Revision Test 16, 18 to 22 [75

marks]

1. What technique was used by John Cairns to measure the length of the [1 mark]
DNA molecule in Escherichia coli?
A. Autoradiography
B. Chromatography
C. Genome sequencing
D. Karyotyping

Markscheme
A

2. The diagram shows the food web for an aquatic ecosystem in which [1 mark]
letters R–Z represent individual species.

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]

Which organism is a tertiary consumer?

A. Organism T
B. Organism U
C. Organism W
D. Organism Y
 Markscheme
B

3. Deforestation and agricultural activities including the production of crops [1 mark]

and livestock are thought to play a major role in the greenhouse effect.
The graph shows annual trends in rates of deforestation and the production of
soybeans and cattle in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil in the period from 2001
to 2010.

[Source: 'Decoupling of deforestation and soy production in the southern Amazon

during the late 2000s.'
Marcia N. Macedo, Ruth S. DeFries, Douglas C. Morton, Claudia M. Stickler, Gillian
L. Galford, and Yosio E.
Shimabukuro PNAS January 24, 2012, 109 (4) 1341–1346;
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1111374109,
used with permission]

What conclusion can be drawn from the information in this graph?

A. The decline in rates of deforestation led to an increase in production of CO2.
B. Soybean production accounted for a greater proportion of deforestation than
cattle production.
C. Forest habitats declined during the first few years of the study.
D. The decline in rates of deforestation is due to an increase in soybean
production.

Markscheme
C
4. What contribution did the X-ray diffraction conducted by Rosalind Franklin [1 mark]
make to our understanding of DNA?
A. It identified DNA as the genetic material.
B. It indicated the helical shape of the molecule.
C. It showed that the DNA of eukaryotes was associated with histone proteins.
D. It showed that replication was a semi-conservative process.

Markscheme
B

5. The diagram shows the arrangement of introns and exons in a segment of [1 mark]
pre-mRNA. Pre-mRNA is immature mRNA containing introns and exons.

Which is a mature mRNA molecule derived from the pre-mRNA by splicing?

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]

Markscheme
A
6. The image shows a polysome in a bacterial cell. [1 mark]

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]

How many genes have been transcribed?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

Markscheme
A

7. Natural selection can operate in different ways. What is the effect of [1 mark]
disruptive selection?
A. It eliminates individuals with intermediate forms of a characteristic.
B. It eliminates individuals at random regardless of their characteristics.
C. It favours individuals with intermediate forms of a characteristic.
D. It favours individuals at one extreme of the range of variation in a
characteristic.

Markscheme
A
8. What is common to RNA and DNA? [1 mark]
A. Thymine
B. Nitrogenous bases
C. Histones
D. Deoxyribose

Markscheme
B

9. Hershey and Chase used a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria) to [1 mark]
investigate the chemical nature of genes. The diagram shows a
bacteriophage.

[Source: Graham Knott and Christel Genoud, ‘Commentary: is EM dead?’, Journal

of Cell Science (2013),
126: 4545–4552, reproduced with permission.
http://jcs.biologists.org/content/126/20/4545.figures-only
doi: 10.1242/jcs.124123 http://www.biologists.com/journal-of-cell-science]

The sulphur in the protein and the phosphorus in the DNA of the bacteriophage
were radioactively labelled. The data obtained after bacterial infection and
centrifugation are shown in the table.

What did Hershey and Chase conclude from their experiment?

A. DNA was mainly outside the bacterial cells.
B. Viruses infect bacterial cells with proteins.
C. Viral DNA was found within the bacterial cells.
D. Neither protein nor DNA were chemicals making up genes in viruses.
 Markscheme
C

10. What are the functions of DNA primase and DNA polymerase I in DNA [1 mark]
replication?

Markscheme
D

11. What applies to DNA base sequences? [1 mark]

I. Some genes do not code for proteins.
II. Promoters are transcribed along with the gene.
III. Introns are only found within genes coding for proteins.
A. I only
B. II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

Markscheme
B
12. William Bateson and Reginald Punnett used the sweet pea (Lathyrus [1 mark]
th
odoratus) in genetics studies in the early 20 century. Pure-breeding
plants that produced purple flowers and long pollen grains were crossed with
pure-breeding plants that produced red flowers and round pollen grains. The
resulting offspring all produced purple flowers and long pollen grains. Two of the
F1 generation plants were crossed. The table shows the ratio of phenotypes in the
F2 generation.

What is an explanation for these experimental results?

A. Purple flowers and long pollen grains are dominant and the alleles have
assorted independently.
B. The genes for flower colour and pollen shape are linked and all plants producing
long pollen grains are recombinants.
C. The genes for flower colour and pollen shape are linked and all plants producing
red flowers are recombinants.
D. Plants producing purple flowers and round pollen grains arose through crossing
over.

Markscheme
D
13. Two restriction endonucleases (EcoRI and BamHI) were used to cut a DNA [1 mark]
sample into smaller fragments. These were then subjected to gel
electrophoresis and the results are shown. The lengths of the DNA fragments are
measured in kilobases (kb). One kilobase is 1000 DNA bases.

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]

Which statement is supported by the data?

A. The DNA sample is approximately 16 kb in size.
B. Each endonuclease produces a 2 kb fragment.
C. Both endonucleases produce the same number of fragments.
D. The fragments produced using both endonucleases are all different from those
produced by the individual endonucleases.

Markscheme
A
14. The cladogram shows some major orders of placental mammals and is [1 mark]
based on biochemical evidence.

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]

Which conclusion can be drawn from evidence in the cladogram?

A. Primates and Sirenia have not evolved from a common ancestor.
B. Primates and Cetacea do not form part of any clade.
C. Cetacea are less closely related to Sirenia than to Primates.
D. Xenarthra have not been changed by evolution for longer than other clades.

Markscheme
C

15. Which is the hierarchy of taxa in order of increasing numbers of species? [1 mark]
A. genus, family, order, class
B. class, order, genus, family
C. genus, family, class, order
D. class, order, family, genus
 Markscheme
A

16. The image shows chromosomes from an insect (2  n = 8). [1 mark]

Which pair of chromosomes are the sex chromosomes of this insect species?
A. c and e
B. a and h
C. f and h
D. a and e

Markscheme
C

17. Current understanding of DNA is an example of the accumulated [1 mark]

discoveries of many scientists. Which scientists are credited with
establishing that DNA is the genetic material?
A. Franklin and Wilkins
B. Watson and Crick
C. Meselson and Stahl
D. Hershey and Chase

Markscheme
D
18. The image shows variation in height of adult humans. [1 mark]

What can explain the variation?

A. One pair of alleles and age
B. Polygenic inheritance and nutrition
C. Nutrition and age
D. Autosomal inheritance only

Markscheme
B

19. The three-toed sloth, Bradypus variegatus , lives in tree tops where it [1 mark]
feeds on leaves. It also feeds on algae and fungi which live in its fur.

[Source: Image from

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bradypus_variegatus.jpg. Christian
Mehlführer.
Licensed under CC by 2.5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/deed.en]
In which trophic group should the three-toed sloth be classified?
A. Autotroph
B. Consumer
C. Detritivore
D. Saprotroph
 Markscheme
B

20. What are polysomes? [1 mark]

A. Strings of amino acids
B. Packages of eight histones with DNA
C. Many ribosomes joined to one mRNA
D. Complexes of tRNA with amino acids

Markscheme
C

21. What could account for this distribution of height in a population? [1 mark]

[Source: Graph adapted from Six Minutes http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/good-

public-speaker-average/]
A. Gene linkage
B. Dominant alleles
C. Independent assortment
D. Multiple genes

Markscheme
D
22. What contributes to the total DNA content of a zygote? [1 mark]

Markscheme
B

23. What do DNA replication, transcription and translation have in common? [1 mark]
A. Take place in cell nucleus
B. Require free nucleotides
C. Catalysed by polymerase
D. Complementary base pairing

Markscheme
D

24. Gene expression in cells is regulated at various stages. During which [1 mark]
stage does splicing of RNA occur?
A. During replication
B. During transcription
C. Post transcription
D. Translation

Markscheme
C
25. A nucleotide containing dideoxyribose is shown. [1 mark]

What is the reason for the use of dideoxyribonucleotides to terminate sequences

in base sequencing?
A. Nucleotides cannot form 5′ to 3′ linkages with dideoxyribonucleotides.
B. Nucleotides cannot form base pairs with dideoxyribonucleotides.
C. Dideoxyribonucleotides cannot form hydrogen bonds with deoxyribose.
D. Dideoxyribonucleotides do not have all four nitrogenous bases.

Markscheme
A

26. For what purpose is a karyogram used? [1 mark]

A. To identify gene loci in a species
B. To identify linked genes in the chromosomes of an individual
C. To identify the genome size of a species
D. To identify abnormal chromosomes in an individual

Markscheme
D
27. Nail patella syndrome is a rare disease that causes abnormalities of the [1 mark]
nails and some bones. Its alleles are linked to the blood group alleles on
the same chromosome. The pedigree chart shows the inheritance of these two
characteristics over three generations.

[Source: Copyright © 1998. Phillip McClean]

Which descendant represents a recombinant phenotype?

Markscheme
C
28. Which processes occur in an ecosystem? [1 mark]
I. Biomass increases in each successive trophic level.
II. Inorganic nutrients are recycled.
III. Chemical energy is stored in carbon compounds.
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

Markscheme
C

29. Prickly pear cactus plants are well adapted to desert conditions. The [1 mark]
stems are the flattened structures visible in the image and the leaves are
reduced to spines. The white spots in the image are groups of spines.

[Source: Stan Shebs/Wikimedia. File licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]
Which characteristic describes the advantage of one of their adaptations?
A. Leaves are reduced to spines to lose less carbon dioxide.
B. Spines increase surface area for more photosynthesis.
C. Stems are flattened to allow more water to be stored between periods of rain.
D. Waxy cuticle on the stems is very thin to allow rapid absorption of rain.
 Markscheme
A

30. The following shows an energy pyramid. [1 mark]

How is energy lost between the trophic levels?

A. photosynthesis, birth of an organism and digestion
B. respiration, death of an organism and egestion
C. recycling of nutrients, death of an organism and egestion
D. respiration, birth of an organism and digestion

Markscheme
B

31a. Distinguish between the structure of the chromosomes of prokaryotes [2 marks]

and eukaryotes.

Markscheme
a. prokaryotes have circular DNA/chromosome but eukaryote chromosomes
linear/OWTTE ✔
OR
eukaryotes have telomeres/centromeres whereas prokaryotes do not ✔
b. some prokaryotes have plasmids whereas eukaryotes do not ✔
c. eukaryotes have multiple chromosomes whereas prokaryotes «typically»
have only one ✔
d. histones/nucleosomes/proteins associated with DNA in eukaryotes but not
in prokaryotes/naked DNA in prokaryotes
OR
eukaryote DNA can coil/supercoil/condense «due to histones» but not
prokaryote DNA ✔
31b. Outline the causes of sickle cell anemia. [2 marks]

Markscheme
a. genetic disease/caused by a gene
OR
inherited «from parents»
OR
caused by mutation «of a gene» ✔
b. base substitution
OR
GAG → GTG ✔
c. hemoglobin gene mutated / different allele/form/version of hemoglobin
gene
OR
HbA → HbS ✔
d. leads to change in amino acid sequence «in hemoglobin»
OR
glutamic acid → valine ✔
e. only homozygotes have full disease/sickled cells / heterozygote has milder
form
OR
hemoglobin crystallizes at low oxygen concentration ✔
f. «selected for/spreads in population» as it gives resistance to malaria ✔

The karyogram shown is for the African marsh rat (Dasymys incomtus). In this
species, sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes. Females are XX and males
are XY.

[Source: adapted from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au]

31c. Identify, with a reason, the sex of this individual. [1 mark]

 Markscheme
male because «X and» Y chromosome present
OR
male because sex chromosomes/last two chromosomes/pair 21 are
unpaired/different «from each other»/not homologous ✔
The answer must include “male” and the reason.

31d. State the haploid number for this nucleus. [1 mark]

Markscheme
21

Thomas Hunt Morgan established that genes for body colour and wing size in
Drosophila are autosomally linked. The allele for grey body (b+) is dominant over
that for black body (b) and the allele for normal wing size (vg+) is dominant over
that for vestigial wing (vg).

31e. A fly that is homozygous dominant for both body colour and wing size [2 marks]
mates with a fly that is recessive for both characteristics. In the table,
draw the arrangement of alleles for the offspring of this mating and for the
homozygous recessive parent.
 Markscheme

31f. The offspring, which were all heterozygous for grey body and normal [2 marks]
wings, were crossed with flies that were homozygous recessive for both
genes. The table shows the percentages of offspring produced.

Explain these results, based on the knowledge that the genes for body colour and
wing size are autosomally linked.
 Markscheme
a. not a 1:1:1:1 ratio «because of linkage»
OR
not independent assortment
OR
grey normal and black vestigial types/parental combinations/double dominant
and double recessive were commoner than 25 %/commoner than expected ✔

b. «linked genes» so were on the same chromosome ✔

c. grey body vestigial wing and black body normal wing are recombinants
OR
2 % plus 3 % of the offspring are recombinants ✔
d. recombinants due to crossing over/exchange of genes between «non-sister»
chromatids
OR
2 % and 3 % of offspring were due to crossing over
OR
genes inherited together unless separated by crossing over ✔
e. crossing over between the two loci/between the two genes on the
chromosomes ✔
f. few recombinants/not much crossing over because genes/gene loci close
together ✔
Accept any of these points from an annotated diagram.

32a. Outline the roles of helicase and ligase in DNA replication. [4 marks]

Markscheme
helicase:
a. unwinds/uncoils the DNA «double helix» ✔
b. breaks hydrogen bonds «between bases» ✔
c. separates the «two» strands/unzips the DNA/creates replication fork ✔
ligase:
d. seals nicks/forms a continuous «sugar-phosphate» backbone/strand ✔
e. makes sugar-phosphate bonds/covalent bonds between adjacent
nucleotides ✔
f. after «RNA» primers are removed/where an «RNA» primer was replaced by
DNA ✔
g. «helps to» join Okazaki fragments ✔
32b. Explain how natural selection can lead to speciation. [7 marks]

Markscheme
a. variation is required for natural selection/evolution/variation in
species/populations ✔
b. mutation/meiosis/sexual reproduction is a source of variation ✔
c. competition/more offspring than the environment can support ✔
d. adaptations make individuals suited to their environment/way of life ✔
e. survival of better adapted «individuals)/survival of fittest/converse ✔
f. inheritance of traits/passing on genes of better adapted «individuals»
OR
reproduction/more reproduction of better adapted/fittest «individuals» ✔
g. speciation is formation of a new species/splitting of a species/one
population becoming a separate species ✔
h. reproductive isolation of separated populations ✔
i. geographic isolation «of populations can lead to speciation» ✔
j. temporal/behavioral isolation «of populations can lead to speciation» ✔
k. disruptive selection/differences in selection «between populations can lead
to speciation» ✔
l. gradual divergence of populations due to natural selection/due to differences
in environment ✔
m. changes in the gene pools «of separated populations»/separation of gene
pools ✔
n. interbreeding becomes impossible/no fertile offspring «so speciation has
happened» ✔

32c. Outline the features of ecosystems that make them sustainable. [4 marks]
 Markscheme
a. recycling of nutrients/elements/components/materials ✔
b. carbon/nitrogen/another example of recycled nutrient/element ✔
c. decomposers/saprotrophs break down organic matter/release «inorganic»
nutrients ✔
d. energy supplied by the sun
OR
energy cannot be recycled «so ongoing supply is needed»
OR
energy is lost from ecosystems as heat ✔
e. energy flow along food chains/through food web/through trophic levels ✔
f. photosynthesis/autotrophs make foods/trap energy
OR
autotrophs supply the food that supports primary consumers ✔
g. oxygen «for aerobic respiration» released by
autotrophs/photosynthesis/plants ✔
h. carbon dioxide «for photosynthesis» released by respiration ✔
i. populations limited by food supply/predator-prey/interactions/competition
OR
populations regulated by negative feedback
OR
fewer/less of each successive trophic level «along the food chain»/OWTTE ✔
j. supplies of water from rainfall/precipitation/rivers/water cycle ✔

33a. Identify the stage of mitosis labelled X in the image, giving a reason. [1 mark]

[Source: Copyright 2002, The Trustees of Indiana University]

 Markscheme
telophase because the chromosomes/chromatids have reached the poles
OR
«late» anaphase as some chromosomes/chromatids are still moving/tails
visible ✔
OWTTE

33b. Outline what is indicated by the mitotic index of tissue taken from a [2 marks]
tumour.

Markscheme
a. mitotic index is an indication of the ratio/percentage of cells undergoing
mitosis/cell division ✔
b. cancer cells «generally» divide much more than normal «somatic» cells ✔
c. a high/elevated mitotic index in tumours / possible diagnosis of cancer
/measure of how aggressive/fast growing the tumour is ✔

33c. DNA has regions that do not code for proteins. State two functions of [2 marks]
these regions.
1.
2.

Markscheme
a. promoters / operators / regulation of gene expression/transcription ✔
b. telomeres/give protection to the end of chromosomes «during cell division»
✔
c. genes for tRNA/rRNA production ✔
d. other valid function for non-coding sequence ✔
Do not accept stop codon, accept centromeres (connecting sister chromatids).
 DNA methylation has a critical role in gene regulation by affecting transcription.
Samples were taken from two colon cancer tumours (T1 and T2) and two normal
colon samples (N1 and N2). A particular gene was implicated as a possible cause
of cancer. The promoter of this gene was cloned (A–J). The data show the DNA
methylation patterns from these samples. The numbers (32–269) represent
different markers in the promoter.

[Source: Philipp Schatz, Dimo Dietrich & Matthias Schuster. Rapid analysis of CpG
methylation patterns using RNase T1
cleavage and MALDI-TOF. Nucleic Acids Research (2004) 32 (21): e167,
doi:10.1093/nar/gnh165.
Reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press]

33d. Outline the difference in methylation pattern between tumorous and [2 marks]
normal tissue samples.
 Markscheme
a. «overall» much more methylation in the colon tumour samples than normal
✔
b. tumour and normal samples the markers 258 and 269 similar degree of
methylation/fewer differences ✔
c. degree of methylation on certain markers may correlate with the presence
of cancer / correct example of a marker only methylated in tumour cells eg
marker 32 ✔

33e. Suggest a way methylation may affect tumour cell genes. [1 mark]

Markscheme
a. «DNA» methylation may inhibit transcription of genes that would prevent
cancer/tumor formation ✔
b. «DNA» methylation may increase mitosis/cell division leading to tumor
formation ✔
Do not accept discussion of histone methylation.

Boreal forests stretch across Canada, Russia and Scandinavia. This northern
ecosystem accounts for 29 % of the world’s forest areas. The long, cold winters
favour tall evergreen trees with either needles or scale-like leaves. These trees
are wind-pollinated and their seeds are not enclosed in a fruit. The photograph
shows a typical boreal forest in winter.

34a. Identify the dominant plant phylum in the boreal forest. [1 mark]
 Markscheme
coniferophyta/conifer/coniferous/gymnosperms/pinophyta ✔

34b. In some areas there are gaps in the boreal forest where trees fail to [2 marks]
grow and peat tends to accumulate. Suggest reasons for this.

Markscheme
a. waterlogged soils/poor drainage
OR
acidic soil
OR
anaerobic conditions/soil ✔
b. organic matter not «fully» decomposed «leading to peat formation»
OR
decomposers/saprotrophs less active/fewer in cold «temperatures» ✔

34c. An increase in global temperatures poses a critical threat to boreal [2 marks]

forests. Explain the consequences of climate change to this northern
ecosystem.

Markscheme
a. higher temperatures so more transpiration/droughts/dehydration/water
shortage ✔
b. more forest fires ✔
c. more/new pests/diseases because of the changed conditions ✔
d. competition from trees/plants «that colonize/spread to boreal forests» ✔
e. trees/«named» organisms «of boreal forests» not adapted to warmer
conditions
OR
trees/«named» organisms migrate/change their distribution due to warmer
conditions ✔
f. trees die so loss of habitat for animals ✔
g. faster decomposition/nutrient cycling «so conditions in the ecosystem
change» ✔
h. standing water/floods due to more snow/permafrost melting ✔
34d. Suggest one advantage for the evergreen trees of the boreal forest [1 mark]
being pollinated by wind.

Markscheme
animals/insects/mutualistic «relationships» not needed «for pollination»
OR
pollen not eaten by animals/insects ✔

34e. Discuss the advantages of the production of seeds enclosed in fruit. [2 marks]

Markscheme
a. seeds are protected «inside the fruit» ✔

b. seed dispersal by fruits ✔

c. example of a strategy for seed dispersal by a fruit ✔
d. dispersal reduces competition/spreads seeds away from parent plant/to
colonize new areas ✔
For mpc suitable strategies are dispersal by wind, by animals
ingesting/carrying away succulent fruits, by animals being attracted to
colourful/sweet/tasty fruits, by animals burying nuts, by burrs or other hooked
fruits sticking to animals and by self-explosion.
34f. The boreal forests are situated close to the north pole and even in [2 marks]
summer the intensity of sunlight is lower than at the equator. Sketch a
graph showing the effect of light on the rate of photosynthesis, labelling the axes.

Markscheme
a. x-axis labelled as light intensity/amount of light AND y-axis labelled as rate
of photosynthesis/rate of oxygen release/rate of carbon dioxide uptake ✔
b. curve starting at/slightly to the right of the x-axis origin and rising rapidly
and then more slowly and plateauing but never dropping ✔

34g. In some boreal species, Rubisco is down-regulated during the winter [2 marks]
months. Describe the role of Rubisco in photosynthesis.

Markscheme
a. carbon fixation/fixes carbon dioxide/carboxylation
OR
rubisco is used in the Calvin cycle/light independent stage ✔
b. carbon dioxide linked to RuBP/ribulose bisphosphate «by rubisco» ✔
c. glycerate 3-phosphate/glycerate phosphate produced «by rubisco» ✔
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