CIE

A-Level Biology
Topic 11

Immunity
Exam questions

alevelbiology.co.uk
1.

[Total 4 marks]

alevelbiology.co.uk
2.

(a)

(b)

[Total 4 marks]

alevelbiology.co.uk
3.

alevelbiology.co.uk
4. Two people took part in a study to find out the effectiveness of two types of immunisation.
Person A received an injection of antibodies against tetanus and person B received a tetanus
vaccination.
Over the new few weeks, the blood from these two people was analysed for the presence of
antibodies to tetanus. The results are shown in Fig. 5.1A and Fig. 5.1B.

alevelbiology.co.uk
Fig. 5.1
alevelbiology.co.uk
5.

alevelbiology.co.uk
alevelbiology.co.uk
6.

[Total 5 marks]

7. (a) Rearrange the following statements to produce a flow diagram to show how monoclonal
antibodies are produced.

1 hybridoma cells cultured

2 mouse injected with antigen
3 mouse plasma cells infused with cancer cells
4 hybridoma cells making appropriate antibody cloned
5 mouse B-lymphocytes that recognize the antigen become plasma cells
[5]

alevelbiology.co.uk
(b) A monoclonal antibody has been produced that binds to a glycoprotein called tumour-
associated antigen (TAG). TAG is found in ovarian cancer and colon cancer cells.
The antibody is labelled with the radioactive isotope indium-111, ( 111In). This isotope emits low
energy gamma rays that can pass through soft tissues of the body. The half-life of indium-111 is
2.8 days.

(i) Explain how this monoclonal antibody can be used in the diagnosis of cancer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
[3]

(ii) Suggest why indium-111 is a suitable radioactive label for this diagnostic antibody.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

[3]
(iii) Suggest how the antibody could be modified in order to treat a cancer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

[2]

[Total 13 marks]

alevelbiology.co.uk
8.

alevelbiology.co.uk
9.

(a)

(b)

[Total 6 marks]

alevelbiology.co.uk
10.

[Total 5 marks]

alevelbiology.co.uk