Cell Structure: Question Paper

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Cell Structure
Question Paper
Course Edexcel IGCSE Biology

Section 2. Structure & Function in Living Organisms
Topic Cell Structure
Difficulty Hard
Time Allowed 70
Score /54
Percentage /100
Page 1 of 19
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Question 1a
(a) A student uses a light microscope to look at a human cheek cell.
The student makes this drawing of the cell.
Name the organelle shown in the drawing.

(1)
[1 mark]
Page 2 of 19
Question 1b
(b) Mitochondria are organelles that are too small to be seen using a light microscope.
The drawing shows a mitochondrion that has been magnified.
The actual length of this mitochondrion is 6 μm.

[1 μm = 0.001 mm]
Calculate the magnification of this drawing.
(2)
[2 marks]
Page 3 of 19
Question 1c
(c) The table gives information about mitochondria in different human cells.
Mean number of Mean volume of cell in Mean number of
Cell 3
mitochondria per cell µm mitochondria per µm3
Heart muscle 5 000 15 000
Sperm 75 30 2.50
Egg 600 000 4 000 000 0.15
(i) 3
What is the mean number of mitochondria per μm in a heart muscle cell?
(1)
☐ A 0.33
☐ B 3
☐ C 10 000
☐ D 75 000 000
(ii) Comment on the differences in the data for the sperm and for the egg.
(3)
[4 marks]
Page 4 of 19
Question 2a
(a) The image below is an electron microscope photograph of a cell.
(i) Name the group of organisms from which the cell shown in the image has been taken.
(1)
(ii) Explain how you identified the group of organisms in part (i).
(1)
[2 marks]
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Question 2b
(b) Structure Y in part (a) is a starch granule.
Explain why structure Y is present inside structure X in the image in part (a).
(3)
[3 marks]
Question 2c
(c) Name three structures that are not clearly identifiable in the image in part (a) that you would expect to find inside
cells from this group of organisms.
(3)
[3 marks]
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Question 2d
(d) The cell in part (a) has been magnified 7.5 x 103 times, and the image of the nucleus has a diameter of 6.5 cm.
Use the formula below to calculate the actual diameter of the nucleus. Give your answer in μm.
image diameter
Actual diameter =
magnification
Note that 1 μm = 0.001 mm
(2)
[2 marks]
Page 7 of 19
Question 3a
Separate: Biology Only
(a) The image below is a representation of an electron microscope photograph of part of a sperm cell.
Name structures X, Y and Z labelled in the image.

(3)
[3 marks]
Page 8 of 19
Question 3b
(b) Label two additional features on the image in part (a) with descriptions that explain how the features aid the sperm
cell in its function.
(2)
[2 marks]
Page 9 of 19
Question 3c
(c) Sperm cells are produced in the testes in a process known as spermatogenesis. A summary of spermatogenesis is
shown in the image below.
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(i) Label the image above with a letter D to indicate where the process of differentiation is occurring.
(1)
(ii) Explain what is taking place at letter D in order for differentiation to occur.
(2)
[3 marks]
Question 3d
(d) Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) can be used to treat male infertility.
(i) Suggest how SSCs could be used to treat male infertility.
(2)
(ii) Some research in mice has suggested that SSCs have the ability to become many different cell types.
Evaluate the potential use of SSCs in stem cell therapy.
(3)
[5 marks]
Page 13 of 19
Question 4a
(a) The diagram below shows three different cells.
Calculate the size ratio of the bacterial cell compared to the liver cell and mesophyll cell.
(2)
[2 marks]
Page 14 of 19
Question 4b
(b) The electron microscope image below shows a section from the inside of a liver cell...
Bochimoto H, Matsuno N, Ishihara Y, Shonaka T, Koga D, Hira Y, et al., CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia
Commons
(i) Name the organelles indicated by X.

(1)
(ii) Use information in the image to suggest the possible cell activities that take place inside a liver cell.
(2)
[3 marks]
Page 15 of 19
Question 4c
(c) The liver is known to have a strong regenerative ability, meaning that when the liver is damaged it can regenerate
itself within days. This regenerative ability is thought to be due to several types of adult stem cells present within
and around the liver.
Contrast adult stem cells with stem cells taken from an embryo.
(2)
[2 marks]
Question 4d
(d) Scientists researching the regenerative capacity of the liver have identified a chemical signalling pathway inside
liver cells that prevents the liver from growing too large when it regenerates. This chemical signalling pathway has
been named 'Hippo'.
A recent discovery has shown that switching off the Hippo signalling pathway reverses the differentiation process,
resulting in de-differentiated liver cells.
Suggest what this discovery could mean for the development of stem cell therapies.
(3)
[3 marks]
Page 16 of 19
Question 5a
(a) The image below shows a light microscope photograph of part of a plant root.
Berkshire Community College Bioscience Image Library, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
(i) Name the type of specialised plant cell visible in the image.
(1)
(ii) Explain how the process of differentiation has allowed the cell in the image to carry out its specific function in
plants.
(4)
[5 marks]
Page 17 of 19
Question 5b
(b) A group of scientists carried out a study to investigate the starch content of roots in a species of grass at four points
throughout the year.
Their results can be seen in the graph below.
(i) Explain why the grass roots contain starch.

(2)
(ii) Explain how the starch found in the roots of grass species helps to support growth of the grasses.
(2)
[4 marks]
Page 18 of 19
Question 5c
(c)
(i) Calculate the percentage change in stored starch from January to October in the graph in part (b).
(2)
(ii) Suggest an explanation for the change calculated in part (i).
(3)
[5 marks]
Page 19 of 19

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Course Edexcel IGCSE Biology

Name the organelle shown in the drawing.

The actual length of this mitochondrion is 6 μm.

Name structures X, Y and Z labelled in the image.

(i) Name the organelles indicated by X.

(i) Explain why the grass roots contain starch.

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