch grains in the cells when using an optical (light) microscope.

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(4)
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The figure below shows a microscopic image of a plant cell.

 
© Science Photo Library

(b)     Give the name and function of the structures labelled W and Z.

Name of W .......................................................................................................

Function of W ...................................................................................................

Name of Z ........................................................................................................

Function of Z ....................................................................................................
(2)

(c)     A transmission electron microscope was used to produce the image in the figure above.
Explain why.

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(2)

(d)     Calculate the magnification of the image shown in the figure in part (a).

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Answer = ...................................
(1)
(Total 9 marks)

Q6.          The diagram shows how some organelles may be distinguished from each other.

Organelle found in prokaryotic           Organelle found only in

and eukaryotic cells                         eukaryotic cells
Organelle A

Organelle found in                    Organelle found in

animal cells and in                 plant cells. Contains
 plant cells. Does not                  inner membranes
  contain membranes                 arranged in stacks.
 arranged in stacks.                      Organelle B

Larger organelle surrounded             Smaller organelle surrounded

 by an envelope through which        by an outer membrane. Has an inner
 there are pores. usually one           membrane, folded to form cristae.
per cell.                                          Many in the cell.
Organelle C                                            Organelle D

(a)     (i)      Name organelle B.

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(1)

(ii)     Describe the function of organelle B.

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(2)

(b)     Which of organelles A, B, C or D

(i)      is a ribosome;

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(1)

(ii)     contains most of the DNA found in a plant cell?

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(1)

(c)     Some liver tissue was ground, filtered and centrifuged to make a suspension of
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organelle D.

(i)      Explain why the solution in which the liver tissue was ground should be ice-cold.

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(1)

(ii)     The ground liver was centrifuged at low speed. The pellet that formed at the bottom
of the centrifuge tube was thrown away and the supernatant centrifuged again at
higher speed. Explain why it was necessary to first centrifuge the ground liver at low
speed in order to obtain a suspension of organelle D.

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(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q7.          (a)     Name the type of bond that joins amino acids together in a polypeptide.

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(1)

The diagram shows a cell from the pancreas.

(b)     The cytoplasm at F contains amino acids. These amino acids are used to make proteins
which are secreted from the cell.

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Place the appropriate letters in the correct order to show the passage of an amino acid
from the cytoplasm at F until it is secreted from the cell as a protein at K.
 

F       K

(2)

(c)     There are lots of organelle G in this cell. Explain why.

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(2)

(d)     A group of scientists homogenised pancreatic tissue before carrying out cell fractionation
to isolate organelle G.

Explain why the scientists

(i)      homogenised the tissue

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(1)

(ii)     filtered the resulting suspension

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(1)

(iii)     kept the suspension ice cold during the process

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(1)

(iv)    used isotonic solution during the process.

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(2)
(Total 10 marks)

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Q8.A stomach ulcer is caused by damage to the cells of the stomach lining. People with stomach
ulcers often have the bacterium Helicobacter pylori in their stomachs.

A group of scientists was interested in trying to determine how infection by H. pylori results in
the formation of stomach ulcers.

The scientists grew different strains of H. pylori in liquid culture.

The table below shows the substances released by each of these strains.
 
  Substances released by the H. pylori cells
H. pylori strain
  Toxin Enzyme that neutralises acid

  A

  B

  C

The scientists centrifuged the cultures of each strain to obtain cell-free liquids. They added each
liquid to a culture of human cells. They then recorded the amount of damage to the human
cells.

Their results are shown below. The error bars show ± 1 standard deviation.

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(a)     Describe and explain how centrifuging the culture allowed the scientists to obtain a cell-
free liquid.

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[Extra space] ................................................................................................

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(3)

(b)     The scientists measured cell damage by measuring the activity of lysosomes.
Give one function of lysosomes.

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(1)

(c)     H. pylori cells produce an enzyme that neutralises acid.

Suggest one advantage to the H. pylori of producing this enzyme.

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(2)

(d)     What do these data suggest about the damage caused to human cells by the toxin and
by the enzyme that neutralises acid?
Explain your answer.

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(3)

(e)     The scientists carried out a further investigation. They treated the liquid from strain A with
a protein-digesting enzyme before adding it to a culture of human cells. No cell damage
was recorded.
Suggest why there was no damage to the cells.

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[Extra space] ................................................................................................

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(3)
(Total 12 marks)

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M1.(a)     Any five from:

1.      Cell homogenisation to break open cells;
1. Accept suitable method of breaking open cells.

2.      Filter to remove (large) debris / whole cells;

2. Reject removes cell walls.

3.      Use isotonic solution to prevent damage to mitochondria / organelles;

3. Ignore to prevent damage to cells.

4.      Keep cold to prevent / reduce damage by enzymes / use buffer to prevent

protein / enzyme denaturation;

5.      Centrifuge (at lower speed / 1000 g) to separate nuclei / cell fragments / heavy
organelles;
5. Ignore incorrect numerical values.

6.      Re-spin (supernatant / after nuclei / pellet removed) at higher speed to get

mitochondria in pellet / at bottom.
6. Must have location
Reject ref to plant cell organelles only once
5 max

(b)     Principles:
1.      Electrons pass through / enter (thin) specimen;
2.      Denser parts absorb more electrons;
3.      (So) denser parts appear darker;
4.      Electrons have short wavelength so give high resolution;
Principles:
Allow maximum of 3 marks

Limitations:
5.      Cannot look at living material / Must be in a vacuum;
6.      Specimen must be (very) thin;
7.      Artefacts present;
8.      Complex staining method / complex / long preparation time;
9.      Image not in 3D / only 2D images produced.
Limitations:
Context of limitation must be clear, not simply explaining how TEM
works
E.g “allows you to see organelles as a thin section is used” is not
a limitation
Allow maximum of 3 marks
Ignore ref to colour
5 max
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M2.          (a)     (i)      homogeniser / blender / pestle and mortar / description

e.g. grind with sand;
1

(ii)     centrifuge / description e.g. spin at high speeds;

1

(b)     (i)      chloroplast;

1
[3]

M3.          (a)     (i)      Mitochondria site of respiration;

Production of ATP / release of energy;
For contraction;
Do not award credit for making or producing energy.
3

(ii)     Enzymes are proteins;

Proteins synthesised / made on ribosomes;
2

(b)     Lysosomes produce / contain enzymes;

Which break down / hydrolyse proteins / substances / cells of tail;
2

(c)     1. Chop up (accept any reference to crude breaking up);

2. Cold;
3. Buffer solution;
4. Isotonic / same water potential;
5. Filter and centrifuge filtrate;
6. Centrifuge supernatant;
7. At higher speed;
8. Chloroplasts in (second) pellet;
max 6
[13]

M4.          (a)     removes debris / intact cells / sand;

which would contaminate sediment A / interfere with the results;
2

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(b)     (i)      nuclei;
1

(ii)     ribosomes / endoplasmic reticulum / membrane / Golgi;

1

(c)     density / size / mass / weight;

1

(d)     an electron microscope has a higher resolution;

electrons with shorter wavelength;
2
[7]

M5.(a)     1.      Add drop of water to (glass) slide;

2.      Obtain thin section (of plant tissue) and place on slide / float on drop of water;
3.      Stain with / add iodine in potassium iodide.
3.    Allow any appropriate method that avoids trapping air
bubbles

4.      Lower cover slip using mounted needle.

4

(b)     1.      W – chloroplast, photosynthesis;

2.      Z – nucleus, contains DNA / chromosomes / holds genetic information of cell.
2

(c)     1.      High resolution;

2.      Can see internal structure of organelles.
2

(d)     Length of bar in mm × 1000.

1
[9]

M6.          (a)     (i)      Chloroplast;

1

(ii)     Photosynthesis;

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Uses light (energy);

To produce carbohydrates / starch / glucose / sugars / ATP /

reduced NADP;
Note that candidates cannot be expected to have a detailed
knowledge of photosynthesis.
max 2

(b)     (i)      A;
1

(ii)     C;
1

(c)     (i)      Slows enzymes / prevents enzymes being denatured /

prevents / stops self-digestion;
Ignore references to bacteria. Reject enzymes not working
1

(ii)     To remove organelle C / nuclei;

Which are larger / more dense;
2
[8]

M7.          (a)     Peptide;

Q Do not accept polypeptide
Neutral: covalent
1

(b)          (F) H J E (K);

All three boxes correct = 2 marks
Two boxes correct = 1 mark
2

(c)     (Site of aerobic) respiration;

Release ATP / energy for active transport / transport against the concentration
gradient / protein synthesis / exocytosis;
Q Reject: anaerobic respiration
Q Reject: produces / makes energy
Accept: produces ATP for energy
Reject: produces ATP for respiration
Neutral: protein secretion
2

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(d)     (i)      Breaks open cells / disrupts cell membrane / releases cell contents / releases
organelles / break up cells;
Reject: breaks down cell wall
Neutral: separates the cells
Reject: breaks up cells so they can be separated
Reject: breaks up / separates organelles
1

(ii)     Removes (cell) debris / complete cells / tissue;

Neutral: to isolate organelle G / mitochondria
Neutral: removes unwanted substances / impurities
Reject: removes organelles / cell walls
1

(iii)    Reduces / prevents enzyme activity;

Reject: ref. to denaturation
1

(iv)    Prevents osmosis / no (net) movement of water / water does not enter
organelle / water does not leave organelle;

So organelle / named organelle is not damaged / does not burst / does not
shrivel;
Neutral: ref. to water potential
Q Ref. to cells rather than organelles negates the second mark
only
Reject: ref. to turgid / flaccid for second mark
Reject: organelle ‘explodes’ for second mark
2
[10]

M8.(a)     1.      Large / dense / heavy cells;

2.      Form pellet / move to bottom of tube (when centrifuged);
3.      Liquid / supernatant can be removed.
Must refer to whole cells.
3

(b)     Break down cells / cell parts / toxins.

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Idea of ‘break down / digestion’ needed, not just damage
1

(c)     1.      To stop / reduce them being damaged / destroyed / killed;

Reject (to stop) bacteria being denatured.

2.      By stomach acid.

Must be in context of stomach.
2

(d)     1.      More cell damage when both present / A;

2.      Some cell damage when either there on their own / some cell damage in B
and C;
MP1 and MP2 − figures given from the graph are insufficient.

3.      Standard deviation does not overlap for A with B and C so

         difference is real;
MP3 and MP4 both aspects needed to gain mark.

4.     Standard deviations do overlap between B and C so no real

        difference.
MP3 and MP4 accept reference to significance / chance for ‘real
difference’
3 max

(e)     1.      Enzyme (a protein) is broken down (so no enzyme activity);

Accept hydrolyse / digested for ‘broken down’.

2.      No toxin (as a result of protein-digesting enzyme activity);

Must be in the correct context.

3.      (So) toxin is protein.

This must be stated, not inferred from use of ‘protein−digesting
enzyme’.
3
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