1.

The spontaneous origin of life on Earth is thought to have involved the non-living synthesis of
simple organic molecules.

(a) List two other processes needed for the spontaneous origin of life.

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(b) Discuss possible locations where conditions would have allowed the synthesis of organic
compounds.

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(c) Outline the role of prokaryotes in the development of an oxygen-rich atmosphere on the
Earth.

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(Total 6 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology 1
2. Discuss the endosymbiotic theory for the origin of eukaryotes.

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(Total 6 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology 2
3. (a) State two processes needed for the spontaneous origin of life on Earth.

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(b) Outline the properties of RNA that may have allowed it to play a role in the origin of life.

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(Total 4 marks)

4. (a) Identify two processes needed for the spontaneous origin of life on Earth.

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IB Questionbank Biology 3
 (b) Outline ideas about the pace of evolution according to gradualism and punctuated
equilibrium.

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(c) (i) Define a clade.

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IB Questionbank Biology 4
 (ii) Analyse the relationship between the organisms in the following cladogram.

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(Total 8 marks)

5. (a) Describe the processes needed for the spontaneous origin of life on Earth.

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(b) Discuss the endosymbiotic theory for the origin of eukaryotes.

IB Questionbank Biology 5
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(Total 6 marks)

6. (a) State two properties of RNA that would allow it to play a role in the origin of life.

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(b) Outline the experiment of Miller and Urey into the origin of organic compounds.

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(Total 5 marks)

7. (a) State one process needed for the spontaneous origin of life on Earth.

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IB Questionbank Biology 6
 (b) Outline the contribution of prokaryotes to the creation of an oxygen-rich atmosphere.

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(Total 3 marks)

8. (a) State the conclusion drawn from the Miller-Urey experiment.

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(b) Outline two pieces of evidence that support the endosymbiotic theory for the origin of
eukaryotes.

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(Total 3 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology 7
9. (a) Outline properties of RNA that may have played a role in the development of life on this
planet.

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(b) State two types of molecules used in the experiments of Miller and Urey to simulate the
atmosphere of pre-biotic earth.

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(c) Outline the endosymbiotic theory.

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(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology 8
10. Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme used by cells to protect themselves against oxidative
damage. These enzymes can have different metals as part of their structure.

A study to compare two dismutases from Escherichia coli bacteria and two dismutases from
eukaryotic cells was undertaken. The following enzymes were used:
E. coli dismutase with iron (Fe)
E. coli dismutase with manganese (Mn)
eukaryotic mitochondrial dismutase with manganese (Mn)
eukaryotic cytoplasmic dismutase with copper-zinc (Cu-Zn).

The following shows part of the amino acid sequences of these enzymes. Boxes enclose
identical amino acids in the sequence of the two E. coli and mitochondrial dismutases.

[Steinman, H M and Hill, R L. 1973. Sequence homologies among bacterial and mitochondrial superoxide
dismutases. PNAS. Vol 70, issue 12. Pp 37253729. Used with the permission of the authors.]

(a) State how many amino acids are in the same position in the E. coli (Fe), E. coli (Mn) and
the mitochondrial dismutase sequences shown.

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(b) State the amino acids which are present in the same position in at least one bacterial
dismutase and in both eukaryotic dismutases.

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IB Questionbank Biology 9
 (c) Compare the E. coli (Mn) and the mitochondrial dismutases.

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(d) Using the diagram, suggest whether the evolution of bacterial dismutase and cytoplasmic
dismutase is convergent or divergent.

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(e) The sequences of the two bacterial dismutases and the mitochondrial dismutase show a
high degree of homology. Discuss how this supports the endosymbiotic theory for the
origin of mitochondria.

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(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Biology 10