Life Sciences Gr 12 1 Capricorn South District April 2024

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NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE
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GRADE 12

LIFE SCIENCES
TOPIC TEST - GENETICS
18 APRIL 2024

MARKS: 60

TIME: 1 HOUR

This question paper consists of 8 pages

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INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

Read the following instructions carefully before answering the questions.

1. Answer ALL the questions

2. Write ALL the answers in the ANSWER BOOK

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 the question
paper

5. Present your answers according to the instructions of each question

6. Do ALL drawings in pencil and label them in blue or black ink

7. Draw diagrams, tables 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. You must use a non-programmable calculator, protractor and a compass where
necessary

11. 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
1.1.5) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.6 D.

1.1.1 A male pig is heterozygous tall (T). A female pig is homozygous recessive short. The
possible gametes for the male and the female pigs described above are:

Male pig gametes Female pig gametes

A T and T T and t
B T and t T and t
C T and T t and t
D T and t t and t

1.1.2 Four different phenotypes are possible in the F1 generation if the parents’ blood
groups are…

A B and B
B A and B
C O and AB
D AB and AB

1.1.3 When an individual that is homozygous dominant for a particular characteristic is

crossed with an individual that is homozygous recessive for the characteristic, all the
offspring will be…

A homozygous dominant
B homozygous recessive
C heterozygous
D pure bred

1.1.4 Brown eye colour in humans is dominant over blue eye colour. A man with brown
eyes marries a woman with blue eyes. They have a son with brown eyes and a daughter
with blue eyes.

We can conclude that…

A the man is not the true father of the children

B the man is heterozygous for eye colour
C eye colour is sex-linked
D both parents are homozygous for eye colour

1.1.5 Which one of the following is a genotype of a person with haemophilia?

A XH XH
B XHY
C XHXh
D XhY (5 x 2) (10)
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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 numbers (1.2.1 to 1.2.4) in the ANSWER BOOK.

1.2.1 Organisms that have two identical alleles for a particular characteristic

1.2.2 A diagram showing the inheritance of genetic disorders over several generations

1.2.3 The appearance of an organism as a result of its genetic make-up

1.2.4 The type of dominance where a long-tailed dog and a short-tailed dog produces a
puppy with a medium length tail
(4 x 1) (4)

1.3. Indicate whether each of the descriptions 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 numbers (1.3.1 to 1.3.3) in the ANSWER BOOK.

COLUMN I COLUMN II
1.3.1 Inheritance of a disorder linked to a A Sickle cell anaemia
sex chromosome B Colour blindness
1.3.2 The number of alleles that control A Two
human blood group B Four
1.3.3 Each gamete receives only one allele A Mendel’s principle of segregation
for each characteristic B Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray pictures

(3 x 2) (6)

TOTAL SECTION A: 20

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SECTION B

QUESTION 2

2.1 Mendel observed some characteristics of the pea plant (Pisum sativum) which he
suggested were controlled by inherited factors. He conducted a series of experiments in
which he crossed pea plants with contrasting phenotypes to obtain the offspring of the F1
generation. At first his crosses were simple and involved only one pair of characteristics.

Mendel counted the number of offspring showing each of the variations.

His results are shown in the table below.

2.1.1 Give the term for:

(a) The inherited factors that Mendel referred to (1)

(b) A cross involving two characteristics (1)
(c) An allele that is not expressed in the phenotype when found in a heterozygous
condition (1)

2.1.2 Name the female structure of the flower where meiosis occurs (1)

2.1.3 Use the information in the table to give the NUMBER of EACH of the following:

(a) Characteristics of pods (1)

(b) Alleles for seed characteristics (1)

2.1.4 Give the characteristic that is:

(a) Dominant for flower colour (1)

(b) Recessive for stem height (1)

2.1.5 Give ONE reason for your answer in 1.4.4 (b) (1)

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2.1.6 If the individuals of the F1 generation are crossed, how many phenotypes for seed
colour would be expected in the F2 generation? (1)

(10)

2.2 A class of Grade 12 learners conducted an investigation to determine the frequency of

dominant and recessive characteristics in their school. The characteristic investigated was
the ability to roll one’s tongue. The results obtained were recorded in the frequency tree as
shown below:

2.2.1 List TWO steps that the learners need to follow while planning this investigation. (2)

2.2.2 Use the data given in the frequency tree to plot a bar graph (6)

2.2.3 State a conclusion for this investigation (2)

(10)

[20]

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QUESTION 3

(12)

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3.2 A genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) is caused by a recessive allele (n).

An individual with the disorder is described as affected and an individual without it is

described as unaffected. The diagram below illustrates the inheritance of this disorder in a
family.

3.2.1 Give the NUMBER only of any TWO individuals in the 3rd generation that are
heterozygous. (2)

3.2.2 Using the information from the diagram above, explain why the allele for PKU cannot
be sex-linked. (2)

3.2.3 Explain why the chances of men having a sex-linked disorder is much higher than it is
for women. (4)
(8)

[20]

TOTAL SECTION B: 40

GRAND TOTAL: 60

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