Chapter 6 P.

2 [224 marks]
1. [Maximum mark: 10] 22M.2.SL.TZ1.1
Three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus) are placental mammals that live in trees in
Central and South America. They eat leaves and fruit and get almost all their
water from succulent plants.

[Source: Adapted from Laube, S., 2003. Three-toed-sloth (Bradypus variegatus), Lake
Gatun, Republic of Panama. [image online] Available at:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Bradipus#/media/File:Bradypus.jpg]

Three-toed sloths change their body posture in response to the temperature of

their environment (ambient temperature). Researchers assessed posture on a
scale from 1 to 6, with 1 being when the sloth was curled into a tight ball and 6
when it had all limbs spread. The percentage of time the sloths were observed in
each position was recorded at ambient temperatures from 22 °C to 34 °C. The
researchers also measured the body temperature of the sloths over the same
range of ambient temperatures.
[Source: Adapted from Cliffe, R.N., Scantlebury, D.M., Kennedy, S.J., Avey-Arroyo,
J., Mindich, D. and Wilson, R.P., 2018. The metabolic response of the Bradypus
sloth to temperature. PeerJ, [e-journal] 6: e5600.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5600. Licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.]
(a.i) State the relationship between sloth body temperature and
ambient temperature. [1]

(a.ii) Explain how this relationship differs from that in humans. [1]

(b.i) Describe the trend in body posture as ambient temperature

rises from 22 to 34 °C. [1]

(b.ii) Suggest reasons for this trend. [2]

The daily food intake of three-toed sloths and daily ambient temperatures were
monitored over a 160-day period from February to early July. The graphs show
the mean results.
[Source: Cliffe et al. (2015), Sloths like it hot: ambient temperature modulates
food intake in the brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus). PeerJ 3:e875; DOI
10.7717/peerj.875 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.]
(f ) The mean daily food intake fluctuated from day to day. State
the month that contains the day on which the mean intake of
food was highest. [1]

(g) Outline the relationship between ambient daily temperature

and food intake in March. [2]

(h) Suggest, with a reason, how the activity of the sloth varies with
ambient temperature. [1]

(i) State one feature of the sloth that would indicate it is a

mammal. [1]
2. [Maximum mark: 7] 22M.2.SL.TZ1.5
The graph shows the change in the membrane potential of an axon during an
action potential.

(a) State the approximate value of the membrane potential at X. [1]

(b) Y is the threshold potential. State what happens when the

threshold potential is reached. [1]

(c) Describe the movements in ions that occur during time t. [2]

(d) Explain how a nerve impulse is passed on to other neurons. [3]

3. [Maximum mark: 15] 22M.2.SL.TZ1.6
(a) Outline reasons for the therapeutic use of stem cells. [3]

(b) Describe how leaf cells make use of light energy. [5]

(c) Explain how cells and cell components in the blood defend the
body against infectious disease. [7]
4. [Maximum mark: 12] 22M.2.SL.TZ2.1
There is growing evidence of a decrease in bee populations. This decrease is a
serious problem because of their valuable role as pollinators in the ecosystems
where they live. Neonicotinoid pesticides have been implicated in this decrease
because they have been found at trace levels in the nectar and pollen of crop
plants and in the bee colonies.

Scientists placed colonies of a species of bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, in the

laboratory to test the effects of different levels of a neonicotinoid on their
development. They divided the colonies into three groups:

The control colonies were given a solution of water and sugar that
resembled nectar produced by flowers.
A second group of colonies was given the same sugar solution containing a
neonicotinoid dissolved in it at low concentrations, similar to those found
in nature.
A third group of colonies was given the same sugar solution containing a
neonicotinoid dissolved in it at high concentrations, similar to those found
in nature.

After two weeks, all colonies were placed in the field to allow the bumblebees to
feed naturally.

(a.i) Describe the effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on the nervous

system of insects. [1]

The mass of the colonies, including adult bumblebees, wax, honey and larvae,
was recorded every week. The cumulative increase in mass was calculated and is
shown on the graph.
[Source: Adapted from Whitehorn, P.R., O’Connor, S., Wackers, F.L. and Goulson, D.,
2012.
Bumble Bee Colony Growth and Queen Production. Science, [e-journal] 336(6079),
pp. 351–352.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1215025.]
(a.ii) State the cumulative increase in the mass of control colonies at
7 weeks. [1]

(a.iii) Compare and contrast the cumulative increase in mass of the

three groups of colonies once they were placed in the field. [2]

(a.iv) Suggest a reason for the changes in mass in the colonies

between weeks 6 and 8. [1]

The number of queen bumblebees produced in each colony was recorded. New
bumblebee colonies are started by a queen.
[Source: Adapted from Whitehorn, P.R., O’Connor, S., Wackers, F.L. and Goulson, D.,
2012.
Bumble Bee Colony Growth and Queen Production. Science, [e-journal] 336(6079),
pp. 351–352.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1215025.]
(b) Using the data in the graph, predict how the use of
neonicotinoid pesticides will affect bumblebee populations. [3]

A similar study compared the effect of a different neonicotinoid on four different

species of bumblebees. The queens were exposed to either control conditions
(with no pesticide), or low or high doses of neonicotinoid. The scientists then
measured the average length of the developing eggs in the ovaries of the
queens.
[Source: Baron GL, Raine NE, Brown MJF. 2017 General and species-specific
impacts of a neonicotinoid insecticide
on the ovary development and feeding of wild bumblebee queens. Proc. R. Soc. B
284: 20170123.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.0123 Licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0
International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source
adapted.]
(c.i) Identify the species whose eggs are most affected by a high
dose of neonicotinoid. [1]

(c.ii) Describe the overall effects of low and high doses of

neonicotinoid on the egg lengths of all four species. [2]

(d) Deduce, based on the data presented, whether the levels of

neonicotinoids used in agriculture cause direct harm to B.
terrestris. [1]
5. [Maximum mark: 15] 22M.2.SL.TZ2.6
People with the inherited disease hemophilia have a deficiency in one of the
proteins that act as clotting factors in blood.

(a) Outline how a protein is made in a cell by the process of

translation. [5]

(b) A family has a history of hemophilia that is caused by a sex-

linked recessive allele. A woman from this family is a carrier and
marries a man who does not have the allele. Showing your
working, determine the probability of their children having the
disease. [3]

(c) Explain how blood clotting occurs and the consequence for a
person who has hemophilia. [7]
6. [Maximum mark: 6] 21M.2.SL.TZ1.3
Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in many
cereals. The diagram shows the arrangement of normal villi and villi affected by
celiac disease in the small intestine.

(a) Outline the functions of the villi in the small intestine. [2]

(b) Explain the consequences of celiac disease for absorption of

digested nutrients. [2]

(c) Wheat, barley and rye all contain gluten. Outline how a protein
such as gluten is digested. [2]
7. [Maximum mark: 3] 21M.2.SL.TZ1.4
Squid have been used for research on nerve impulses. The mechanism of nerve
transmission in these animals is the same as that in humans. The image shows an
oscilloscope trace from a nerve impulse in a squid’s giant axon.

[squid] Pixabay.

(a) Estimate the resting potential for this axon. [1]

(b) Outline the role of the sodium–potassium pump in maintaining

the resting potential. [2]

8. [Maximum mark: 15] 21M.2.SL.TZ1.7

(a) Outline the process of inhalation. [4]

(b) Explain the process of gas exchange taking place in the alveoli. [7]

(c) Discuss the relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide

concentration and global temperatures. [4]
9. [Maximum mark: 12] 21M.2.SL.TZ1.1
Antiretroviral drugs are used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
infections. Zidovudine (ZDV) and nevirapine (NVP) are examples of
antiretroviral drugs. There are concerns that these drugs may be toxic to body
cells in mitosis. In a study using Allium cepa, root tips were exposed to the drugs for
96 hours at a range of concentrations. The control treatment was a drug
concentration of 0μmol. In the graph, root lengths after the 96-hour treatment
period are expressed as a percentage of the length of the control.

[Source: Onwuamah CK, Ekama SO, Audu RA, Ezechi OC, Poirier MC, Odeigah
PGC (2014) Exposure of Allium cepa Root Cells to Zidovudine or Nevirapine
Induces Cytogenotoxic Changes. PLOS ONE 9(3): e90296.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0090296 (CC0 1.0 -
https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/).]

(a.i) Deduce the concentration of ZDV that would cause a 50 %

reduction in root growth compared to the control. [1]

(a.ii) Identify the root length, as a percentage of the control,

resulting from a ZDV concentration of 400 μmol. [1]

(b) Compare and contrast the effect of ZDV and NVP on the growth
of Allium roots. [2]

Both ZDV and NVP are believed to have a damaging effect on the process of
mitosis but ZDV in particular is believed to block the formation of the spindle.
[Source: Medical Images / Carolina Biological.]
(c) Based on the information, suggest with a reason which of the
labelled cell types will become more common in Allium root tips
treated with ZDV. [2]

(d) Allium root tips continue to show some growth even at high
concentrations of NVP. Suggest a possible reason for the
growth seen in root tips with 800μmol NVP. [1]

Mitosis plays an important role in tissue regeneration and can be an important

factor in recovery from surgery. The hormone leptin has been shown to promote
mitosis in certain circumstances. The bar chart shows the mitotic indices of liver
tissue exposed to leptin and control tissue during 72 hours after surgery.
 [Source: Adapted from Cilekar M, Uysal O, Bal C, Turel S, Yılmaz S. Leptin increases
mitotic index and regeneration ratio in hepatectomized rats. Med Sci Monit Basic
Res. 2013 Nov 13;19:279-84. doi: 10.12659/MSMBR.889591]
(e) Deduce the change in mitotic index after 72 hours compared to
the control. [1]

(f ) Based on the data, evaluate the evidence for leptin promoting

regeneration of liver tissue. [3]

(g) Outline the role of leptin in appetite control. [1]

10. [Maximum mark: 15] 21M.2.SL.TZ2.6

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium
tuberculosis.

(a) Outline the structures in M. tuberculosis that are not present in a

human cell. [3]

(b) Explain the production of antibodies when a patient is infected

with the TB bacterium. [7]

(c) Describe the risk to the human population of indiscriminate use

of antibiotics. [5]
11. [Maximum mark: 15] 21M.2.SL.TZ2.5
Pastry cream or confectioners’ custard is made with a combination of milk (rich
in casein and lactose), egg yolks, sugar, starch and a flavouring such as vanilla.

(a) Describe the structure of starch. [5]

(b) Explain how amino acids in casein could reach the liver, starting
from the moment when the person takes a bite of pastry cream
pie. [7]

(c) Congenital lactase deficiency is a type of lactose intolerance

that occurs in infants. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive
pattern. Calculate the chance of congenital lactose intolerance
in a child whose parents are both carriers for the disorder,
showing fully how you reached your answer. [3]
12. [Maximum mark: 15] 21M.2.SL.TZ2.1
Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are key pollinators in most ecosystems. The worldwide
use of neonicotinoid pesticides has caused concern because they may be
contributing to the decline of honeybee populations.

Scientists measured the concentration of five neonicotinoids (acetamiprid,

clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam) in honey samples
from 198 different locations across the world. Each pie chart shows the relative
frequency of neonicotinoids in honey samples from a continent.

[Source: Republished with permission of American Association for the

Advancement of Science, from A worldwide survey of neonicotinoids in honey,
Mitchell, E.A., et al., Science, Volume 358, Issue 6359, 2017. Permission conveyed
through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6359/109.full.]

(a) Identify in which continent the fewest types of neonicotinoid

were detected in honey samples. [1]

(b) Using the data, outline the different use of thiamethoxam in

North and South America. [1]
The neonicotinoids can be used alone or together with other neonicotinoids.
The percentage of honey samples with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 different neonicotinoids in
each continent are shown in the stacked bar chart.

[Source: Republished with permission of American Association for the

Advancement of Science, from A worldwide survey of neonicotinoids in honey,
Mitchell, E.A., et al., Science, Volume 358, Issue 6359, 2017. Permission conveyed
through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6359/109.full.]

(c) Identify the total percentage of honey samples contaminated

with neonicotinoid pesticides in the continent with the lowest
overall levels of contamination.

............% [1]

In order to grow, honeybee larvae are fed royal jelly, a high energy food with
very high acetylcholine concentrations.

In an experiment, larvae were bred artificially on a diet with reduced

acetylcholine content in the royal jelly. The graph shows the mean survival rate
of these larvae compared to control larvae fed on a normal diet.
[Source: Wessler I, Gärtner H-A, Michel-Schmidt R, Brochhausen C, Schmitz L,
Anspach L, et al. (2016) Honeybees Produce Millimolar Concentrations of Non-
Neuronal Acetylcholine for Breeding: Possible Adverse Effects of Neonicotinoids.
PLOS ONE 11(6):e0156886. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156886 Copyright: © 2016
Wessler et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and
source are credited.]
(d) Deduce the conclusions that can be drawn from the data in the
graph. [2]

(e) Suggest a reason for the effect of a diet reduced in

acetylcholine on the larval survival rate. [1]

The concentration of acetylcholine was measured in royal jelly produced by

honeybees that had never been exposed to neonicotinoids (control) and
honeybees that had been exposed for three weeks to two neonicotinoids;
clothianidin and thiacloprid.
Wessler I, Gärtner H-A, Michel-Schmidt R, Brochhausen C, Schmitz L, Anspach L, et
al. (2016) Honeybees Produce Millimolar Concentrations of Non-Neuronal
Acetylcholine for Breeding: Possible Adverse Effects of Neonicotinoids. PLOS ONE
11(6):e0156886. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156886 Copyright: © 2016 Wessler et al.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/),
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are credited.
(f ) Compare and contrast the effect of clothianidin and thiacloprid
treatments on the concentration of acetylcholine in royal jelly. [2]

(g) Explain how neonicotinoids affect synaptic transmission in

insects. [3]

(h) Companies that manufacture neonicotinoid pesticides have

argued that they do not cause significant harm to honeybees.
Construct an argument, based on the data in this question, for
serious concern about the manufacture and use of
neonicotinoid pesticides. [4]
13. [Maximum mark: 5] 19M.2.SL.TZ1.4
The diagram shows the structure of an alveolus and an adjacent capillary.

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]

(a) Outline the functions of type I and type II pneumocytes. [2]

(b) Explain how gases are exchanged between the air in the
alveolus and the blood in the capillaries. [3]
14. [Maximum mark: 8] 19M.2.SL.TZ1.3
The diagram shows the human heart.

(a.i) On the diagram, label the aorta. [1]

(a.ii) On the diagram, label the right atrium. [1]

(b) Explain how valves control the flow of blood through the heart. [2]

(c) Outline the causes and consequences of blood clot formation

in coronary arteries. [2]

(d) Outline the role of lymphocytes in defence against disease. [2]

15. [Maximum mark: 12] 19M.2.SL.TZ1.1
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is the disease in humans and other primates that is
caused by the Ebola virus. Fruit bats are the reservoir for the virus and are able to
spread the disease without being affected. Humans can become infected by
contact with fruit bats or with people infected by the virus, their body fluids or
equipment used to treat them.

The table shows data for four African countries that were affected by the 2014–
2015 Ebola outbreak.

[Source: adapted with permission, from Ebola Situation Report, figure 1,

http://apps.who.int/ebola/current-situation/ebolasituation-
report-2-march-2016, March 2016, and from Successful treatment of advanced
Ebola virus infection with T-705
(favipiravir) in a small animal model, Oestereich, L. et al, 2014, under CC BY 3.0]

(a.i) Identify the country with the largest number of Ebola cases. [1]

(a.ii) Identify the country with the largest number of deaths. [1]

(b) Analysis of the data suggests that the number of deaths from
EVD is not related to the total population size. State one piece
of evidence from the data that would support this analysis. [1]

(c) Based on the mode of transmission of the Ebola virus, suggest a

possible reason for the relationship between population
density and the number of Ebola cases in these four countries. [1]
The graphs show the progress of the EVD epidemic in Guinea and Liberia for the
period April 2014 to May 2015.

[Source: Ebola Situation Report 2 March 2016 and data from International Journal of
Infectious Diseases, 38,
Ligui Wang et al, Epidemiological features and trends of Ebola virus disease in
West Africa, 52-53.,
Copyright 2015, with permission from Elsevier]

(d) Based on the data, compare and contrast the progress of the
epidemic in Liberia and Guinea. [3]

(e) Suggest two possible reasons for the drop in the daily numbers
of newly infected cases after October 2014 in Liberia. [2]

An antiviral drug, T-705, was tested in order to establish whether it has potential
to treat EVD. The graph shows the data from an in vitro trial of T-705 on cells that
had been infected with Ebola virus five days previously. Virus concentration and
live cells are shown as percentage of the control.
[Source: Oestereich, Lisa & Rieger, Toni & Neumann, Melanie & Bernreuther,
Christian & Lehmann, Maria & Krasemann,
Susanne & Wurr, Stephanie & Emmerich, Petra & de Lamballerie, Xavier &
Ölschläger, Stephan & Günther, Stephan. (2014).
Evaluation of Antiviral Efficacy of Ribavirin, Arbidol, and T-705 (Favipiravir) in a
Mouse Model for Crimean-Congo
Hemorrhagic Fever. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 8. e2804.
10.1371/journal.pntd.0002804.]
(f ) Based on these data, outline the evidence that T-705 has
potential to be used as a treatment for EVD. [2]

(g) District administrators combatting the 2014 Ebola epidemic in

West Africa were assisted by international organizations such as
the World Health Organization, who provided data on the
progress of the epidemic. Suggest one other way in which
international organizations can assist with combatting an
epidemic of Ebola. [1]
16. [Maximum mark: 15] 19M.2.SL.TZ1.8
(a) Describe how detritivores obtain nutrition and the effects they
have in ecosystems. [4]

(b) Outline the role of amylase in digestion in humans. [4]

(c) Explain how plants capture and use light in photosynthesis. [7]
17. [Maximum mark: 14] 19M.2.SL.TZ2.1
Mice (Mus musculus) have various defence systems against predators such as foxes
(Vulpus vulpus) or stoats (Mustela erminea). The mice release specific alarm compounds
when under threat that serve as danger signals for other mice. Predators also
release scents that the mice can detect.

In one study, mice were exposed to paper soaked in compounds taken from
other mice, foxes or stoats in a test chamber. The scientists then measured the
reaction of three different groups of neurons used in smelling: G1, G2 and G3, as
shown in the diagram.

The percentage of G1, G2 and G3 neurons responding to the mouse, fox and
stoat compounds, as well as a control compound, are shown in the chart.
Percentage of response of neurons in mice

[Source: Julien Brechbühl, et al., (2013), PNAS, 110 (12), pages 4762–4767]
(a) State the percentage of G2 neurons in the mice that respond to
the fox scent.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .% [1]

(b) Using evidence from the chart, identify, giving a reason, which
group of neurons responded most to the chemicals. [1]

The scientists recorded the neural traces (action and resting potentials) of six G1
neurons exposed to the compounds from the different animals. The horizontal
bar beneath each trace corresponds to the time of exposure to the test
compound.

[Source: adapted from J Brechbühl, et al., (2013), PNAS, 110 (12), pages 4762–4767]

(c) State the name of the instrument used to make these traces. [1]
(d) Distinguish between the effects of the mouse alarm compound
and the effects of the control compound on the G1 neurons. [1]

(e) Compare and contrast the effects of the mouse alarm

compound and stoat scent on the G1 neurons. [2]

(f ) Deduce whether there is a correlation between the neural

traces and the percentage of responding G1 neurons. [2]

(g) The molecular structures of the mouse alarm compound and

fox scent are very similar. Suggest an evolutionary advantage
for this chemical similarity. [1]

Another study was carried out on the defence systems in aphids (Myzus persicae)
which feed on thale cress plants (Arabidopsis thaliana). Individual aphids release an
alarm compound containing the chemical (E)-β-farnesene (EBF) when attacked
by a predator. Other aphids are repelled and leave the thale cress plant or hide.

The gene for EBF was inserted to produce transgenic (T) thale cress plants to test
aphid reaction to EBF over several generations. Aphids were raised on wild type
(W) thale cress and then allowed to feed for three generations on either W or T
thale cress. Aphids were tested in each generation for their reaction when EBF
was added to a choice chamber. The percentages of aphids attracted to or
repelled by EBF and those which made no choice were recorded.
[Source: M De Vos, et al., (2010), PNAS, 107 (33), pages 14673–14678]
(h) Identify, with a reason, the aphids that were most strongly
repelled by EBF. [1]

(i) Outline the conclusions that can be drawn from the data in the
graph for the group of aphids fed for three generations on
transgenic thale cress plants (T). [2]

(j) Discuss whether natural selection would favour the transgenic

EBF-producing thale cress plants if they were released into the
wild. [2]
18. [Maximum mark: 15] 19M.2.SL.TZ2.5
(a) Outline four types of membrane transport, including their use
of energy. [4]

(b) Draw the structure of a dipeptide. [3]

(c) Explain the action of enzymes in digestion and the different

roles of at least two named enzymes that are produced in the
pancreas. [8]

19. [Maximum mark: 15] 19M.2.SL.TZ2.6

(a) Describe briefly the endosymbiotic theory. [3]

(b) Outline how photosynthesis produces glucose. [4]

(c) Discuss the control of blood glucose levels and the

consequences if they are not maintained. [8]

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2023