Worksheet 3.

2
Chapter 3: The chemistry of life – command term to
master
Discuss Give an account including, where possible, a range of arguments for
and against the relative importance of various factors, or
comparisons of alternative hypotheses.

Example
Assessment statement 3.5.5 Discuss the relationship between one gene and one polypeptide.

Author’s comment
Note: Originally, it was assumed that one gene would invariably code for one polypeptide, but many
exceptions have been found.
The mark schemes for discuss questions will always contain at least two subsections. One section
awards marks for ‘one side’ of a discussion and another section awards marks for ‘another side or
sides’ of the same discussion.
From a historical perspective, the idea that one gene leads to the synthesis of one polypeptide
represents the ‘middle era’ of thinking. At one time, the thinking was that one gene was enough
information to lead to the formation of one protein. Then it was discovered that many proteins contain
more than one type of polypeptide bonded together to form the final protein. Haemoglobin is a good
example of this. This led to the one gene/one polypeptide era of thinking. We now know that some
genes can be transcribed (mRNA formation) in different patterns leading to the formation of different
mRNA molecules. We also know that when RNA is edited (introns removed and exons spliced
together), the exons can be spliced together in different order, which leads to different final mRNA
molecules – all created from the same gene.
A good response to a question from this assessment statement would document each of these lines of
thinking.

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