UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE LOCAL

EXAMINATIONS SYNDICATE
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level

BIOLOGY 9263/1, 9266/1

PAPER 1

NOVEMBER SESSION 2000 2 hours 30 minutes

OPTION 1 – BIODIVERSITY

1. Fig. 1.1 is an electron micrograph of a cell of Escherichia coli. Many

densely stained structures are visible in the cytoplasm of the cell.
They have a diameter in this electron micrograph of between 1 and 2
mm.

Fig. 1.1

(a) (i) Label Fig. 1.1 to show a region in the cell in which a
large quantity of DNA is located. [1]

(ii) State the name given to this part of the cell.

……………………………………………………. [1]

(b) State, with a reason, what the densely stained structures are
most likely to be.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]
The outer part of the cell consists of tow densely stained layers
separated by an unstained layer. The inner densely stained layer is the
cell surface membrane.

(c) State either the name or the chemical composition of the two
outer layers.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]

(d) State, with reasons, what process was about to occur in the cell.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]

Bacteria can affect the movement of metals in rocks and soils. To

investigate this, soil contaminated with cadmium was packed into
columns and water was allowed to drain through the columns for five
weeks. The quantity of cadmum leaching out was measured. Two
similar columns were prepared using soil without added nutrients. The
soil in one of these columns was sterilized using gamma radiation. A
third column was prepared using the same soil, not irradiated, with
nutrients added to it. The results are shown in Fig. 1.2.
 Fig. 1.2.

(e) With reference to Fig. 1.2, compare the leaching of cadmium

from the three soils investigated.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]
(f) Explain the effect on leaching of

(i) sterilization;

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) addition of nutrients.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]
[Total : 15]
 (f) Explain the effect on leaching of

(i) sterilization;

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) addition of nutrients.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]
[Total : 15]

2. Corals are members of the phylum Cnidaria.

(a) List three features of Cnidaria which can be used to distinguish

them from animals of other phyla.

1. .……………………………………………………

2. ..……………………………………………………

3. ..…………………………………………………… [3]

Coral reefs are found along both the Pacific and the Caribbean coasts
of Panama, in Central America. The diversity of corals on these reefs
was measured by counting the number of corals along 10m transect
lines. Using the number of species of coral and the number of
individuals of each species richness of the reef.
The abundance of coral was assessed by measuring the percentage of
the transect line that touched living coral. The results are shown in
Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 2.1
(b) Compare the results from the reefs on the Pacific coast of
Panama with those from the reefs on the Caribbean coast.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [4]

On some of the Pacific coast reefs there was intense predation of

corals by Acanthaster planci (reefs shown as stars on Fig. 2.1). On
other reefs, A. planci was rare or absent so predation levels were
minimal or nil (reefs shown as open triangles on Fig. 2.1).
 (c) With reference to fig. 2.1, state two consequences of the
activity of A. planci on Pacific coast reefs.

1. ..……………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

2. …………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………… [2]

The abundance of each coral species was measured on the reefs with and
without coral predation by A. planci. The mean results are shown in Table
2.1.

Table 2.1
coral species percentage of transect line touching coral species
reefs with reefs without
A. planci predation A planci predation
pocillopora damicornis 20 65
pocillopora elegans 1.9 0.6
pavona varians 1.3 0.2
porites californica 1.1 0.35
porites panamensis 0.25 0
pavona clivosa 0.2 0
pavona ponderosa 0.1 0
pavona gigantea 0.1 0.1

A. planci is an example of a keystone species. A keystone species is one

which has a great effect on the community of which it is a part.

(d) With reference to Table 2.1, predict the consequences of removal of

A. planci from a reef where it is found.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………
 ……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [4]

In tropical rainforests some tree species act as keystone species.

(e) Suggest two ways in which tree species can affect other
organisms in tropical rainforests.

1. ..……………………………………………………

2. ..…………………………………………………… [2]
[Total : 15]
3. Either

(a) (i) Outline the reasons why conservationists are concerned

about the African elephant. [8]
(ii) Describe the measures taken at an international level to
conserve the African elephant. [6]
(iii) Discuss the views of the governments of African
countries on elephant conservation. [6]

OR

(b) (i) Outline the features that are used to distinguish between
coniferophytes and angiospermophytes. [7]
(ii) Explain the extent to which coniferophytes are adapted to
life on land. [7]
(iii) Outline the differences in external structure between
monocotyledons and dicotyledons. [6]
OPTION 2 – APPLIED PLANT AND ANIMAL SCIENCE

1. Fig. 1.1. is an electron micrograph of a cross section through a stoma

and associated guard

Fig. 1.1

(a) Name the structures labeled A to D.

A ..……………………………………………………

B ..……………………………………………………

C ..……………………………………………………

D ..…………………………………………………… [2]

(b) Explain how the structural features of guard cells enable the
stoma to open.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………
 …………………………………………………………… [4]

Abscisic acid (ABA) is syntheised in leaves. In an investigation into

the effects of ABA or stomata, a previously well-watered maize plant
was not watered for five days. A porometer was used to measure the
resistance to the flow of air through the stomata in the leaf. When the
stomata are fully open, the resistance is low. The water potential and
ABA content of the leaves were also measured. The plant was watered
again at the beginning of day 6 of the investigation. The results are
shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2

(c) With reference to Fig. 1.2, comment on the effects of water

stress on the leaf.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [4]
 (d) Suggest the advantages to plants of synthesizing ABA during
water stress.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]

(e) State three other roles of ABA in plants.

1. ..……………………………………………………

2. ..……………………………………………………

3. ..…………………………………………………… [3]
[Total : 15]

2. The diets of intensively reared livestock animals are carefully

controlled to maximize production. The energy content of animals
feeds is sometimes given in terms of gross energy and metabolisable
energy.

(a) Explain the importance of knowing the metabolisable energy of

an animal feed rather than merely its gross energy content.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]

(c) State why animal products, such as skimmed milk, meat and
bone meal or fish meal, are added to pig and cattle rations.

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [1]
(d) Explain how the health of animals can be maintained by
providing them with a diet with a carefully controlled content.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]

(e) Describe three steps that farmers can take to minimize the risks
to animal health from infectious diseases.

1. .……………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

2. ..……………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

3. .……………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]
 (f) State two problems for animal health, other than infectious
diseases, that may arise in intensive livestock production
systems.

1. ..……………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

2. ..……………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]
[Total : 15]

3. Either

(a) (i) Discuss the factors that influence a farmer’s choice of

crop to cultivate in the tropics. [6]

(ii) Describe the steps that can be taken to reduce the effect
of weeds on the final yield of a crop. [8]

(iii) Explain the problems that exist in storing food surpluses.

[6]
OR

(b) (i) Discuss the reasons for the uneven distribution of food
resources in the world. [6]

(ii) Explain the importance of soil texture and aeration in the

cultivation of crop plants. [8]

(iii) Describe the circumstances that determine whether crops

need to be irrigated. [6]
OPTION 3 – APPLICATIONS OF GENETICS

1. A possible route for the escape of an inserted gene from a genetically

engineered crop oil-seed rape, Brassica napus, is into populations of
the wild turnip, Brassica rapa.

(a) Explain briefly why there is a possibility of an inserted gene

escaping from oil-seed rape to wild turnip.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]

Two populations of wild turnip growing next to large fields of a

cultivar of oil-seed rape were studied. Seeds were collected from wild
turnip plants and germinated. A small number of possible hybrids
were identified by their appearance and their DNA analysed using
restriction enzymes and electrophoresis.

(b) Outline the use in DNA analysis of

(i) restriction enzymes;

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]

(ii) electrophoresis.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [4]
Some of the bands of the DNA profiles of the oil-seed rape cultivar
(A), two wild turnip plants (B and C) and two possible interspecific
hybrids (D and E) are shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

(c) State, giving reasons,

(i) whether plants D and e are interspecific hybrids;

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]

(ii) from which wild turnip plant each was derived.

D .……………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

E …………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………… [2]

(d) Explain why there is a need to investigate hybridization

between genetically engineered crops and wild species.

……………………………………………………………
 ……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]
[Total : 15]

2. (a) (i) Explain briefly why there is a need to maintain gene

banks.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]

(ii) Describe how ejaculated sperm are prepared for storage

in a sperm bank.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]

One cause of male infertility is the inability of the sperm to bind with
the outer layer (zona pellucida) of an egg. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
techniques involving implanting sperm under the zona pellucida or injecting
sperm heads into the egg cytoplasm can be used to overcome this problem.

(b) (i) Give one possible cause of female infertility which IVF
might help to overcome.

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) Describe briefly the necessary steps for collecting eggs

prior to in vitro fertilization.

……………………………………………………………
 ……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]

Mice were genetically engineered to inactivate the normal allele of a

gene coding for a protein (C). The gene for Ca is expressed during
sperm production and is important for the correct folding of
glycoproteins on the sperm cell surface membrane. Crosses between
these genetically engineered mice gave mice homozygous for the
inactivated allele, heterozygous and homozygous normal mice.

Sperm from each type of mouse was added to eggs in vitro and the
progress of fertilization observed. Most sperm from mice homozygous
for the inactivated allele failed to attach to the egg zona pellucida
despite frequent collisions. Further observations are shown in Table
2.1.

Table 2.1

mouse genotype % eggs with zona % eggs about to

pellucida penetrated by undergo mitosis
sperm
homozygous normal 88.8 86.7
and heterozygous
homozygous for 1.3 0.0
inactived allele for C

(c) Explain the effect of the gene for protein C on the success of
fertilization.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]
In an experiment into the long-term storage of sperm, a sample of
mouse sperm was freeze-dried, vacuum – packed and kept for three
months at 4 oC. After adding water, the sperm heads were injected
 into the cytoplasm of mouse eggs. The outcome of fertilizing 55 eggs
in this way is shown in Table 2.2.

Table 2.2

number of fertilized number of fertilized number of live births

eggs surviving eggs developing in vitro after transplantation of
46 embryos into female
mice
54 49 14

(d) With reference to Table 2.2, comment on the possible

contribution of freeze-dried sperm to maintaining gene banks.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]
[Total: 15]

3. Either

(a) (i) Outline the similarities and differences between selective

breeding and genetic engineering. [8]
(ii) Describe briefly the process of cloning plants from tissue
culture. [6]
(iii) Discuss how the process of cloning plants from tissue
culture might help both the selective breeding and the
genetic engineering of plants. [6]

OR
(b) (i) Explain what is meant by phenotypic variance. [6]
(ii) Describe two examples of the effect of the environment
on the phenotype. [6]
(iii) Discuss the effect of dominance on phenotypic variance.
[8]
OPTION 4 – GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION

Fig. 1.1 shows the growth of the whole body and the testes of a human
male expressed as a percentage of their final mass.

Fig. 1.1

(a) With reference to Fig. 1.1, compare the growth of the whole
body with that of the testes.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]

(b) Describe how hormones control the growth of the whole body
and the testes.

whole body ………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

testes ….…………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [4]
Seminal fluid is a complex fluid secreted by the prostate gland,
Cowper’s gland and the seminal vesicles and forms a major part of
semen. Typically, on leaving the epididymis, human sperms are very
densely packed, at a density of 50 x 108 cm-3.

A single ejaculation of 3 cm3 of semen contains an average of 150 x

106 sperms.

(c) (i) Calculate the factor by which sperms are diluted when
mixed with seminal fluid.

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) State two functions of seminal fluid.

1. ..……………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

2. ..……………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………... [2]

In elderly men, the prostate gland frequently becomes enlarged.

(d) Suggest three possible consequences of this enlargement.

1. ..……………………………………………………

2. ..……………………………………………………

3. ..…………………………………………………… [3]

If mature sperms, recovered at ejaculation, are placed with secondary

oocytes in vitro, fertilization either does not occur or does so only
after a delay of several hours. In contrast, sperms recovered from the
 uterus or oviduct a few hours after sexual intercourse are immediately
able to take part in fertilization.

(e) Explain why this is so.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]
[Total : 15]

2. (a) (i) State two roles of the test of a seed.

1. .……………………………………………………

2. ..…………………………………………………… [2]

(ii) Explain what is meant by the term dormancy when

applied to seeds.

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]

Fig. 2.1 shows the effect of temperature on the germination of seed so

the plants purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, and yellow rocket,
Barbarea vulgaris, kept in either the light or the dark.
 Fig. 2.1

(b) With reference to Fig. 2.1, compare the effect of temperature on

the breaking of dormancy of purple loosestrife and yellow
rocket in

(i) light; ………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

(ii) dark ………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [6]

(c) Suggest why light is important for the germination fo some

seeds.

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [2]
 Gardeners find some seeds difficult to germinate.

(d) Suggest how the following preliminary treatments of seeds

might promote subsequent germination.

(i) scratching the seed coat ………………………….

……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………

(ii) refrigeration ………….……………………………

……………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………… [3]
[Total : 15]

3. Either

(a) (i) Describe the structure of the mammalian ovary, including

reference to its microscopic structure.
[8]