Study Questions

1-a) The steps involved in a method of production of human insulin by gene

technology are listed in the table below . The steps are not listed in the
correct order.

Complete the table below to show the steps in the correct order. (4)

cHFAdBEG

(ii) Name the enzymes responsible for the following steps:

step A ligase
step H . Reverse transcriptase [2]

(b) Explain three advantages of treating diabetes with human

insulin produced by gene technology rather than using insulin from
animals. (3)

It is identical to human insulin;

More rapid response;
No/fewer rejection problems/Side effects/Allergic reactions;
Cheaper to produce in large volumes/unlimited availability;
Less risk of transmitting disease/infection;
Good for people who have developed tolerance to human insulin;
2- The picture below shows the response of a cat’s pupil to bright light.

(a) Describe how the nervous system controls the pupil reflex in a mammal such
as a cat, in response to bright light. (4)

(b) Hubel and Weisel covered one eye of kittens of different ages to investigate
the timing of visual development in mammals. Kittens which had one eye
covered from the fourth to the fifth week subsequently had very poor vision in
that eye. Kittens which had one eye covered at earlier or later times had normal
vision. Suggest an explanation for these observations. (4)
(c) Some people have ethical objections to animal experiments. Suggest how a
biologist might justify the use of animals in experiments. (2)

3- People with Parkinson’s disease have poor control over their skeletal muscles,
caused by a lack of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Large numbers of neurones
secreting dopamine are found in the basal ganglia region of the brain.

Parkinson’s disease can be diagnosed and monitored using brain scans. The fMRI
scans below show the results of a study where subjects did a standard finger-
tapping activity to investigate the effectiveness of a new drug treatment.

The results below are from a healthy brain, a patient with Parkinson’s disease
without drug treatment and a patient with Parkinson’s disease taking drug
treatment. The scan shows a horizontal section with the front of the head at the
top.

The most active areas are white.

(a) Using the fMRI scans on the previous page, discuss the effects of this new
drug on brain activity.

(b) Explain how neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, stimulate neurones.

(c) People with Parkinson’s disease have much less dopamine in their brain than
other people. Using the information already given in this question and your own
knowledge, suggest and explain how Parkinson’s disease can be treated using
drugs.

4- - The diagram below shows a rod cell from the retina of a mammal.

Describe the sequence of events which occurs when light falls on a rod cell. (5p)
5- The scientific article you have studied has been adapted from articles in new
scientist and the Patient.co.uk website.
Use the information in the article and your own knowledge to answer the
following questions.

a) Par. 26: Adenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) is a peptide hormone which is

classed as a doping.

i- Suggest why ACTH can be abused as a doping?

To enhance performance (1)

ii- What are the hazards to athletes of using drugs?

-Risk of developing heart attack, liver failure, kidney damage, infertility, eq ;

- Risks associated with the misuse of syringes when the drugs are administered by
injections.
- The use of nutritional supplements puts athletes at risk from an inadvertent
positive drug test. (3)

iii-Name one hormone, other than ACTH, released by the pituitary gland.

FSH / LH/ TSH/ GH, growth hotmone

iv- State three ways in which hormonal control differs from nervous control.

- Effect is longer lasting

- Effect is slower
- Effect is often not reversible
- Ref. to involvement of transport in blood system
- Ref. to several target organs/widespread effect
- Hormonal s. involves chemical control, nervous s. involves electrical (and
chemical) control.

b) i- par 27: Suggest what is meant by the term ‘Endogenous’ production of

testosterone.
-Made within body

ii- How does testosterone act in target cells?

- Testosterone can pass across the phospholipid cell membrane of target cell
- Binds with specific complementary receptors
- Forming hormone-receptor complex,
- Which enters nucleus and acts as transcription factor
- By binding DNA on promoter region together with RNA polymerase and
- Activates specific genes linked to protein synthesis
- mRNA is transcribed and then translated to a specific protein that modifies
the cell that results in stronger muscles and increased muscle mass.

c) par.31: In the future gene doping could potentially become a new possibility
for abuse as a performance enhancer in sport. For example, genes producing
insulin growth 1 can be injected into the body to help muscles grow and repair.

The diagrams below show some of the main steps involved in testing the DNA from
cells. The DNA is separated into fragments so that Insulin growth factor 1 genes can
be identified using a gene probe.
 IGF-1 gene

Describe the techniques involved in the steps shown above which allow the DNA to
be separated and identified using a gene probe.

- DNA samples are cut into fragments of variable length by using restriction
endonuclease;
- Samples are put into wells of agarose gel
- Electric current is passed through gel; different sized DNA fragments are
separated, The smaller the DNA fragments, the faster they move;
- After electrophoresis, DNA is converted into single strands by immersing the
gel in a strong alkali
- A thin nylon membrane is laid over the gel for Southern blotting and DNA is
deposited on the nylon membrane
- DNA gene probes containing fluorescent markers are mixed with the single-
stranded DNA
- Probes contain nucleotide sequences that are complementary to the base
sequence of IGF-1 gene
- Then the nylon membrane is placed under UV -light for visualization

d) i- par. 41: Europeans have distinct genetic disadvantage in sports as 1 in 5

Europeans cannot produce the alpha-actinin-3 protein found in fast-twitch muscle
fibres. (1)
Suggest why the presence of this protein is considered as a genetic advantage.
- increase muscle strength
- fast twitch muscle fibres contract faster and more powerfully
- domination in sprint events
 ii- Outline the differences between fast and slow twitch muscle fibres. (2)
Slow twitch has:
- more mitochondria
- more myoglobin
- less sarcoplasmic reticulum
- more capillaries
- less (stored)glycogen
- less creatine phosphate
- more resistant to fatigue/ more likely to be aerobic

e- i- Par 19: what do you understand by the term haematocrit and what group of
athletes benefit from a high haematocrit? 2

- Percentage volume of Red Blood Cells in blood

Marathon runners, endurance athletes, cyclists can benefit from this.

ii- Par.20: How can a high haematocrit be achieved legally? 2

Altitude training/ Sleeping in low oxygen tent.

Low partial pressure of oxygen stimulates endogenous production of EPO to increase
the number of red blood cells.

iii- Describe an absolutist and a relativist ethical position on the proposal to set a
maximum haematocrit level for all athletes rather than measuring erythropoietin
levels. (3)

Absolutists take the view that no drugs under any circumstances should be
allowed in sports and so the application of a max. level for RBC count
should not be allowed.
Relativists consider that the setting of max. level for RBC count is only fair
way to make sure that athletes are not tempted to increase their natural
RBC count to the point where they may be damaging their health by using
erythropoietin.

f- Par15: What are diuretics why do athletes use them?

- Substances that increase the production of urine
- To hide their use of prohibited substances during the testing process / a
more dilute urine can hide the presence of illicit substances.

(Total 30 marks)