2.

1 [65 marks]

The diagram shows some of the metabolic processes taking place in a plant cell.

1a. Identify the process Y and state the name of the organelle where it takes [1 mark]
place in a plant cell.
Process Y:
Name of the organelle:

Markscheme
process Y: photosynthesis ✔
organelle: chloroplast ✔
Both needed.

Examiners report
The diagram was generally confusing to candidates.
This was generally answered correctly.
1b. Identify the molecule Z. [1 mark]

Markscheme
glycerol /glycerin ✔

Examiners report
The diagram was generally confusing to candidates.
This was generally missed.

1c. State the type of reaction which converts excess monosaccharides to [1 mark]
polysaccharides.

Markscheme
condensation/dehydration/synthesis/anabolic/anabolism ✔

Examiners report
The diagram was generally confusing to candidates.
This was often answered correctly.

1d. The process X uses oxygen and produces ATP. Identify the process X. [1 mark]

Markscheme
aerobic respiration ✔

Examiners report
The diagram was generally confusing to candidates.
Although many answered cell respiration, aerobic respiration was expected
since the question defined aerobic respiration.
1e. Outline the uses of ATP in plant cells. [2 marks]

Markscheme
a. used as an energy source ✔
b. supplies/releases energy for biochemical reactions ✔
c. photosynthesis/active transport/other verifiable example of reaction or
process ✔

Examiners report
The diagram was generally confusing to candidates.
Expressing the nature of ATP in an outline of its use to plants was problematic
for many students. Rather than a source of energy it was thought to be energy
itself. Many processes use ATP in one part of the pathway or another, so a
wide variety of seemingly contradictory answers received credit. For example,
ATP is used in cell respiration during glycolysis. Credit was given for glycolysis
as well as for respiration.

1f. With reference to the diagram, identify one example of catabolism. [1 mark]

Markscheme
a. (letter X) breakdown of monosaccharides/respiration ✔
b. (letter Y) hydrolysis/photolysis in photosynthesis/oxidation of water ✔
Answer must come from the diagram.

Examiners report
The diagram was generally confusing to candidates.
Too often candidates did not make reference to the diagram when giving an
example of catabolism. Some thought that ADP changing to ATP was
catabolism. This probably comes from a failure to understand paired reactions.
2. What are the type of reaction and the product(s) shown in this reaction? [1 mark]

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

3. In which processes are macromolecules broken down into monomers? [1 mark]

A. Anabolism and catabolism
B. Catabolism and hydrolysis
C. Hydrolysis and reduction
D. Reduction and anabolism
 Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

4. Which type of chemical reaction is an example of anabolism? [1 mark]

A. Photolysis
B. Combustion
C. Hydrolysis
D. Condensation

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

5a. Label a peptide bond in the diagram of a polypeptide. [1 mark]

 Markscheme

Award [1] for any one of the four peptide bonds identified in this markscheme.

Examiners report
[N/A]

5b. Outline the primary structure of proteins. [1 mark]

Markscheme
number/sequence/order of amino acids «in a protein/polypeptide chain» ✔

Examiners report
[N/A]

5c. Identify two hydrolysis reactions that occur in the small intestine. [2 marks]
 Markscheme
a. polysaccharides to disaccharides/monosaccharides
OR
starch/glycogen to maltose ✔
b. sucrose to glucose AND fructose ✔
c. maltose to glucose ✔
d. lactose to glucose AND galactose ✔
e. proteins/peptides/polypeptides to shorter peptides/amino acids
OR
dipeptides to amino acids ✔
f. triglycerides/lipids/fats/oils to glycerol AND fatty acids ✔

Examiners report
[N/A]

6. What feature of carbon makes it most suitable as a basis for life? [1 mark]
A. Its abundance in nature
B. Its bonding properties
C. Its reactivity to light
D. Its presence in the early atmosphere of the Earth

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

7. Which reaction is an example of catabolism? [1 mark]

A. Photolysis of water
B. Denaturation of a protein by a change in pH
C. Production of maltose from amylose by amylase
D. Condensation of glucose to form starch
 Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

8a. State one disaccharide and the two monomers from which it can be [2 marks]
synthesized.
Disaccharide:
1:
Monomers:
1:
and 2:

Markscheme
a. disaccharide name
eg: lactose, glucose and galactose
b. both monomers that make up mpa
eg: maltose, glucose and glucose
eg: sucrose, glucose and fructose

Examiners report
[N/A]

8b. Discuss the roles of the enzymes secreted by the pancreas during [3 marks]
digestion.
 Markscheme
a. amylase breaks down/catalyzes/hydrolyses starch to maltose
b. lipase breaks down/catalyzes/hydrolyses fats to fatty acids and glycerol
c. proteases/peptidases break down/catalyze/hydrolyze proteins into smaller
polypeptides/dipeptides/amino acids
Award [2] if all three enzymes and substrates named correctly and one further
mark for all three products named
correctly.
Allow specific enzymes

Examiners report
[N/A]

8c. Compare and contrast cis-fatty acids and trans-fatty acids. [2 marks]

Markscheme
a. both are unsaturated fatty acids
OR
both have two carbon atoms joined by a double bond
b. in cis-fatty acids the two H atoms are on the same side while in trans-fatty
acids they are on opposite sides
OR
cis-fatty acids are healthier than trans-fatty acids
OR
cis-fatty acids have a lower boiling/melting point than trans
OR
cis-fatty acids have a kink «in the chain» but trans do not
Accept answer in an annotated diagram

Examiners report
[N/A]
9a. Nitrogen is part of many important substances in living organisms. [3 marks]
Draw labelled diagrams to show a condensation reaction between two amino
acids.

Markscheme
a. at least one of the amino acid structures completely correct
b. peptide bond shown with N–C and C=O and N–H correct
c. release of water clearly shown

Examiners report
[N/A]

9b. Nitrogen is part of many important substances in living organisms. [4 marks]

Distinguish between transcription and translation.
 Markscheme
a. DNA is transcribed AND mRNA is translated
Disallow the first mark, if a candidate gets transcription and translation the
wrong way round, but allow marks
after that up to [3 max]
b. transcription produces RNA AND translation produces polypeptide/protein
c. RNA polymerase used in only in transcription and ribosomes only in
translation
d. transcription in the nucleus «of eukaryotes» and translation in the
cytoplasm
e. tRNA needed for translation but not transcription
f. nucleotides linked in transcription and amino acids in translation
OR
sugar-phosphate/phosphodiester bonds in transcription and peptide bonds
in translation
[Max 4 Marks]

Examiners report
[N/A]

9c. Nitrogen is part of many important substances in living organisms. [8 marks]

Explain how insects excrete nitrogenous wastes.
Markscheme
a. excreted as uric acid
b. excretion by Malpighian tubules
c. nitrogenous waste/ammonia «accumulates» in hemolymph
d. nitrogenous waste/ammonia absorbed by Malpighian tubules
e. ammonia converted to uric acid
f. conversion to uric acid requires energy/ATP
g. high solute concentration in Malpighian tubules
OR
active transport of ions/Na+/K+ into Malpighian tubules
h. water absorbed by osmosis flushes uric acid/nitrogenous waste to «hind»
gut
i. water/ions reabsorbed from the feces and returned to hemolymph
j. uric acid precipitates/becomes solid/forms a paste so can pass out with little
water
k. uric acid excreted/egested with the feces
l. water conservation/osmoregulation
OR
reduces mass of water «in body»
m. uric acid is non-toxic
[Max 8 Marks]

Examiners report
[N/A]
10. Cladograms can be created by comparing DNA or protein sequences. The [1 mark]
cladogram on the left is based on DNA sequences and the cladogram on
the right is based on comparing protein sequences.

What is the reason that cladograms based on DNA sequences are more reliable
predictors of the phylogenetic relationship of species than cladograms based on
protein sequences?
A. Amino acids are not as chemically stable as DNA nucleotides.
B. DNA mutates but amino acids do not.
C. Several different triplets of bases can code for the same amino acid.
D. There are 20 different amino acids but only 4 nucleotides.

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]
11. The diagram shows a cycle of reactions that occurs in human liver cells. [1 mark]

Which term describes the overall reactions of this cycle?

A. Oxidation
B. Catabolism
C. Condensation
D. Metabolism

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

12. The diagram shows the structure of palmitic acid. [1 mark]

What type of fatty acid is palmitic acid?

A. It is monounsaturated.
B. It is polyunsaturated.
C. It is saturated.
D. It is a trans-fatty acid.
 Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

13. What characteristic shows that this steroid molecule is a lipid? [1 mark]

A. It is made of carbon rings.

B. It has a very low proportion of oxygen to carbon.
C. It contains OH groups as do fatty acids.
D. It is made only of nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen.

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]
 The Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, lives in salt water marshes.
The turtle can live under water and out of water.
These turtles have fully developed lungs and kidneys, however, many microvilli
have been discovered in the mouth of P. sinensis. A study was undertaken to test
the hypothesis that oxygen uptake and urea excretion can simultaneously occur
in the mouth.
Initial experiments involved collecting nitrogen excretion data from P. sinensis.
The turtle urinates both in water and out of water. When in water it allows waste
products to be washed out of its mouth. When out of water it regularly dips its
head into shallow water to wash its mouth. The table shows the mean rates of
ammonia and urea excretion from the mouth and kidney over six days.

14a. Deduce whether the excretion of ammonia or urea changes more when [2 marks]
a turtle emerges from water.

Markscheme
a. urea
b. for both mouth and kidney
c. percentage change/change in μmol day−1 g−1 greater with urea/other
acceptable numerical comparison

Examiners report
[N/A]

14b. Compare and contrast the changes in urea excretion in the mouth with [3 marks]
the changes in urea excretion in the kidney when a turtle emerges from
the water.
 Markscheme
a. both higher/increased on emergence from/with turtle out of water
b. both increased by 0.66 «μmol−1 g−1 when turtle emerges from water»
c. % increase is higher in kidney / kidney 940% versus mouth 73/75% /
increase is higher proportionately higher in kidney / kidney x10 versus mouth
nearly double/x1.73
d. urea excretion by mouth greater than kidney out of water «despite larger %
increase in kidney excretion»

Examiners report
[N/A]

It was noted that during long periods out of water, turtles rhythmically moved
their mouths to take in water from a shallow source and then discharge it.
Changes in the dissolved oxygen and the quantity of accumulated urea in the
rinse water discharged by the turtles were monitored over time as shown in this
graph.

14c. Describe the trends shown by the graph for dissolved oxygen in water [1 mark]
discharged from the mouth.

Markscheme
decrease «when head is submerged» and increase when head is out of water
 Examiners report
[N/A]

14d. Suggest reasons for these trends in dissolved oxygen. [2 marks]

Markscheme
a. oxygen absorbed from water/exchanged for urea when head dipped in
water«so oxygen concentration decreases»
b. lungs cannot be used with head in water / can «only» be used with head out
of water
c. oxygen from water «in mouth» used in «aerobic cell» respiration
d. oxygen from air dissolves in water when head out of water «so oxygen
concentration increases»

Examiners report
[N/A]
 In order to test whether a urea transporter was present in the mouth tissues of the
turtles, phloretin (a known inhibitor of membrane proteins that transport urea)
was added to the water in which a further set of turtles submerged their heads.
The results of that treatment are shown.

14e. Deduce with a reason whether a urea transporter is present in the [2 marks]
mouth of P. sinensis.

Markscheme
a. urea transporter is present
b. less urea «excreted»/ lower rate «of urea excretion» / excretion almost zero
when phloretin/inhibitor was present

Examiners report
[N/A]
 Further research was conducted to determine where mRNA expression of a urea
transporter gene might be occurring in P. sinensis. Gel electrophoresis was used
to analyse different tissue samples for mRNA activity.

14f. Outline the additional evidence provided by the gel electrophoresis [2 marks]
results shown above.

Markscheme
a. mRNA only in mouth and tongue/in mouth and tongue but not esophagus
intestine kidney or bladder
b. bands / lines indicate mRNA for/expression of urea transporter gene
c. urea transporter gene expressed / urea transporters in mouth/tongue / not
expressed/made in esophagus/intestine/kidneys/bladder
d. mRNA/transcription/gene expression/urea transporters higher in
tongue/more in tongue «than mouth»

Examiners report
[N/A]
 Expression of the urea transporter gene by cells in the turtle’s mouth was
assessed by measuring mRNA activity. Turtles were kept out of water for 24 hours
and then injected with either a salt solution that matched the salt concentration of
the turtle, dissolved ammonia or urea, followed by another 24 hours out of water.

14g. Identify which of these turtle groups represent the control, giving a [1 mark]
reason for your answer.

Markscheme
salt solution is control because it does not contain a nitrogenous/excretory
waste product / it matches the salt concentration of the turtle / the turtle’s
body already contains salt / because the turtle lives in salt water/salt marshes
/ because nothing has been altered

Examiners report
[N/A]

14h. Suggest a reason for the greater expression of the gene for the urea [2 marks]
transporter after an injection with dissolved ammonia than an injection
of urea.
 Markscheme
a. ammonia is «highly» toxic/harmful
b. ammonia is more toxic than urea/converse
c. ammonia converted to urea
d. urea concentration raised «by injecting ammonia»
e. difference between ammonia and urea «possibly» not «statistically»
significant

Examiners report
[N/A]

14i. The salt marshes where these turtles live periodically dry up to small [3 marks]
pools. Discuss the problems that this will cause for nitrogen excretion in
the turtles and how their behaviour might overcome the problems.

Markscheme
Problems:
a. urea becomes more concentrated «in small pools» / lower concentration
gradient «between tongue/mouth and water»
b. less water available for urine production/excretion by kidney
OR
less water in ponds for mouth rinsing/more competition for pools (to use for
mouth rinsing)
Behaviour to overcome problems:
c. «still able to» dip mouth into/mouth rinse in water/pools
d. «still able to» excrete urea «though the mouth» in the small pools
e. more conversion of ammonia to urea/urea excretion rather than ammonia
f. more urea transporters/expression of urea transporter gene
g. urea excreted «in mouth/via microvilli» by active transport/using ATP
h. excretion with little/no loss of water

Examiners report
[N/A]
15a. Define metabolism. [1 mark]

Markscheme
(the web of all) the enzyme-catalyzed reactions in a cell/organism
OR
the totality of an organism’s chemical reactions (consisting of catabolic and
anabolic pathways which manage the material and energy resources of the
cell)

Examiners report
[N/A]

15b. Identify the following processes as either anabolism or catabolism by [2 marks]

placing a tick (√) in the correct box.

Markscheme

Examiners report
[N/A]

15c. Describe cell respiration in terms of metabolism. [2 marks]

 Markscheme
a. «cell respiration is metabolism because» enzymes control the reactions
b. energy is released from complex molecules «to make ATP»
c. respiration is catabolic (metabolism)
OR
complex molecules become simpler
OR
C6H12O 6 to CO2 + H2O

Examiners report
[N/A]

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