Igcsebio WB Ans Answe Key
Igcsebio WB Ans Answe Key
  Please note: some questions may have alternative answers which may be correct but are beyond the
  requirements of the syllabus. They have therefore not been included.
      respiration – the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release
      energy for metabolism
sensitivity – the ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment
  3   ref. to faeces being undigested food; which has not been formed through
      metabolic processes
      Common features – Any two from: cold blooded; have eyes; produce jelly-covered eggs (in
      water);
Common features – Any two from: four legs; eyes and ears; cold blooded; lungs;
Common features – Any two from: eyes and ears; warm blooded; lungs;
    Differences: ref. to feathers/fur; two legs/four legs; eggs with hard shell/live young; beak/no
    beak (or ref. to teeth); ears/ears with pinna; no mammary glands/mammary glands
A –  – – –  (Primula vulgaris)
B  – –  – – Narcissus pseudonarcissus
C –  – –  – Ranunculus ficaria
D  –  – – – Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Supplement
            ii) Any three from: (cellulose) cell wall; sap vacuole; nucleus; cytoplasm; cell
                    membrane
    b       leaf shape – broad; leaf veins – parallel; cotyledons – two; grouping of flower parts
            in threes
Exam-style questions
Core
1 Any three from: movement; excretion; nutrition (feeding); sensitivity (irritability) [3]
Supplement
5   a   The DNA is made up of a sequence of bases; each species has a unique sequence of
        bases in its DNA; this makes it identifiable/distinguishable from other species. [3]
    b   reference to the study of the base sequences in the DNA of the organisms; groups
        of organisms which are closely related have base sequences which are more similar
        than those which are more distantly related [2]
1 a – F; b – F; c – T; d – T; e – F; f – T; g – T; h – F; i – T; j – T
                   15                           15
5 100 =                    ; actual size   =            = 0.15 mm
               actual size                     끫뾞끫뾞끫뾞
    b   Animal cells and functions – Any two examples, e.g. ciliated cells – waft mucus
        with dust or bacteria away from the lungs; muscle cells – can contract to cause
        movement; red blood cells – transport oxygen around the body;
        Plant cells and functions – Any two examples, e.g. root hair cells – absorb water
        and mineral salts/anchor the plant into the soil; xylem cells – transport water and mineral
        ions from roots to leaves/provide strength for the stem; palisade mesophyll cells –
        photosynthesis;
    b   cell membrane: prevents cell contents from escaping, controls the passage of substances
        into and out of the cell
8   Any one plant cell, e.g. root hair cell, on surface of young roots, absorption of water/absorption
    of mineral salts/anchorage of plant into the soil
    Any two animal cells, e.g. neurone, found in the peripheral nervous system, transmit electrical
    impulses; sperm cell, produced in testes, fertilisation of egg/reproduction; ciliated cell, found in
    respiratory tract, waft mucus with bacteria away from the lungs
Supplement
9   [1] mark for calculating the width of the cell; [1] mark for converting mm to µm; [1] mark for
    the calculation:
30 000 ÷ 60 = ×500
Exam-style questions
Core
b i) chloroplast [1]
    b     controls cell activities and development – B; contains cell structures and is the site of
          chemical reactions – D; waft mucus and bacteria away from the lungs – A; controls what
          substances enter and leave the cell – C [4]
3   organ – several tissues grouped together to make a structure with a special function, e.g. heart,
    leaf [2]
    organ system – a group of organs with closely related functions, e.g. circulatory system, flower
    [2]
    tissue – a group of cells of similar structure that work together to perform a special function,
    e.g. muscle, xylem [2]
Supplement
[6]
5   The leaf contains a number of different tissues; which work together to carry out
    photosynthesis/transpiration. [2]
1   Net movement of particles from a region of their higher concentration; to a region of their
    lower concentration/down a concentration gradient; as a result of their random movement.
2 a i) oxygen
           ii) Any three from: short distance; big concentration gradient; large surface area; higher
                temperature
    b i)        Rate of diffusion would drop; because the molecules have a lower kinetic (movement)
                energy/molecules move more slowly.
           ii) Rate of diffusion would increase; because the concentration gradient would increase or
                be maintained.
3   The movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a
    region of higher concentration; against a concentration gradient; using energy from respiration.
Supplement
4   a      Plant A: diffusion only – roots have absorbed nitrate; until there is no concentration
           gradient;
          Plant B: diffusion and active transport/uptake – the roots have absorbed nitrate against a
          concentration gradient; building up a higher concentration than that present in the soil
       b   Plants need energy from respiration to carry out active transport; cyanide prevents
           respiration.
(oxygen)   
(water) (accept)   
(phosphate ions)   
(carbon dioxide)   
6      Zone A – as the sugar solution becomes less concentrated, more water enters the potato cells by
       osmosis, so the tissue gains mass. The more dilute the sugar solution, the more mass is gained.
       Zone B – as the sugar solution becomes more concentrated, more water leaves the potato cells
       by osmosis, so the tissue loses mass. The more concentrated the sugar solution, the more mass
       is lost. Between 0.6 mol dm−3 and 1.0 mol dm−3, there is no additional mass lost as the potato
       cells have become fully flaccid in each case.
       Zone C – at this point there is no net gain or loss of mass by the potato core as the water
       potential inside the cells is the same as the water potential of the surrounding sugar solution.
Exam-style questions
Core
1 D [1]
Supplement
[15]
3 a and b
Sugar
                               Start             Length after 1                     Change in         % change in
concentration/mol
                               length/cm         hour/cm                            length/cm         length
dm−3
[4]
             1 mark for axes labelled; 1 mark for units on x-axis; 1 mark for points plotted correctly; 1
             mark for smooth line through points [4]
        ii) The concentration of sugar in the potato cells is the same as the concentration in the
               surrounding solution; so there is no net movement of water molecules. [2]
    e   Any two from: leave all the cores in the solutions for the same amount of time; use the
        same volume of solution in each test tube; cut all the cores to the same diameter [2]
    f   Any one from: set up two or more cores for each concentration; measure the length of the
        cores in millimetres; weigh the cores instead of measuring length [1]
4 Biological molecules
Core
iii)
b i) fat/lipid;
iii)
c i) protein
iii)
Supplement
4 a
b double helix
    c 1 mark for statement about base pairing; 1 mark for calculating total percentage for A + T;
        1 mark for calculating % C bases
28 + 28 = 56%
100 – 56 = 44 (C + G)
44 ÷ 2 = 22 C bases
Exam-style questions
Core
1 a Mix or grind the fish with ethanol; filter the mixture; pour the filtrate into water; [3]
Supplement
2 C [1]
3   Any four points from: two strands; each strand is a chain of nucleotides; reference to the
    presence of bases; bases are A, C, G, T; bonds hold pairs of bases together; A pairs with T, C
    pairs with G [4]
5 Enzymes
    Core
    1   a   A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and is not changed
            by the reaction.
        b   Enzymes are proteins that are involved in all metabolic reactions, where they function as
            biological catalysts.
2 a
        b Any two points from: starch is a larger molecule; starch is insoluble while glucose is
            soluble; starch is a polysaccharide/polymer while glucose is a monosaccharide/monomer
        c Enzymes increase the reaction rate + in cells/systems; so that processes happen fast
            enough to sustain life.
Supplement
3 a
        b i)    The reaction would speed up because the substrate and enzyme molecules would move
                faster/gain more kinetic energy; so there would be more collisions.
            ii) There would still be no reaction; because all the enzyme molecules have been
                denatured by the high temperature.
Exam-style questions
Core
1    a Any two points from: an enzyme is a protein, but a catalyst can be an inorganic molecule
       or element; an enzyme can be denatured by high temperature, but a catalyst is not damaged
       by high temperatures; an enzyme has an active site, but a catalyst does not; enzymes are
       produced inside living organisms [2]
    b     Any three points from: the enzyme has an active site; the active site has a complementary
          shape to the substance it breaks down; the substance it breaks down is called the substrate;
          after the reaction, products are formed; the enzyme molecule can continue to break down
          more substrate molecules [3]
Supplement
2   a Any five from: the food molecule is the substrate; the enzyme has an active site; which
         combines temporarily with the substrate to form an enzyme–substrate complex; bonds are
         broken in the substrate molecule; the products are formed; the products are small and soluble
         [5]
    b Enzymes have a specificity; they have a complementary shape to the substrate molecule they
         work on; so the active site and substrate fit closely together to allow the reaction to happen. [3]
6 Plant nutrition
Core
1    a
           carbon dioxide + water 
                                    sunlight
                                   chlorophyll
                                               → oxygen + glucose
b i) sucrose
ii) starch
     d A – (waxy) cuticle – waterproofs the leaf; B – upper epidermis – allows light to pass
          through/acts as a barrier to microbes; C – palisade (mesophyll) – main site of
          photosynthesis; D – xylem – transports water and mineral salts; E – phloem – transports
          products of photosynthesis/carries out translocation; F – guard cell – controls exit of water
          vapour from the leaf/controls gas exchange;
b guard cells
d xylem cells
e phloem cells
3 Boil the leaf in water: to kill the leaf – this makes it permeable.
Boil the leaf in ethanol: to decolourise the leaf, since chlorophyll dissolves in ethanol.
Rinse the leaf in water: boiling the leaf in ethanol makes it brittle, so the water softens it.
Spread the leaf out on a white tile: so the results will be easy to see.
Add iodine solution to the leaf: to test for the presence of starch.
4   a Nitrate ions are needed to form amino acids, to build proteins; proteins are needed for
        growth.
    b Magnesium ions are needed to make chlorophyll; chlorophyll is needed to trap light energy
        for photosynthesis.
ii) green/blue
    b Use a bright light to shine on the Elodea in a beaker of water. Measure the light intensity
         using a light meter, or measure the distance between the lamp and the plant. Allow the
         plant to adjust to the light intensity. Count the number of bubbles produced by the plant
         over a fixed time period (e.g. 1 minute). Move the lamp further away from the plant.
         Measure the new light intensity or the new distance between the lamp and the plant. Allow
         the plant to adjust to the light intensity. Count the number of bubbles produced by the plant
         over the same time period. Repeat the process for at least five different light intensities or
         distances. Keep the temperature of the water the same, use the same plant, use the same
         beaker, use the same time period for counting bubbles. Alternatively, the oxygen could be
         trapped in a graduated container such as an inverted gas cylinder, so the volume of gas
         could be measured.
Supplement
7 1 mark for all the correct formulae; 1 mark for all correct balancing;
temperature – provides reacting molecules with kinetic energy for collisions to form glucose
Exam-style questions
Core
1   De-starch two similar potted plants, by keeping them in the dark for 48 hours. Place them in
    sealed bell jars/large transparent containers. To one container add a CO2 absorber/named
    absorber e.g. soda lime or sodium hydrogencarbonate solution. Expose both plants to the
    same, optimum conditions, e.g. light, warmth. Leave for 2 days. Test a leaf from each plant for
    the presence of starch. Only the control plant leaf (without CO2 absorber) will turn blue–black,
    indicating the presence of starch. [8]
ii) B, D, C, A [2]
    b xylem – transports water and mineral salts; from roots around the plant;
       phloem – transports sucrose and amino acids; from leaves to storage or growth regions of
       the plant [6]
3 B [1]
Supplement
4   a x- and y-axis scales suitable and correct; x-axis label and units correct; y-axis label and
       units correct; points all plotted accurately; accurate, clean lines drawn between points; lines
       labelled correctly [6]
300/150 × 100
= 200% [2]
(container A)
reference to shortage of CO2 or the plant has reached the end of its lifecycle;
(container B)
d container C;
the plant has died so bacteria are active, using up oxygen [2]
7 Human nutrition
Core
1 a calcium
b water
c fibre/roughage
d vitamin C
2   a   Any two advantages from: high carbohydrate level – for energy; source of calcium – for
        strong bones and teeth/to prevent rickets; protein present – for growth/repair
        Any two disadvantages from: high in animal fat – can cause heart disease/atherosclerosis/
        obesity; lack of fresh fruit/vegetables – which contain fibre to prevent constipation; three
        foods contain no vitamin C – to prevent scurvy; iron levels appear to be low – iron can
        prevent anaemia
c i) A diet that contains all the main nutrients; in the correct amounts and proportions.
ii) fibre/roughage
Function                (biting off pieces of biting off                          (tearing and        chewing and
                               food)                             pieces of            grinding             grinding
                                                                 food                 food)                food
Supplement
emulsifies fats;
Exam-style questions
Core
b i) enamel [1]
3 A [1]
4 a i) amylase [1]
       iii) Any two from: energy source; to convert to cellulose; convert to materials for
            growth [2]
iv) Starch is a large, insoluble molecule; while maltose is smaller and soluble. [2]
b Enzymes are only active in water; cells become turgid – leading to expansion. [2]
Supplement
b protein [1]
6   a Any two reasons and appropriate explanations from: less saturated fat; so less risk of heart
        disease/atheroma; more fibre; so less risk of constipation; more calcium; to maintain healthy
        bones/teeth/to prevent rickets [4]
b i) Any one from: other red meat; liver; kidney; eggs; green vegetables; chocolate; etc. [1]
ii) needed for the formation of haemoglobin; in red blood cells [2]
8 Transport in plants
Core
1   a Any two from: anchoring the plant in the soil; absorption of water; absorption of
        mineral salts; food storage organ
    b Root hair cells have a cell extension; increasing the cell’s surface area to make it more
        efficient for absorbing water and mineral ions.
2 a
b xylem – transport of water and mineral ions; phloem – transport of sucrose and amino acids
Supplement
3   Any three from: long, thin vessels; cells lack end walls; lack cell contents such as cytoplasm
    and nucleus; walls may be lignified to provide strength/waterproofing
4   Transpiration – the loss of water vapour from the leaves through the stomata by diffusion.
    Translocation – the movement of sucrose and amino acids from sources to sinks/from regions
    of production or storage to regions of use for respiration or growth.
Exam-style questions
Core
1 C [1]
2 D [1]
3   Any five points from: reference to transpiration; water enters the leaf through xylem; water
    forms a layer on surface of mesophyll cells; water evaporates into the air spaces in the spongy
    mesophyll; this creates a high concentration of water molecules; lower concentration in the air
    surrounding the leaf; reference to diffusion of water molecules; through the stomata [5]
Supplement
4   Diffusion – the net movement of particles from a region of their higher concentration to a
    region of their lower concentration/down a concentration gradient, as a result of their random
    movement; oxygen diffuses from the air into a leaf, carbon dioxide diffuses out of a leaf,
    mineral salts diffuse from soil into root hairs
    Osmosis – the net movement of water molecules from a higher water potential to a region of
    lower water potential, through a partially permeable membrane; osmosis is used to absorb
    water by roots, cells absorb water by osmosis to become turgid, which keeps young stems
    rigid
    Active transport – the movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower
    concentration to a region of higher concentration; against a concentration gradient, using
    energy from respiration; plants obtain mineral ions by active transport when the concentration
    of ions in the soil is lower than in the root cells
    Transpiration – the loss of water vapour from the leaves; transpiration results in more water
    being drawn through the plant, carrying mineral ions from the roots [12]
5   a Water enters the leaf in the xylem vessels (A), then passes into the surrounding spongy
       mesophyll cells (B). A thin layer (C) forms on the surface of the cells, which evaporates
       and saturates the air in the air spaces (D), then the water molecules diffuse into the
       atmosphere through the stomata (E). [6]
    b Transpiration from the leaves loses more water than is being taken in by the roots; cells in
       young stems lack water; become flaccid and stop pressing against each other; so stems and
       leaves lose their rigidity and wilt. [4]
9 Transport in animals
Core
2   a   x-axis drawn and labelled ‘time/min’; y-axis drawn and labelled ‘pulse rate/beats per
        minute’; points plotted accurately; line drawn between points
ii) at 1 minute
iii) at 8 minutes
iv) Rate starts higher than 60 bpm; reaches a higher peak; takes longer to return to normal
    c   Any three of the following answers (the cause and the preventative measure must be given
        for each mark): smoking – stop smoking; obesity – go on a controlled diet/take regular
        exercise; stress – find ways of relaxing/identify causes of stress and reduce them; inherited
        factors – make sure other factors are reduced/monitor health
Supplement
3   a   A tissue is a group of cells with similar structures, working together to perform a shared
        function.
c it can contract
    d   It needs to build up enough pressure; to move blood around the body to all organs; while
        the right ventricle only moves blood to the lungs.
4 a, b and c
5   Any three from: permeable wall – to allow diffusion of materials between the capillary and
    surrounding tissues; wall is one cell thick – allows fast diffusion/allows white blood cells to
    squeeze between cells of the wall; lumen is one blood cell wide – slows down blood flow to
    allow diffusion of materials and transfer of tissue fluid; valves are absent – blood pressure is
    high enough to keep blood flowing.
6   a   Any three from: the heart has one atrium and one ventricle; blood goes to the gills for
        oxygenation; then through the organs of the body; blood passes through the heart
        once for each complete circulation of the body.
    b   Any two from: double circulation maintains a high blood pressure; to all organs of the
        body; so the system is more efficient in supplying organs with oxygen;
7   Heart must beat faster to circulate more oxygen; exercising muscles need more oxygen, more
    glucose; and produce carbon dioxide (or lactic acid), which needs to be removed.
Exam-style questions
Core
1 B [1]
b i) right atrium
v) septum
vii) aorta
ii) large nucleus or lobed nucleus or can change its shape [2]
Supplement
4 C [1]
5   a   Blood passes through the heart twice, for each complete circulation of the body; once on its
        way to the body and once on its way to the lungs. [2]
b artery: Any two from: thick and tough wall; narrow lumen; valves absent;
vein: Any two from: thin wall; large lumen; valves present;
        capillary: Any two from: permeable wall; wall one cell thick; lumen one red blood cell
        wide; valves absent; [6]
1 a A disease-causing organism
    b   Any three from: direct contact, e.g. through blood or other body fluids; indirectly, e.g. from
        contaminated surfaces; from food; from water; from animals; from the air;
Supplement
2 vaccination
    b   Phagocytes can move out of capillaries; to the site of an infection; they engulf pathogens;
        and kill them by digestion.
4   Any three from: harmless pathogen given, which has antigens; antigens trigger an immune
    response by lymphocytes; lymphocytes produce antibodies; memory cells are produced to
    provide long-term immunity;
5   Any four from: passive immunity – short-term defence against a pathogen by antibodies
    acquired from another individual; e.g. mother to infant through breast-feeding or to the fetus
    through the placenta; active immunity – longer-term defence against a pathogen; gained after
    an infection by a pathogen, or by vaccination;
Exam-style questions
Core
1   a   A disease in which the pathogen can be passed from one host to another [2]
use of dirty needles for injections; direct contact with blood; unprotected sex;
           food preparation e.g. same surface used for raw meat and vegetables or not washing
           hands after using toilet; sneezing or coughing; reference to intensive methods of rearing
           animals; [2]
Supplement
2   Any six from: bacteria multiply in the small intestine; invade epithelial cells; release poisons;
    which irritate the intestinal lining; cause secretion of large amounts of water and salts; this
    increases the osmotic potential of the gut contents; more water is drawn in from surrounding
    tissues by osmosis; faeces becomes watery or reference to diarrhoea; body becomes
    dehydrated; [6]
b i) diffusion
ii) thin surface; large surface area; good blood supply; good ventilation with air
        ii) Any three points from: pour limewater into a container, e.g. test tube; insert straw;
            breathe gently out through the straw; limewater turns milky
c i) diffusion
        ii) ref. to breathing to keep oxygen levels in the alveoli high; ref. to blood constantly
            moving through capillaries, bringing blood low in oxygen;
Supplement
4   (external intercostal muscles contract), ribcage moves up and out, diaphragm muscle contracts,
    diaphragm moves down, volume in the lungs increases, air pressure in the lungs decreases, air
    moves in to fill the lungs
5   a   1 keeps the trachea open/prevents trachea from collapsing/allows free movement of air
        between mouth and lungs;
2 protects the lungs and heart/moves to increase or decrease the volume of the thorax;
    b (goblet cell) secretes mucus; (ciliated cell) beats backwards and forwards to move mucus
        towards the throat; (mucus) traps dust and pathogens;
    b   carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood; increased concentration is detected by the brain;
        brain instructs thorax to increase breathing rate;
Exam-style questions
Core
1   a   Volume of air per breath increases; from normal tidal volume, e.g. from 0.5 litres; rate of
        breathing increases; from 12 to over 20 breaths per minute; [4]
    b   i) Before exercise: pour limewater into two containers, e.g. test tubes; insert straw into
           one; breathe gently out through the straw; count the number of breaths needed to turn
           limewater; from colourless to milky; then carry out exercise. After exercise: breathe
           through straw into second test tube; count the number of breaths needed to turn
           limewater milky. [5]
ii) Results: after exercise fewer breaths needed; to turn limewater milky; [2]
Supplement
b i) lung [1]
        ii) Any four from: contains many alveoli; contains many blood capillaries; for gas
           exchange; ref. to oxygen and carbon dioxide; ref. to diffusion; [4]
    c Any six from: external intercostal muscles relax; ribs move downwards and inwards;
        diaphragm muscle relaxes; diaphragm moves up; volume of thorax decreases; air pressure
        in thoracic cavity increases; to become higher than atmospheric pressure; so air moves out
        of the lungs; [6]
12 Respiration
Core
    b   Any three uses from: muscle contraction; protein synthesis; cell division; active transport;
        growth; passage of nerve impulses; maintaining a constant body temperature
c i) lactic acid/lactate
Supplement
Exam-style questions
Core
1 D [1]
2 a i) respiration
    b   Any five from: respiration of yeast is very slow at low temperatures; as molecules have
        little kinetic energy so few collisions; as the temperature is increased to 30 °C the rate of
        reaction increases; because the kinetic energy of the reacting molecules increases; 30 °C is
        optimum temperature for yeast respiration; as molecules have lots of kinetic energy to
        collide; enzymes in yeast begin to denature at 45 °C; so respiration slows down; all yeast
        enzymes denatured at 100 °C, so no respiration; [5]
Supplement
3 a muscles produce lactic acid/lactate; yeast produces ethanol; and carbon dioxide; [3]
ii) continued rapid/deep breathing; to provide oxygen; to break down the lactic
acid/lactate; [3]
13 Excretion in humans
Core
Supplement
2 blood, water, glucose, reabsorbed, more, concentrated, osmosis, diffusion, active uptake
3   a   Surplus amino acids are removed from the blood by the liver; and broken down into urea;
        by the process of deamination.
    b   Any two from: controlling levels of glucose in the blood; making bile; deamination of
        amino acids
b i) filters the blood; Any two named contents of filtrate from water, glucose, urea, salts
ii) reabsorbs; Any two named substances from glucose, most water, some salts
Exam-style questions
Core
         ii) Any three from: amino acids; and glucose will be present in part A; also fewer salts;
             less urea in A than part C; [3]
         iii) Any two from: smaller volume; more concentrated; urea more concentrated; salts more
             concentrated; [2]
b Vena cava (X) has a thinner wall; larger lumen; contains valves; [3]
Supplement
2   a    Any six from: renal artery brings blood into the kidney; divides into capillaries; each
         capillary forms a knotted glomerulus; which filters blood; filtrate collects in a capsule;
         filtrate passes through a tubule; reabsorption takes place; reabsorbed materials pass back to
          capillaries; return blood to renal vein; remaining filtrate is urine; [6]
    b    Any three from: the kidney is an excretory organ; it removes urea from the blood; urea is
         toxic; the kidney controls water levels in the blood; reference to homeostasis; [3]
1   a    Central nervous system: made up of brain and spinal cord; which have the role of
         coordination; peripheral nervous system: made up of nerves; which connect all parts of the
         body to the central nervous system;
    b   i) A group of receptor cells; responding to a specific stimulus, e.g. light, sound, touch,
              temperature, chemicals;
ii)
2 eye (light)
3 (nose) chemicals/smell
2   Any three from: sensory neurone has dendron present/very long dendron/motor neurone has no
    dendron; sensory neurone has no axon/very short axon/motor neurone has a long axon; cell
    body is near the end of the sensory neurone/cell body is at the start of the motor neurone;
    dendrites are present at the end of the sensory neurone/motor end plates are at the end of the
    motor neurone;
3   a   A hormone is a chemical substance; produced by a gland; carried by the blood; that alters
        the activity of one or more specific target organs.
ii) muscle
iii) arrows go from pain receptor along sensory, relay and motor neurones to muscle
b it contracts
c synapse
Supplement
9 a auxin
        ii) Any four points from: when a shoot is exposed to one-sided light, auxins are produced
           by the tip; auxins move towards the shaded side of the shoot/auxins are destroyed on the
           light side; causing an unequal distribution; cells on the shaded side are stimulated to
           absorb more water than those on the light side; making the cells bigger; the unequal
           growth causes the stem to bend towards the light;
Exam-style questions
Core
1 a C [1]
Supplement
2   Any eight points from: homeostasis means maintaining a constant internal environment;
    pancreas acts as a sensor in negative feedback and acts as an effector by secreting hormones; if
    glucose levels rise above normal, change is sensed by the pancreas; insulin is secreted by the
    pancreas and passed into bloodstream; insulin instructs the liver to remove excess glucose
    from the blood; glucose is converted to glycogen and stored; rate of respiration in the liver is
    increased to use up glucose; glucose levels return to normal; if glucose levels fall below
    normal, the pancreas stops secreting insulin and starts to secrete glucagon; glucagon instructs
    the liver to convert glycogen to glucose; glucose is passed into the bloodstream, glucose levels
    return to normal; [8]
        blood vessels – muscles in arteriole walls relax; arterioles dilate; allowing more blood near
        to the surface of the skin; heat radiated from skin surface so body cools;
        sweat – sweat glands in skin secrete more sweat; passes through pores onto surface of the
        skin; water evaporates; removing heat from skin so body cools; [6]
    b   Glucagon secreted by pancreas; causes liver to convert glycogen to glucose; heart rate
        increases; so more blood with glucose passes to muscles. [4]
4   a Insulin stimulates the liver to take up glucose from the blood and store it as glycogen; so
        reducing blood glucose/sugar levels. [2]
    c Any two from: take regular exercise; have regular blood tests; have a carefully controlled
        diet, low in sugars/carbohydrates; [2]
15 Drugs
Core
1 a Any substance taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body
Yes/no
Supplement
2   a Any three from: bacteria exposed to sub-lethal levels of antibiotic, e.g. by patient not taking
       full course of treatment; some bacteria survive; with resistance to antibiotic; reproduce;
       whole population is now resistant; some bacteria have resistant gene, so have an advantage;
    b Any two from: only taking antibiotics when essential; ensuring course of treatment is
       completed; good hygiene practices in hospitals;
Exam-style questions
Core
1 Any three from: disrupt the production of the cell wall; prevent bacteria from reproducing;
    cause the bacteria to burst open; interfere with protein synthesis; stop the growth of the
    bacteria; [3]
Supplement
2   a i)   bacterium [1]
       ii) Any three from: presence of cell wall; presence of single strand of DNA; presence of
           flagella; ref. to small size; [3]
       ii) Any two from: ref. to mutation; during cell division; variation has provided resistance
           to the antibiotic; [2]
16 Reproduction
Core
1 a A process resulting in the production of genetically identical offspring from one parent;
    b pollination – the transfer of pollen grains; from an anther to a stigma; fertilisation – the
        fusion; of the nuclei of gametes;
2   anther – produces pollen grains containing male sex cells; ovary – contains ovules, with the
    female sex cells; petal – often large and coloured to attract insects; sepal – protects the flower
    while in bud; stigma – sticky, to receive pollen grains during pollination
b i) carpel
ii) stamen
    c i)    ref. to feathery/with a larger surface area/hanging outside the flower; to increase the
            chance of trapping pollen grains;
        ii) ref. to larger numbers of pollen grains/pollen grains lighter; to increase chances of
            pollination/to be more easily carried by the wind;
5   a   Sperm released from the testes pass through the sperm duct; into the urethra; through the
        penis; they are ejaculated into the vagina; swim through the cervix and uterus; and into the
        oviduct.
    b   An ovum passes down the oviduct. A single sperm penetrates the membrane of the ovum
        by secreting a protease enzyme. The sperm nucleus fuses with the ovum nucleus to form a
        zygote.
6 a placenta
b 1 cervix, 2 vagina
c zygote
d amniotic fluid
e menstruation
Supplement
7      A: The lining of the uterus is starting to build up; under the influence of oestrogen. B:
       Ovulation occurs – the wall of an ovary ruptures, releasing an egg; this is due to secretion of
       LH (luteinising hormone). C: The lining of the uterus is maintained, due to high levels of
      progesterone; produced by the corpus luteum. D: Menstruation occurs – the lining of the
       uterus breaks down; due to a drop in progesterone.
8     a Place boiling tube in a beaker of water; use a thermometer to measure the water
         temperature; allow the seeds time to adjust to the temperature of the water; note position of
         dye; time for, e.g. 5 minutes; note new position of dye; measure distance moved; repeat
         process for a range of different temperatures.
      b Calculate rate of movement of dye; using formula speed = distance/time; plot graph of
         temperature (x-axis) against rate of movement of dye (y-axis);
Exam-style questions
Core
1     a Wind pollination. Explanation – Any six points from: A = stigma; which is feathery; hangs
         outside the flower; has large surface area; B = filament; which is long to expose the anther
         to the wind; C = anther; which hangs outside the flower; exposed to the wind [7]
      b Any four points from: mature anthers burst, releasing pollen grains into air; wind carries
         pollen grains; some are trapped by feathery stigmas; hanging outside flowers; of other
         flowers of the same species [4]
Supplement
3 C [1]
4   a i) arrows/line from pollen grain down through the stigma (A), style (B), around either
             side of the ovary wall (C), into micropyle (D) to the ovule [3]
       ii) Any six points from: pollen grain germinates; pollen tube grows; pollen tube contains
             the male nucleus; grows down through the stigma (A); through the style (B); through
             the ovary wall (C); into the micropyle (D) to the ovule; male nucleus fuses with nucleus
             of ovule; [6]
    b i) Any one from: pollen grain would be lighter/have a larger surface area/no spikes on
             surface/smooth surface [1]
    b ref. to both oviducts are closed/blocked; so eggs cannot pass down/sperm cannot reach egg;
       [2]
c Any three from: placenta; umbilical cord; amniotic sac; amniotic fluid; [3]
6   a Cross-pollination involves the transfer of pollen from the anther of a flower to the stigma
       of a flower; on a different plant of the same species; so there is mixing of genetic material
       leading to variation. [3]
    b The runner/stolon is a shoot of the parent plant; so the new strawberry plant cells will have
       the same DNA as the parent. [2]
17 Inheritance
Core
Supplement
4   a Any two from: mitosis produces cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent
        cell/the diploid number of chromosomes is maintained, meiosis produces cells with half the
        number of chromosomes/haploid cells produced; mitosis produces identical cells, meiosis
        results in variation; mitosis involves body cells/somatic cells, meiosis happens in the
        gonads/ovaries and testes; mitosis results in growth or replacement of old or damaged cells,
        meiosis makes sex cells;
b i)
Exam-style questions
Core
1   a i)
                          Rat B                 Rat C
X X X Y
[1]
ii ) 50% [1]
       iii) sperm cell; the Y chromosome determines male, absence of Y in the zygote results in
           female; [2]
    b i) an alternative form of a gene; pairs of alleles occupy the same relative positions on
           chromosome pairs; [2]
ii) 1 C; 2 B [2]
[5]
    b 1 mark for identifying suitable letters; 1 mark for completing Punnett square or genetic
        diagram; [2]
              Mother Ff                         Father Ff
                                         F                                  f
                   F                    FF                                  Ff
                   f                     Ff                                 ff
Supplement
3   a A feature in which the gene responsible is located on a sex chromosome; and this makes it
        more common in one sex than in the other; [2]
    b Any four points from: gene is present on the X chromosome; and is recessive; females need
        to be homozygous for the gene to suffer; men only need the gene on the X chromosome; no
        gene on Y chromosome to dominate it; [4]
[5]
5   a Any four points from: cell starts with chromosomes duplicated; copies of the chromosomes
        separate; cell splits to form two cells; which are identical to parent cell; chromosome
        number is maintained/ref. to diploid; [4]
    b Stem cells are unspecialised cells; that divide by mitosis; to produce daughter cells; that can
        become specialised for specific functions. [4]
1   a Continuous variation – Any three points from: shows a complete range of a characteristic
        within a population; caused by both genes (often a number of different genes) and the
        environment; when the frequency is plotted on a graph, a smooth curve is produced; with
        the majority of the population sample grouped together and only small numbers at the
        extremes of the graph; e.g. height/body mass/intelligence/hand span;
        Discontinuous variation – Any three points from: there are obvious, distinct categories for a
        feature; there are no intermediates between categories; caused by a single gene or a small
        number of genes; with no environmental influence; when the frequencies are plotted on a
        graph, bars are produced that cannot be linked with a smooth curve; e.g. blood
        group/ability to tongue-roll/ear lobe shape;
2 a An inherited feature; that helps an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.
    b Any five points from: named example, e.g. lion; variation within a lion population, e.g.
        bigger muscles in the legs of some lions enable them to run faster/get food more
       successfully; ref. to many offspring produced; competition for resources, e.g. if there is a
       food shortage, the lions with the biggest leg muscles are most likely to survive to adulthood
       and pass on the advantageous genes to their offspring; struggle for survival, e.g. the weaker
       individuals die before having the chance to breed; reproduction by individuals that are better
       adapted to the environment than others; passing on their alleles to the next generation;
3   One named example of an animal, e.g. goat; select one variety of goat with a higher than
    average milk yield; select another variety that has a very high meat yield; cross-breed the two
    varieties to form a new breed with the benefits of both parental varieties, e.g. high milk
    production in females, high meat yield in males.
Supplement
       ii) Any two from: faulty copying of DNA; faulty separation of chromosomes during cell
           division; exposure to radiation; exposure to some chemicals;
5 a axerophyte
b Any three visible features and two features not visible from:
    Visible adaptive feature                    How the feature helps the plant to survive
    no leaves/leaves reduced to spines          protects the plant from herbivores
Adaptive feature not visible How the feature helps the plant to survive
Exam-style questions
Core
1 a C [1]
b Any three from: thick fur; white/camouflaged fur; small ears; small tail; large claws; [3]
Supplement
    b Any example of continuous variation, e.g. height, body weight, hand span, intelligence;
       explanation – ref. to influence of genes; and environment; [3]
3 a hydrophyte [1]
    b e.g. water lily; Any two modifications from: leaves contain large air spaces – this makes
       them buoyant for floating on the surface; no stomata on lower surface of the leaf/lower
       epidermis – so leaf does not become waterlogged; poorly developed roots –surrounded by
       water/mineral ions; roots contain air spaces – substrate is poorly oxygenated; stems lack
       support – plant is supported by water; [3]
1   carnivore – an animal that gets its energy by eating other animals; consumer – an organism
    that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms; decomposer – an organism that gets its
    energy from dead or waste organic material; food web – a network of interconnected food
    chains; herbivore – an animal that gets its energy by eating plants; producer – an organism that
    makes its own organic nutrients, usually through photosynthesis;
3   a A population is a group of organisms; of one species; living in the same area at the same
       time.
b i) and ii)
    d ref. to no stationary or death phase; the log phase will continue upwards instead of the line
        levelling off
    c Any three from: over-predation or hunting; disease; pollution; use of pesticides; lack of
        food (or other resources)
    d They represent the direction of flow of energy/point towards the consumer of the previous
        organism.
Supplement
5   a A chart showing the transfer of energy; from one organism to the next beginning with a
        producer.
b i) and ii)
c i) The thrush population would decrease/thrushes die; because they have fewer snails to eat.
        ii) The sparrow hawk population would decrease/sparrow hawks die; because they have
          fewer thrushes to eat.
    d     Snails use less energy because they move less/more/slowly/don’t hunt; snails are cold
          blooded, so less energy used maintaining a constant body temperature.
6 a i) photosynthesis
ii) sunlight
        iii) Any three points from: light is reflected off shiny leaves; some of the light is the wrong
            wavelength for chlorophyll to trap; light passes through the leaves without passing
            through any chloroplasts; light does not fall on the leaves;
    b i) Energy is lost at each level in a food chain; so very little of the energy entering the
            chain through the producer is available to the top carnivores.
        ii) There are fewer levels to lose energy from; 90% of the energy is lost at each level/a
            smaller percentage of the energy trapped by the producers is lost in a short food chain.
7   a The producer may be a single large plant, e.g. a tree; the top consumers may be parasites
        which are small but many feed on the previous level.
    c Any two points from: the organisms have to be killed and burned; to remove water; to
       measure their biomass content;
9 a photosynthesis; respiration;
    b Any two from: cutting down forests/deforestation; combustion of fossil fuels; increasing
       numbers of animals/increasing the human population;
Exam-style questions
Core
1 a i) and ii)
       1 mark for all the organisms being in the correct order; 1 mark for correct arrows; 2 marks
       if all organisms are labelled correctly, but only 1 mark if one or more is incorrect [4]
b decomposers [1]
b an animal which eats other animals; the crabs eat periwinkles; [2]
c 1 mark for all bars correct; 1 mark for correct ascending order; 1 mark for labels;
[3]
    e The arrows represent the transfer of energy from one organism to the next; arrows point to
       the consumer of the organism at the previous feeding level. [2]
Supplement
3   a i)   the position of an organism in a food chain, food web, pyramid of numbers or pyramid
           of biomass [1]
      iii) pyramid drawn with four correctly labelled trophic levels; with normal pyramid
           shape (broadest at the base); [2]
b i) 35% [1]
      iii) Any two points from: ref. to presence of large numbers of chloroplasts; ref. to
           closely packed nature of palisade cells; ref. to position near upper surface of leaf;
           ref. to ability of chloroplasts to migrate to top of cells; [2]
c i) 90% [1]
      ii) Any two from: movement, e.g. to find food or a mate; maintaining constant body
           temperature; some heat lost in urine or faeces; [2]
      ii) ref. to grass; capturing light energy from the Sun; and converting it into
           carbohydrates/stored food; [3]
      iii) Any three from: movement, e.g. to find food or a mate; maintaining constant body
           temperature; building up proteins/muscles; some heat lost in urine or faeces; [3]
b i) [2]
      ii) ref. to fewer trophic levels; so less energy lost/more energy conserved for top
           consumer; [2]
    c i)   ref. to greater range of vitamins and minerals available in a mixed diet; meat contains a
           greater range of amino acids; [2]
ii)
[3]
        iii) Any four points from: ref. to nitrogen-fixing bacteria; in the root nodules; take in
                gaseous nitrogen from air spaces in the soil; convert it to compounds of ammonia;
                which are changed to nitrates; then used to make protein; for plant growth; [4]
[3]
1   Any four from: the development/use of chemical fertilisers on farm land – boosting levels of
    nutrients in the soil, increasing crop yields; the development/use of pesticides – these kill pests
    that feed on or damage crops, so crop yields are increased; the development/use of herbicides
    – these kill weeds that compete with crops for nutrients/light/water/space, so crop yields are
    increased; the development of biological control methods for pest control as an alternative to
    pesticides – some pesticides are non-selective; the use of tractors/combine harvesters to enable
    land and crops to be managed more efficiently; artificial selection to produce plant varieties
    that are suited to particular climates/soil types, or breeds of animals for specific purposes, e.g.
    optimum meat/milk/wool production; (this list is not exhaustive)
2   Any five points from: diseases e.g. typhoid and cholera can make the water unsafe to drink;
    sewage may contain large amounts of phosphates/nitrates; microscopic plants grow rapidly;
    plants die; bacteria feed on plants; bacteria use up oxygen in respiration; oxygen in the water
    becomes depleted; animals die from lack of oxygen;
3 a deforestation
    b Any three from: to provide land for farming; to provide land for roads; to provide timber
       for building/furniture; ref. to fuel source;
    c Any four from: reduction of habitats/food sources for animals, which can result in their
       extinction; animal and plant diversity is reduced, so food chains are disrupted; the loss of
       plant species and their genes – may be important for medical use/genetic engineering in the
       future; the removal of trees, so no roots to hold soil, resulting in soil erosion and leaching
       of minerals, leading to possible desertification; lack of roots, leading to
       flooding/mudslides/lakes can become silted up; leaching of nutrients into lakes and rivers –
       leading to eutrophication; less carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere, increasing
       the greenhouse effect; less oxygen produced, so atmospheric oxygen levels can drop; less
       transpiration – can lead to reduced rainfall;
Supplement
4 (C), G, A, E, B, F, (D)
5   Any four points from: education; using closed seasons; setting up protected areas; controlling
    net types; controlling fishing net mesh sizes; using fish quotas; monitoring fishing activities;
6   Any three points from: ref. to melting of polar ice caps, causing flooding of low-lying land;
    ref. to a change in weather conditions in some countries, increasing flooding; ref. to reducing
    rainfall – changing arable (farm) land to desert; ref. to causing the extinction of some species
    that cannot survive in increased temperatures;
Exam-style questions
Core
     (chemical           boosts levels of nutrients in the                    can be leached out of the soil,
     fertiliser)         soil, so improves yield                              leading to eutrophication of water
                                                                              systems
     (insecticide)       kills insect pests that feed on or                   can be non-selective, so kills useful
                         damage crops, so improves quality                    insects, e.g. crop pollinators; may
                         and yield                                            persist in soil and enter food chains
     (herbicide)         kills weeds that compete with crops may kill rare plant species near
                         for nutrients/light/space, so                        fields being treated
                         improves yield
[9]
2   a Any four points from: named species, e.g. tiger; extinction would result in genes being lost;
       which may be important for genetic engineering; to produce chemicals such as medicines;
       species may be important in food chain; so its loss could endanger other species; [4]
      i i) Any three points from: use laws to protect habitat; use wardens to protect habitat;
            control public access; maintain species features of habitat, e.g. by controlling water
            drainage or number of prey animals or top carnivores; [3]
Supplement
3 leaching, rapid algal growth, death of algae, decay by bacteria, death of aquatic animals [2]
    b Any three ways for 2 marks each from: use of education to inform local people about the
       importance of conserving forests; training loggers to remove trees with minimum damage
       to surrounding trees; introduce legal quotas for logging; introduce programmes of
       re-stocking when trees are felled; protect young trees from grazers; introduce coppicing or
       pollarding to provide wood for fuel; (this list is not exhaustive) [6]
1   a   Any two from: rapid reproduction rate; ability to make complex molecules; no ethical
        issues with their use; relatively easy to insert genes; have a genetic code shared with all
        other organisms; presence of plasmids;
    b   Any three points from: use of fermenter; to grow yeast; in anaerobic conditions; feed with
        suitable substrate, e.g. glucose/sugar cane/by-products from other processes; maintain
        suitable temperature;
c i) enzymes
        ii) Enzymes speed up chemical reactions at low temperatures; they remain unchanged a
            the end of the reaction so can be used again.
        iii) Any four points from: fruit is washed, pulped/liquidised; pectinase added; temperature
             maintained, e.g. 20–30 °C; mash/mixture is squeezed/pressed to remove juice;
Supplement
2   Any two from: baking, e.g. bread – enzymes in yeast convert sugar to ethanol and carbon
    dioxide; the carbon dioxide makes the bread dough rise; the ethanol evaporates as the bread is
    baked. Manufacture of lactose-free milk, using lactase to break down the lactose in the milk.
    Manufacture of fruit juice, using pectinase to extract juice.
3   a   i) to stir the mixture of feedstock and microorganisms/distribute the heat through the
           liquid
iii) provides nutrients for the microorganisms to grow, respire and produce enzymes
b fungi, bacteria
c Microorganisms are filtered from the feedstock; then crushed and washed with water.
4   Any two advantages from: ref. to pest resistance; herbicide resistance; yield is increased; can
    insert genes for vitamins, e.g. vitamin A; can insert genes for salt tolerance; protection against
    aluminium; can insert genes for nitrogen fixation; (this list is not exhaustive)
    Any two disadvantages from: crops may contain pesticide residues; crops may contain genes for
    antibiotic resistance; crops may contain substances that cause allergies; inserted genes may
    ‘escape’ to other plants; public resistance to eating GM food, so limited market; GM food
    banned in some countries; (this list is not exhaustive)
Exam-style questions
Core
    b Any three from: insertion of human genes into bacteria to produce human insulin; insertion
       of genes into crop plants to confer resistance to herbicides; insertion of genes into crop
       plants to confer resistance to insect pests; insertion of genes into crop plants to provide
       additional vitamins; (this list is not exhaustive) [3]
Supplement
2   Any eight points from: isolation of the DNA making up insulin gene; using restriction
    enzymes; sticky ends formed; bacterial plasmid DNA cut with the same restriction enzymes;
    forming complementary sticky ends; human insulin gene inserted into bacterial plasmid DNA;
    using DNA ligase; to form a recombinant plasmid; plasmid inserted into bacteria; bacteria
    containing recombinant plasmids replicated; which make human insulin as they express the
    gene; [8]