10 Answers to end-of-chapter questions

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10 C

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11 A

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Structured questions
12 a

Totipotent all the genetic information in some cells in any tissue can be used to
produce different tissues

Meristematic tissues
Examples of meristems: apical, lateral, buds
Non-meristematic: leaf / stem / root / flower

Hormone: auxins
Hormone: cytokinins
Sucrose
Inorganic ions e.g. potassium, magnesium and nitrate
Trace elements e.g. iron and copper
Vitamins

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Any 1 point [1]

[max 4]

Prevent microbial contamination

Culture medium contains suitable nutrients for growth of microbes, as microbes
grow faster than plant they could outgrow plants in a few days

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Explant stimulated to produce a callus

Callus can be divided
Produce a large number of clones / identical plants in a short time

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Advantages

Rapid production of large numbers of plants from few plants

Genetically identical plants produced
Plant diseases can be avoided
Plants can be produced any time of year
Any valid point

Any 1 point [1]

Disadvantages

Must be carried out under sterile conditions

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

13 a

Not as convenient as sowing seeds in large quantities

Since plants are genetically identical, all plantlets susceptible to
same disease
Any valid point

Any 1 point [1]

Asexual

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All plants are genetically identical / same genetic composition

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Offspring genetically identical to parent therefore would be well

adapted to the environment
Offspring plants can use nutrients from parents until they have developed their own
shoot and root systems
Ease of propagation
No need for fusion of gametes / pollinating agents
Any valid point
Any 2 points [2]

Clones

No
Even though genetically identical, plants may absorb varying amounts
of nutrients, light etc.
May look different
Yes
Plants are genetically identical / plants develop through process of
mitosis

Plants are genetically identical so all susceptible

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If Yes or No [1]

Reason [1]
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Use meristem tissue from suckers / apical meristem

Under sterile/aseptic conditions
Grow on nutrient agar medium
Add a particular mix of cytoknin and auxins to stimulate shoot and then root
growth
Place plantlets in semi-solid nutrient agar
78 points [4]
Incubate in light
56 points [3]
Subdivide plantlets
34 points [2]
Then to a sterile soil to grow into plant
12 points [1]
Disease-free seedlings
Genetically identical so all bananas have same qualities
Large number of plants produced in a short time
Any valid point

Biology for CAPE

2 points [2]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Essay questions
14 a

Meristematic
Unspecialised / undifferentiated cells in plants
Able to undergo mitotic division
To form identical new cells
Callus
Mass of undifferentiated cells
Produced by mitosis
Mass of cells genetically identical to parent plant

15 a

1 point 1 mark [max 3]

1 point 1 mark [max 3]

Piece of plant tissue removed

From either meristematic / apical tissue or non-meristematic tissue / leaf / root
Under sterile / aseptic conditions / dipped into a disinfectant solution immediately
on removal from parent plant
Grow on nutrient agar medium
Which includes sucrose / vitamins / inorganic ions
For normal growth
1314 points [9]
Add a particular mix of cytokinins
1112 points [8]
To promote shoot growth
910 points [7]
And auxins
78 points [6]
To stimulate root growth
6 points [5]
Place plantlets in semi-solid nutrient agar
5 points [4]
Incubate in light
4 points [3]
Subdivide plantlets
3 points [2]
Then to a sterile soil to grow into plant
2 points [1]

Asexual: One parent produces one or more new individuals through mitosis
Vegetative: Common form of asexual reproduction in plants
i

ii

In prokaryotes / bacteria
Splitting of cell into 2
Diagram could be used

In Penicillium / fungi
Aerial hyphae develop
At tips conidiophores formed
Produce bluegreen spores by mitosis
Spores called conidia / conidiospores
Diagram could be used

iii

In animals / starfish / ribbon worms

Splitting parts of their bodies

iv

Biology for CAPE

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Example [1]
Well explained [1]

Example [1]
Well explained [1]
Example [1]
Well explained [1]

Sugar cane / African violets / cassava

Break a piece of plant and place in soil
Piece of plant eventually grows new roots and becomes complete
plant
Pieces of sugarcane usually have a node with buds
Other plants may require rooting powder / auxins to stimulate root
Example [1]
formation
Well explained [2]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Advantages
Offspring genetically identical to parent therefore well adapted to the environment
Ease of propagation
No need for fusion of gametes / pollinating agents
Effective in dispersing the species
Any valid point
Disadvantages
All plants susceptible to same diseases
No genetic variation in offspring, does not allow to adapt to changing
environment
Any valid point
Any 3 points [3]

Complex organisms
Need for genetic variation to colonise new areas
Any valid point

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

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