GRADE 12

LIFE SCIENCES
CONTROLLED TEST 1

8 MARCH 2024

MARKS: 75

TIME: 1Hr & 15 Min

This question paper consists of 11 pages.

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

Read the following instructions carefully before answering the questions.

1. Answer ALL the questions.

2. Write ALL the answers on your FOLIO PAPER provided.
3. Start the answers to each question at the top of a NEW page.
4. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
question paper.
5. Present your answers according to the instructions of each question.
6. ALL drawings should be done in pencil and labelled in blue or black ink.
7. Draw diagrams or flow charts only when asked to do so.
8. The diagrams in this question paper are NOT necessarily drawn to scale.
9. Do NOT use graph paper.
10. Round off ALL calculations to two decimals after the comma.
11. You should use a non-programmable calculator, protractor, and a compass.
12. Write neatly and legibly.

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SECTION A
QUESTION 1

1.1 Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions.
Choose the correct answer and write only the letter (A to D) next to the question
number (1.1.1 to 1.1.4) in your ANSWER BOOK, for example
1.1.5 D.

1.1.1 The energy needed for the movement of a sperm is produced in

the ...

A mitochondria.
B nucleus.
C acrosome
D ribosome.

1.1.2 In order to make the following nucleotide a monomer of DNA,

replace...

A deoxyribose sugar with a ribose sugar.

B uracil with a thymine.
C phosphate with phosphorus.
D deoxyribose sugar with a hexose sugar.

1.1.3 The following factors were considered during the

investigation:

(i) Number of volunteers

(ii) Time of day
(iii) Repeat the investigation.
(iv) The investigation must be done over a long period of
time

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 Which ONE of the following combinations of factors will affect
the reliability of the investigation?

A (i) and (ii) only

B (i), (ii) and (iv) only
C (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
D (i) , (iii) and (iv) only

1.1.4 In a car accident, the biological father of a girl and three other men were
killed. The men could not be identified due to their injuries. DNA profiling
was used to identify the girl's father.

The diagram below shows the DNA profiles of the girl, her mother and the four men.

Which ONE of the men is most likely to have been the father of the girl?

A 4
B 1
C 2
D 3 (8)

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1.2 Give the correct biological term for each of the following descriptions. Write
only the term next to the question number (1.2.1 to 1.2.9) in your ANSWER
BOOK.

1.2.1 The part in male reproductive structures that serve as

a temporary storage for sperms?

1.2.2 The two parts of a chromosome that are held together by a

Centromere

1.2.3 The network of genetic material found in the nucleus during interphase
1.2.4 The type of bond found between amino acids
1.2.5 A section of a DNA molecule that codes for a specific characteristic
1.2.6 The position where a particular gene is found on a chromosome
(6)

1.3 Indicate whether each of the statements in COLUMN I applies to A ONLY, B

ONLY, BOTH A AND B or NONE of the items in COLUMN II. Write A only, B
only, both A and B, or none next to the question number (1.3.1 to 1.3.6) in
the ANSWER BOOK.

COLUMN I COLUMN II
1.3.1 Site of meiosis in plants A: Anther
B: Ovary
1.3.2 The organelle where DNA is found in A: Mitochondria
plants B: Chloroplast
(2 x 2) (4)

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1.4 The diagram below shows a stage in protein synthesis.

1.4.1 Identify molecule:

(a) X (1)

(b) Y (1)
1.4.2 Name the stage of protein synthesis represented by the diagram
above. (1)

1.4.3 Give the:

(a) DNA base triplet that correspond to the codon numbered 3 (1)

(b) Anticodon for the codon numbered 5 (1)

1.4.4 Name the organelle in a cell where the process shown in the (1)
diagram above occurs.

1.4.5 From which molecule does Z copy the coded message during
protein synthesis? (1)
(7)
TOTAL QUESTION 1: [25]
TOTAL SECTION A: [25]

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2.1 Read the extract below about reproduction in seahorses.

2.1.1 State the type of fertilisation that takes place in seahorses. (1)

2.1.2 Give a reason for your answer to QUESTION 2.1.1. (1)

2.1.3 Explain TWO ways by which the seahorses increase their

(4)
reproductive success.

2.1.4 State ONE difference between the reproductive strategy displayed by

the seahorses and vivipary. (2)

(8)

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2.2 The diagrams below represent two stages of meiotic cell division.

2.2.1 Name structure B (1)

2.2.2 Identify the phase represented in Diagram 1. (1)

2.2.3 Give ONE reason for your answer to QUESTION 2.3.2. (1)

2.2.4 How many chromosomes will be found in...

(1)
(a) each daughter cell at the end of meiosis I.
(b) a human cell in the same phase as that shown in Diagram 2 (1)

2.2.5 Describe the process taking place at A. (3)

2.2.6 (a) Identify the phase represented in Diagram 2. (1)
(b) Describe the difference in the events that take place in the
phase mentioned in (a) and the same phase during mitosis. (2)
2.2.7 Describe the results at the end of meiosis if the chromosomes at D
failed to separate (3)
(14)

2.3 Tabulate ONE difference between Meiosis I and Meiosis II (3)

TOTAL QUESTION 2 (25)

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QUESTION 3

3.1 The structure below represents a part of the female reproductive system.

3.1.1 Identify part D. (1)

3.1.2 State ONE function of part A. (1)
3.1.3 Describe the process of oogenesis as it occurs in part B. (4)

(6)

3.2 An investigation was conducted to determine the relationship between the ages
of women and the chances of miscarriages. A group of 20 women from each

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 age group and from different racial groups in a specific area were selected
randomly.

The results of the investigation are shown in a graphical form below:

3.2.1 What was the sample size selected for this investigation? .(1)
3.2.2 Identify the:
(1)
(a) Independent variable
(1)
(b) Dependent variable

3.2.3 According to the data obtained, how many of the women sampled who
are 46 years old are likely to miscarry? Show ALL working.
(2)
(5)

3.3 During their work to establish the structure of DNA, Watson and Crick were
interested in the proportion of nucleotides in the DNA of skin cells from a
particular organism. They considered the results from three different samples
done in the same laboratory, as shown in the table below

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 3.3.1 What is the ratio of adenine to thymine in the overall experiment? (1)
3.3.2 Give a reason for your answer in QUESTION 3.3.1 (1)
3.3.2 Draw a pie chart illustrating the percentages of the different
nucleotides in sample 1. Show ALL working. (6)

(8)

3.4 Briefly discuss the process where the DNA molecule makes an
exact copy of itself. (6)

TOTAL QUESTION 3:
GRAND TOTAL:
[25]
[75]

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