1

1 ​Define the term ​mitosis​.

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[Total: 1]

The petal colour in a species of plant can be white or blue.

2

The allele for blue petals is dominant to the allele for white petals.

The allele for blue petals is represented by ​B ​and the allele for white petals is represented by

b​. Two ​heterozygous ​blue plants were crossed.

Complete the diagram below to show the results of this cross.

blue petals genotype

parental offspring phenotype

phenotype ............ ............ ............ ............

............ ............ ............ ............

parental

genotype .................
​ gametes

offspring
blue petals .................

ratio blue : white ................. .................

 [5]

[Total: 5]
2

3
A fertilised egg develops into a baby.

Explain why there are approximately equal numbers of male and female babies in humans.

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[Total:

3]

4
Inheritance of sex in humans is controlled by two chromosomes which are given the symbols
X and Y.

The diagram below is a flow diagram showing how two parents can produce a ​female ​baby.

female
parent

egg
male
 parent

female baby

sperm

zygote

Complete the diagram by:

• ​writing in each ​circle ​on the diagram, the symbols for the sex chromosomes that are present ​•
writing in each ​box ​on the diagram, the name of the type of cell division that occurs. [6]

[Total: 6]

5 ​Explain how discontinuous variation differs from continuous variation, in its expression and cause.

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[Total: 3]

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disease. The gene for haemoglobin exists in two forms, ​Hb​N
6
and ​Hb​S​. People who are ​Hb​S​Hb​S​have the disease and experience symptoms including fatigue
and extreme pain in their joints. People who are ​Hb​N​Hb​S​are carriers of the disease and may
have mild symptoms, if any at all.

The table below shows four genetic terms.

Complete the table below by stating a specific example, used in the paragraph above, of
each genetic term.
 genetic term example used in the passage

an allele

a heterozygous genotype

a homozygous genotype

phenotype

[4]

[Total: 4]

7 ​Explain the meaning of the term ​dominant ​allele.

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[Total: 1]

8 ​PCBs are toxic to many organisms because they bind to a protein molecule known as AHR.

The Atlantic tomcod, ​Microgadus tomcod​, is a fish that lives in the Hudson River and other
rivers nearby.

90% of the tomcod population in the Hudson River is resistant to the effects of PCBs. This is
because these fish have a different type of AHR compared with other tomcod populations.
5

(a) (i) ​Suggest how this resistance came about.

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(ii)
Scientists predict that the proportion of fish resistant to PCBs will decrease if
the concentration of PCBs in the river decreases.

Suggest reasons why the proportion of fish with the altered AHR protein might

decrease.

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[Total: 7]

9 (a) ​Potatoes exist in different shapes and sizes as shown in the diagram below.

Some potato varieties are frost resistant, others are rich in vitamins or contain antioxidants.

Suggest ​two ​other features that growers might want to introduce into a new variety of

potato.

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2......................................................................................................................................... [2]

Potatoes can be grown from seeds.

 (b)

Seeds can be obtained by breeding two varieties of potatoes together. The six

statements ​A ​to ​E ​describe stages in producing a new variety of potato. These

statements are ​not ​in the correct order.

A ​collect pollen from the first potato plant

B ​collect the seeds and use them to grow new plants

C ​cover the second plant to exclude bees

D ​place pollen on the stigma of the second potato plant

E ​remove the anthers from the second potato plant

F ​select varieties with the feature you want to breed together Put each of

the stages in the correct order by writing letters in the empty boxes. Two of the

boxes have been done for you.

E C

[2]

[Total: 4]

10
The diagram below shows the life cycle of the nematode ​C. elegans. ​The diploid number of
this species is 12.
7

adult which has

both male and
female sex organs

diploid body cells

of the adult
P

sperm
 Q
larval stage

egg
embryo passes
out of adult and
continues
development

not drawn to scale

(a)
Suggest why there is very little genetic variation in the offspring of the adult nematode
shown in the diagram above.

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(b) ​State the haploid number of ​C.elegans.​

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(c) ​Explain why ​meiosis ​occurs at ​P a

​ nd ​mitosis ​occurs at ​Q​.

meiosis at ​P​.......................................................................................................................
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mitosis at ​Q​........................................................................................................................

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(d)
​ as one of the first organisms to have its genome sequenced.
C. elegans w

An organism's genome is the sum of all its genetic material. Gene sequencing identifies all
the component parts of the DNA that makes up the genome.

State where DNA is located in a cell.

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[Total: 8]