Some of the question for scientific article for

Edexcel June 2010 paper 5

Question and answers (page 2 and 3)

1. In Parkinson’s disease, the neurons secreting dopamine (DA)

degenerate so the level of DA declines, but acetylcholine (Ach)
secreting neurons in the basal ganglia continue to produce
acetylcholine . It is this imbalance in neurotransmitter substance
that triggers the symptoms.

i. State two symptoms associated with Parkinson’s

disease. [2]
Tremor in the arms and hands especially at rest / rigidity and stiffness of muscles
causing impaired balance / slowness of movements / stooped posture / short steps /
difficulties with speech and swallowing.

ii. There is a strong evidence to believe that the release of DA

from the pre-synaptic membrane is triggered by certain
emotional responses.
Describe how the release of this neurotransmitter
substance DA generates an action potential in the post-
synaptic neuron (5)
Neurotransmitter substance diffuses across the synaptic cleft; binds to
receptors on the postsynaptic membrane; this causes Na gated channels to open /
increases permeability to Na ions; influx of Na ions into the postsynaptic neuron;
postsynaptic membrane becomes depolarized; summation of postsynaptic
potentials to form action potentials.

1. Levodopa (L -Dopa) is a precursor of DA used in the treatment of

Parkinson's disease. The structures of DA and Levodopa are shown
below.

Dopamine L – Dopa

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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
 With reference to the structures of dopamine and L - dopa,
suggest why the drug L-dopa is effective in the treatment of
Parkinson's disease. (4)

Both have the same molecular architecture; levodopa can bind to dopamine
receptors; initiate action potential; levodopa can converted into dopamine.

3. Surgeons have attempted to transplant foetal tissues rich in

dopamine into the basal ganglia region of patients with particularly
severe symptoms.
i. State two obstacles that the neurosurgeon will have to
overcome for a successfultransplant of the tissues in order to
treat PD.
First the transplanted tissue must not be rejected by the immune system; the
cells must continue to perpetuate and proliferate in the recipient; transplanted
tissue must be able to secrete DA in sufficient quantities. Eq.

4. Tremor disorders such as Parkinson's diseases are sometimes

treated with deep brain stimulation (page 3, 1st Para) using an electrode
permanently implanted at a specific spot in the brain.
I Explain why DBS is considered to be more targeted
treatment than standard drug therapy (2)
Idea that drugs are carried by blood stream to all parts of the body where as
DBS is more localized

5. Levodopa can readily pass across the blood brain barrier.

Describe two features of this
blood brain barrier that brings about effective distribution of the
drug.
Blood brain barrier is the endothelial layer of blood vessels. As such they are made
of a single layer of flattened cells reducing diffusion distance and permeable to
substances through the fenestrations / pores.

6. Suggest likely causes of depression other

than genetical factor.
Breavement / loss of job / lack of money eq.

Question and answers (page 4 and 5)

Q1. Illustrate the process by which a rat gene can be inserted into
a fruit fly
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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
 Q2. State the pathway travelled by nerve impulses during the
escape responses.

Receptors to sensory neurone to central nervous system (relay neurons) to

motor neurone to effector

Q3. Suggest two possible military applications of specific

neurone activation or deactivation.
Can be used to switch on neurons which control aggression; Can be used to
switch of neurons for conscious thought, which helps to interrogate prisoners of war
and make them speak the truth about enemy secrets;

Q4. Compare the feasibility of using light-sensitive ATP with the

use of ChR2 proteins.
Injection of ATP into the brain is detrimental as it can lead to infection of the
brain; ATP does not last long in the body, so frequent injection is necessary; Proteins
can be synthesized by cells once the gene is inserted by genetic engineering;

Q5. State two advantages of using worm rather than rat for
neuronal research.
Worms have a short lifecycle compared to rats. So experimental results can be
obtained faster; Rats have a more complicated nervous system. So it is easier to do

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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
preliminary tests on worms; Body of most worms is transparent to light flashes, where
as rats need LEDs to be fixed into the skull;

Q6. Explain how the stimulation of neurons can bring about

muscle contraction.
Nueron stimulation releases acetyl choline; Acetyl choline binds to receptors on
muscle cells at neuro-muscular junction; Sarcoplasmic reticulum releases calcium ions;
Muscle contraction triggered

Q7. Draw and label the structure of a rod cell from the retina
Synaptic
region Inner segment outer segment

"

Synapse nucleus mitochondria

Vesicles
(Contain
rhodopsin)

Question and answers (page 6 and 7)

Q.1 Channelrhodopsin 2 is a protein that produces electrical
pulse to the blue MghtZhuo - Hua Pan , a visual neuroioscientist
found that, once the gene ChR2 had been inserted , retinal cells
responded to light by emitting electrical pulse and impulse
went to visual cortex of the brain.
State the name of an imaging technique and describe how the
images could be used to confirm the visual cortex of the brain
have been targeted by these retinal cells.
Answers: functional magnetic resonance imaging / FMRI
. If the visual cortex is targeted by the retinal cells, the visual cortex become more
active than other regions of the brain.
. the blood flow increases to that area and hence more oxyhaemoglobin is delivered to
the active cells.
. Oxyhaemoglobin absorbs less MRI signals.
. therefore more signals are emitted 'lighting up' the
visual cortex.

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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
Q.2 Neurologist have realized from their research work, the
neurons behave differently. Explain the different behavior of the
neurons.
Answers: some are excitatory. When they fire, they cause their neighboring
neurons to fir too. because Na ions channels of the post synaptic knob will be
opened leading to a change in the potential across the membrane setting up an
exciting post - synaptic potential
Eg: some are inhibitory. The neurotransmitters produce by pre synaptic
.knob will open different ion channels. in the post synaptic membrane.
. this make the post synaptic neuron more negative .
. so less likely that an action potential will occur.
t
Q.3 the ultimate aim for many researches is to target only
excitatory or inhibitory neurons. Give one example for this from
your scientic article.
Answers: . Deisseroth and his team works.
.they used a combination of ChR2 and NpHR proteins in their
experiment. ChR2 - Channelrhodopsin.
This produces electrical impulse in response to blue light.
NpHR - halorhodopsin. In response to the yellow light, this protein paralys and briefly
prevent from firing.

Q.4 Neurologist Deisseroth suspects, the limbic system called

area 25 is responsible for the depression. Give one experimental
evidences favoring this idea.
Answers: . This brain area seems to be overactive in depressed people.
. when the activity of this brain area was activated by using electrodes , the mood
of the 4 patients out of 6 seemed to be improved.

Q.5 People have to avoid stress .If they cannot avoid the stress,
they have to adapt for it. If a person is unable to avoid or adapt
the stress what would be the effect?
Answers: gastric ulcers
Cardiovascular diseases
Anxiety & Depression
Q.6 adrenaline and noradrenaline are two important
neurotransmitters. but high concentrations affect the human
body .comment on these two ideas.
Answers: Adrenaline and noradrenaline^ause physiological changes in the body to
prepare to the deal with stress conditions by eitfrerlfighTOF^ght' but high
concentrations damage the heart muscles

Q.7 'Neurons are adaptable cells' comment on this giving

examples from your article.

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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
. neurons releases adrenaline and noradrenaline like netitotransmitters .
. these serve as an 'alarm system' alerting individual to a threat.
. in a stressed person, the activity of these neurons are increased resulting more
releases of
these neutrotranmitters.
. when the stress is repeated , neurons produce more molecules of enzymes
needed to
synthesise noradrenaline.
.Hence the cells can produce more noradrenaline.
.this way the neurons get adapt to the continuous conditions.
»'

Q.8 Retinitis pigmentosa is a diseased condition where light

detecting cells in the retina are killed. What are the two main
concerns of visual neuroscientists to overcome this problem?
Answers: 1 .to decide which neurons to be switched on or off.
2.to genetically engineer the animal to manufacture light sensitive cells.

Questions for Page 8 and 9

Q1. What is meant by the term ' receptor' ? .
Receptors are proteins. They have very specific shapes. This makes them ideal
as receptor molecules for signalling between cells. Eg: Neurotransmitters, fit into
specific receptor proteins in nerve cells.

Q2. Explain how the neurotransmitter act as a messenger to

transmit the nerve impulse
Nerve impulse is transmitted from one neuron to another by neurotransmitter.
Arrival of an impulse stimulates the release of neurotransmitter into the synaptic
cleft. Neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic cleft and bind with receptors
on the post synaptic neurone. Depending on the type of receptor, hyperpolarisation
or depolarization occurs in the post synaptic neurone.

Q3. Describe how the effect of neurotransmitter is determined

by the post synaptic receptors.
Some neurotransmitters when they bind to the receptor sites on the channels,
trigger directly. Others bind to receptors linked to G proteins. These G proteins
activate chemical messengers within the post -synaptic cell.

Q4. Describe and explain the "second messenger mechanism"

Noradrenaline binds to its receptor on cell surface membrane. G protein which is
linked to the receptor changes shape to activate the enzyme adenyl cyclase.
Adenyl cyclase remove phosphate groups from ATP to form cyclic adenosine
monophosphate,. (cAMP). Cyclic AMP is the "second messenger" triggering the
activation of the protein kinase A enzyme that causes the sodium ion channels in the
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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
post synaptic membrane to open. This mechanism is much slower and longer-
lasting than direct mechanism.
Q5. Explain what is meant by the term
"radioligand binding".
A radioactive label attached to a drug which is specific to one receptor . It is used
to count the number of receptor for that drug in a sample of tissue.

Q6. Some people have ethical objections to animal experiments.

Suggest how a biologist might justify the use of animals in
experiments.
Animals are helping the scientists to test medicines. According to utilitarianism, if
the expected benefits are greater than expected harm, we can use animals. Animal
testing reduces the chances of harm when testing on people.

Questions and answers (pages 10 and 11)

1) Define
Hormones. (3)
Hormones are chemical substances belongs to proteins or peptides/amines/ lipids
(steroids);
Released in minute quantities by endocrine glands (ductless glands);
Carried through blood stream to target organs;
Target organs have receptors where hormones bind and bring about metabolic
changes;

2) Describe the mode of

action of steroid hormones in the body of humans especially with
reference to particular tissues and organs. (4)
Steroids are lipid soluble (can pass the phospholipid bi layer of cell
membrane ); They act directly on nucleus especially to the specific gene;
Specific mRNA is produced which in turn helps to form specific protein
(enzymes); Enzymes can bring about metabolic changes through cascade
effect;

3)
What is meant by the term inflammation? (2) Non
Specific responses to infection; which involves the release of histamine; raising of
temperature locally by dilation of the blood vessels and swelling;

4) What is
prenatal screening? (2)

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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
 Prenatal Screening is a medical test to ascertain the condition
of fetus; this is carried for pregnant mothers to rule out genetic
defects in fetus;

5) What are the two

types of prenatal screening conducted in the pregnant women
which
you studied earlier? (2)
Amniocentesis;
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS);

6) List out the disadvantages in the two types of the prenatal

screening in detail. (3)
Disadvantages of amniocentesis Test can be conducted only at 14 to 16 weeks of
pregnancy; Results can be obtained only after 2-3 weeks upon collecting the samples;

Disadvantages of Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) Risk of spontaneous abortion is very

much higher in this test compared to amniocentesis;

7) This article brings out use of neonatal rats (new borns)

which are subjected to capsaicin the chemical that gives chilli
its hot bite. What are the ethical issues related with the use such
baby rats for this type of research? (2)
Rats are vertebrates (back boned animals);
They have well developed nervous system;
So they can feel pain, unlike Daphnia which is an invertebrate;

8)
Distinguish between myelinated and unmyelinated neurons. (2)
Myelinated neurons are wrapped by Myelin Sheath (Schwann
cells); Unmyelinated neurons donot have Myelin Sheath;

9)
Distinguish between excitatory and inhibitory synapses. (2)
Excitatory Synapses:
Increases the likelihood of an action potential developing;
Inhibitory Synapses:
Decreases the likelihood of an action potential developing;

12 and 13 questions and answers.

1. "Whipple set up a study with Mexican women whose
consumption of chilies ranged
from one or two a week to three a day". Outline the
investigation method used by
Whipple to check the effect of chili on pain blocking affect.
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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
 Randomized / cohort study/ sample size/ data recording method/ variables
used to keep constant

2. Suggest reasons for the variations in the pain felt by

women and men with
reference to the article.
Refer pages 11 and 12.

3. 'many parts of the brain are engaged when a person feel

pain" State and explain
which diagnostic tool helps the neurologist to identify the
areas of pain the brain.
Discuss the advantages of the testing tool in medical field.
Functional MRI, procedure of testing, lighting up the areas

4. Pain is felt when pain receptors detect the stimuli and pass
it to the brain through
the nerve path way. Describe the path way of neurons
involved in carrying the
messages to brain, and discuss the role of synapses.
Sensory neuron / axon transmission between the neurons/ and structure and
functions of synapses in chemical transmission

5. Pain killers used usually give pain relief by blocking the

nerve impulses. Explain
how a pain killer relieves a person from pain and
its effect on synaptic
transmission.
Mimicking the neurotransmitters, and prevent the neurotransmitter binding with
the receptors of post synaptic neurons/inhibiting the enzymes that recycle the
neurotransmitters/ blocking the calcium channels prevent the vesicular transmitter
release.

6. Morphine which is used as pain killer, said to be an illegal

drug.
Explain the effects of morphine and why it is considered as an
illegal drug.
It inhibits the nerve impulses/ relieve pain/ depressant/ long tem disfuctioning of
normal nerve impulses.

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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5
7. Progesterone is said to be a natural analgesic Taking
synthetic hormone pills
containing progesterone, as pain killer does not have the effect
of the natural one,
Refer to the article and discuss the reasons mentioned.
Refer page 12

8. Steroid hormones seem to have an effect on the protein

synthesis. Explain how the
steroid hormone works to bring the target response.
Differentiate the functioning of
steroid hormones with that of the second messenger mechanism
of a hormone.

Cross the cell surface membrane/ nuclear membrane/ binds with the promoter
region/ transcription factor/ initiate protein synthesis.

9. Progesterone can be synthesized by culturing the genetically

modified organisms.
Explain the methods used to develop drugs by genetic
engineering.
Obtaining a copy of the gene/ inserting, it in the plasmids/ introducing the
recombinant DNA in vector (bacteria) / isolate/clone/ culture and extract and market.

10. Discuss the ethical issues may arise in using the genetically
modified or transgenic
organisms in developing drugs.

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Some of the question for scientific article for Edexcel June 2010 paper 5