Biology Long Answer Question’s

ENERGY AND RESPIRATION

’18 M/J 1 6 Describe the features of ATP that make it suitable as the universal energy
currency.
’16 M/J 2 6 Outline the process of glycolysis.
’18 O/N 2 6 Explain why carbohydrates, lipids and proteins have different relative energy
values as substrates in respiration in aerobic conditions.
’17 O/N 1 6 Explain how rice is adapted to grow with its roots submerged in water/flooded
fields.
’17 O/N 2 7/9 Describe/outline respiration in anaerobic conditions in mammalian liver cells
and describe how this differs in yeast cells.
’16 M/J 1 7 Describe respiration in yeast cells in anaerobic conditions.
’12 M/J 1 7 Using examples, outline the need for energy in living organisms.
’12 M/J 2 7 Explain the role of ATP in active transport of ions and in named anabolic
reactions.
’17 O/N 2 8 Describe how the structure of a mitochondrion is related to its function
’16 M/J 1 8 Outline how ATP is synthesised by oxidative phosphorylation.
’16 M/J 2 9 Describe the series of reactions that make up the Krebs cycle.
’18 O/N 2 9 Define the term respiratory quotient (RQ) and describe how you would carry
out an investigation to determine the RQ of germinating barley seeds.
’19 O/N 1 9 Describe how you would carry out an investigation on the effect of temperature
on the rate of respiration of yeast in anaerobic conditions using a redox
indicator, such as methylene blue.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

’18 F/M 6 Explain how non-cyclic photophosphorylation produces reduced NADP and how
reduced NADP is used in the light-independent stage.
’11 O/N 1 6 Describe how you would separate chloroplast pigments using chromatography.
’11 M/J 1 6 Outline the steps of the Calvin cycle.
’13 M/J 2 7/9 Describe the structure of a chloroplast + related to its functions
(’11 O/N
1)
’20 M/J 2 7 Describe the role of chloroplast pigments in light absorption
’13 M/J 1 7 Explain how the physiology of the leaves of a C4 plant, such as maize, is adapted
for efficient carbon fixation at high temperatures.
’10 M/J 1 7 Outline the light-independent stage of photosynthesis.
’19 M/J 1 7 Explain what is meant by the term limiting factor and explain how knowledge of
limiting factors is used to increase crop yields in glasshouses.
’19 M/J 3 7 Describe how you would carry out an investigation, using a simple
respirometer, to measure the effect of temperature on the respiration rate of
insect larvae.
’13 O/N 1 8 Describe the structure of a mitochondrion and outline its function in a plant
cell.
’12 O/N 1 8 Describe the arrangement and location of chloroplast pigments and discuss
their effect on absorption spectra.
’10 M/J 1 8 Explain how the palisade mesophyll cells of a leaf are adapted for
photosynthesis.
’19 M/J 1 8 Describe how you would carry out an investigation into the effect of
wavelength of light on the rate of photosynthesis of a plant, using a redox
indicator such as DCPIP.
’19 M/J 2 8 Describe how you would carry out an investigation into the effect of
temperature on the rate of photosynthesis of an aquatic plant.
’11 M/J 1 9 Describe how non-cyclic photophosphorylation produces ATP and reduced
NADP.
’12 O/N 3 10 Outline the process of the photolysis of water and describe what happens to
the products of photolysis.

HOMEOSTASIS

’14 O/N 1 6 Explain the principles of homeostasis in humans. (+ meaning?)

’20 M/J 3
’12 M/J 1 6 Describe the structure of a kidney, including its associated blood vessels.
’18 M/J 2 6 Describe the role of the hypothalamus and the role of the posterior pituitary
gland in osmoregulation.
’17 M/J 2 6 State the changes in the external environment that lead to stomatal opening and
closure. Explain why these stomatal responses are necessary.
’16 O/N 1 7 Using examples, outline the importance of homeostasis in mammals.
’10 M/J 1 7 Describe the structure of a kidney nephron and its associated blood vessels.
’17 M/J 2 7 Outline the role of a chemoreceptor cell in the human taste bud in detecting
stimuli and in stimulating the transmission of nerve impulses in sensory neurones.
’18 O/N 1 7 Describe the effects of insulin on its main target tissues and explain how this leads
to changes in blood glucose concentration.
’16 O/N 3 7 Describe the role of ADH when the water potential of blood decreases.
’18 M/J 3 7 Explain how glucagon brings about a rise in blood glucose concentration.
’17 M/J 1 7 Outline how a high blood glucose concentration returns to normal in a healthy
person.
’10 M/J 1 8 Explain how glomerular filtrate is formed.
’16 O/N 3 8 Explain how glucose is reabsorbed into the blood from a kidney nephron
’18 O/N 1 8 Describe how the structure of the nephron and its associated blood vessels are
adapted to the process of ultrafiltration.
’16 O/N 1 8 Describe the role of abscisic acid in the closure of stomata
’16 O/N 1 8 Describe the main stages of cell signalling in the control of blood glucose
concentration by adrenaline.
’18 M/J 3 8 Describe the effect of a high blood concentration of ADH on the kidney.
’17 M/J 1 8 Explain how dip sticks function to test for glucose in a sample of urine.
’18 M/J 2 9 Describe the process of selective reabsorption and explain how the cells of the
proximal convoluted tubule are adapted to carry out selective reabsorption.
’18 O/N 2 9 Describe how a spinal reflex arc functions and explain why it is an advantage to a
mammal.
’17 M/J 2 9 Explain the mechanism by which guard cells open stomata.

CONTROL AND CO-ORDINATION

Explain the importance of the myelin sheath in determining the speed of nerve
’18 O/N 2 6
impulses.
’18 M/J 1 6 Describe the structure of a sensory neurone.
’17 M/J 1 6 Describe the structure of a motor neurone.
 Describe, using named examples, how sensory receptors in mammals generate
’11 O/N 1 6
action potentials.
Outline how the oestrogen/progesterone contraceptive pill works to prevent
’15 O/N 1 6
pregnancy.
’18 F/M 7/8 Explain the role of auxin in cell elongation in plants.
’19 F/M 7 Describe the sliding filament model of muscular contraction.
’12 O/N 1 7 Describe the part played by auxins in apical dominance in a plant shoot.
Explain the control of gibberellin synthesis and outline how gibberellin
’16 O/N 3 7
stimulates stem elongation.
Describe and explain how gibberellins are involved in the germination of wheat
’14 O/N 1 7
or barley seeds.
’19 M/J 1 7 Explain how a cholinergic synapse function.
Describe the roles of the neuromuscular junction, transverse system tubules (T-
’19 O/N 3 7 tubules) and the sarcoplasmic reticulum in stimulating contraction in striated
muscle.
’20 M/J 1 8 Describe the ultrastructure of a striated muscle fibre.
Explain the roles of the hormones FSH, LH, oestrogen & progesterone in the
’14 O/N 1 8
human menstrual cycle.
Outline the biological basis of contraceptive pills containing oestrogen and
’19 M/J 2 8
progesterone.
Compare the endocrine and nervous systems in control and co-ordination in
’17 M/J 2 8
mammals.
’16 O/N 3 Describe the response of the Venus fly trap to touch (stimulation of sensory hair
8
’20 M/J 3 cells)
Describe and explain the transmission of an action potential in a myelinated
’17 M/J 1 9
neurone.
Describe how a resting potential is set up and maintained in a myelinated
’18 M/J 1 9
neurone.
Discuss the biological, ethical and social implications of using this contraceptive
’15 O/N 1 9
pill.
Describe the role of hormones in the maintenance of the human menstrual
’14 O/N 1 9
cycle.

INHERITED CHANGE

’12 O/N 1 6 Describe the first division of meiosis (meiosis I) in animal cells.
’17 O/N 1 6 Describe the types of gene mutation that can occur and explain how some
mutations can lead to a shortened polypeptide.
’15 O/N 3 6 Describe and explain the changes to the uterus during the menstrual cycle.
’18 F/M 7 Explain, using examples, how the environment may affect the phenotype of
individual organisms.
’17 O/N 2 7 Explain how the presence of a mutant allele can result in albinism.
’11 O/N 3 7 Explain how the allele for haemophilia may be passed from a man to his
grandchildren. You may use genetic diagrams to support your answer.
’20 F/M 7 Outline the effects of mutant alleles on the phenotype in albinism and
haemophilia.
’19 F/M 8 Explain how meiosis & fertilisation can result in genetic variation amongst
offspring.
’17 O/N 2 8 Explain how meiosis can lead to genetic variation.
’19 O/N 3 8 Outline the effects of mutant alleles on the phenotype in Huntington’s disease.
 ’12 O/N 3 9 Describe how crossing over and independent assortment can lead to genetic
variation.
’13 O/N 1 9 Explain what is meant by a gene mutation and outline the possible consequences
of a gene mutation for an organism.
’17 O/N 1 9 Outline the effects of the mutant sickle cell allele on the phenotype of a person
with sickle cell anaemia.
’16 M/J 1 9 Describe the behaviour of chromosomes during meiosis.
’15 O/N 3 9 Outline oogenesis in a human female.
’12 O/N 1 9 Discuss the link between the frequency of sickle cell anaemia and the number of
cases of malaria.

SELECTION AND EVOLUTION

’12 O/N 3 6 Outline how artificial selection differs from natural selection.
’19 F/M 7 State the general theory of evolution and explain the process of natural selection
in evolution.
’19 M/J 2 7 Explain how speciation may occur as a result of geographical separation.
’20 M/J 3 7 Outline how selective breeding (artificial selection) has improved the yield of
crops, such as wheat and maize.
’15 O/N 3 8 Outline how hybridisation leads to polyploidy in wheat and how this benefits
farmers.
’20 M/J 3 8 Using named examples, describe and explain the differences between continuous
variation and discontinuous variation.

BIODIVERSITY, CLASSIFICATION AND CONSERVATION

’20 F/M 6 Describe how random sampling can be used to assess the distribution and
abundance of plants in an area.
’14 M/J 1 7 Discuss the ways in which members of the kingdom Protoctista are similar to each
other and ways in which they differ.
’19 O/N 1 7 Compare the characteristic features of members of the kingdoms Fungi and
Animalia.
’18 M/J 2 7 Describe the role of seed banks in the protection of endangered species.
’18 O/N 1 7 Describe the role of botanic gardens in the protection of endangered species
’18 M/J 3 7 Discuss the use of assisted reproduction techniques in the conservation of
endangered mammal species.
’17 F/M 7 Explain what is meant by the term’s ecosystem and niche
’14 M/J 2 7 Describe the methods used to conserve endangered animal species.
’13 M/J 1 7 Explain the need to maintain biodiversity in an ecosystem such as a tropical
rainforest.
’19 M/J 2 7 Outline how degraded habitats may be restored, with reference to named
examples.
’19 O/N 3 7 Discuss how two global non-governmental organisations contribute to
conservation.
’18 M/J 2 8 Outline characteristic features of organisms in the domain Archaea.
’18 O/N 1 8 Outline characteristic features of organisms in the domain Bacteria (features of
bacterial cell).
’18 M/J 3 8 Outline the characteristic features of organisms in the domain Eukarya.
’19 O/N 3 8 Describe the features of viruses.
’14 M/J 2 8 Describe the main features of an organism belonging to the plant kingdom.
’17 F/M 8 Describe the sampling techniques that could be used to measure the distribution
and abundance of organisms in a habitat.

’13 M/J 1 8 Discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of captive breeding programmes
for mammals.
’19 O/N 1 8 Discuss the methods used in breeding programmes for endangered mammal
species and outline the problems that may occur with these programmes.
’20 F/M 9 Describe named examples of threats to the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems
and terrestrial ecosystems.

GENETIC TECHNOLOGY

’16 F/M 6 Explain the use of genes for fluorescent or easily stained substances as markers
in gene technology.
’17 F/M 6 Explain why plasmids are frequently used in gene technology.
’16 M/J 1 6 Outline the differences between structural and regulatory genes.
’15 M/J 2 6 Explain the advantages of treating diabetic people with human insulin produced
by gene technology.
’13 O/N 1 6 Explain how faulty CFTR proteins in cell surface membranes can lead to the
symptoms of cystic fibrosis.
’20 M/J 2 6 Outline the advantages of screening for the presence of mutations of the genes
for breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2.
’16 F/M 7 Explain how genetic diseases may be treated using gene therapy.
’16 M/J 2 7 Describe the genetic control of protein production in a prokaryote using the lac
operon.
’15 O/N 3 7 Discuss the detrimental environmental and economic effects of growing
genetically modified herbicide-resistant oil seed rape.
’15 M/J 1 7 Explain how bacteria can be genetically modified and then identified using
antibiotic resistance genes.
’13 O/N 3 7 Describe the role of a genetic counsellor in dealing with genetic diseases in
humans and discuss the circumstances in which a couple might be referred to a
genetic counsellor.
’20 M/J 1 7 Explain the advantages of using recombinant DNA techniques to produce
human proteins, such as factor VIII or adenosine deaminase
’16 F/M 8 Discuss the advantages of screening for genetic conditions
’15 M/J 1 8 Describe how the gene coding for human insulin can be obtained and inserted
into a plasmid vector.
’13 O/N 3 8 Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by an autosomal recessive allele.
Gene therapy has been attempted to treat CF since 1993. Outline the basic
principles of gene therapy for the treatment of CF.
’16 F/M 9 Discuss the potential advantages of growing genetically modified crops, using
examples to help your answer.
’17 F/M 9/8 Describe the principles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)./clone & amplify
’20 M/J 1 DNA
’15 M/J 2 9 Describe how electrophoresis is used in genetic fingerprinting.
’20 M/J 2 9 Describe how gel electrophoresis is used to distinguish between two alleles of a
gene.
’15 M/J 2 9 Describe how an enzyme can be immobilised in alginate and discuss the
advantages of using an immobilised enzyme.