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ENJABULWENI INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

LIFE SCIENCES PAPER II

GRADE 12

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

TEACHER: Mr G. CHISHALA TIME: 2 Hours

TOTAL MARKS: 100 DATE: 18 SEPTEMBER 2020

MODERATOR: MR R. WAIRE
INSTRUCTIONS

1. You have Eleven minutes reading time before the start of this examination

2. Answer all questions in this paper

3. Marks for the question or part marks are shown in brackets at the end of each or part
question

4. Use the marks allocated to the question or part question as a guide for your answer

5. All drawings must be in pencil and labelled in ink

6. This paper consists of fifteen printed pages including the cover page

7. Draw a marking margin

Learning outcomes

AIM 1 Knowing Life Sciences

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AIM 2 Scientific inquiry and problem solving

AIM 3 Life Sciences, Technology. Environment and Society

QUESTION 1

It’s Just Stress, Right?

A Case Study on the Endocrine System
Sheri L. Boyce Department of Biological Sciences, Messiah College, Grantham, PA

Part I – Frustration

Ellie dropped her backpack beside the chair in Dr. Kern’s office and sat down with a sigh. Her
hands trembled as she glanced again at the graded exam in her hand.

“It’s no better than the last one,” she mumbled. “I really, really tried this time, Dr. Kern. I did all the
reading assignments before and again after class. I completed all of the study guide questions
and rewrote my notes and made flash cards and studied with straight-A Cassie every week. But it
didn’t make any difference. I still failed it. “I know how discouraged you must be, Ellie. I’m so
stressed that I can’t sleep, even when I try. I can’t stand the stress anymore.”

She noted Ellie’s strikingly large blue eyes that gave her a permanent look of surprise. Ellie was
also quite thin, almost to the point of being too thin.

However, Ellie didn’t come to class on Monday or Wednesday. She emailed Dr. Kern that she
most likely had a sinus infection and would miss class on Friday to see a doctor.

Part II – Health Center

Ellie sat in a small exam room of the student health center, feverish and with a throbbing
headache. A sinus infection right before midterms was not what she needed.

Dr. Simmons entered in a rush and took a quick look at her chart. “Hmm … fever, headache,
green nasal discharge that you’ve had for two weeks. He pressed his thumbs on Ellie’s cheeks,
which nearly sent her through the ceiling. “Yep. Let’s try some antibiotics to clear that up.”

He reached for his prescription pad, but stopped and glanced at Ellie’s face again. “Your eyes
protrude a bit. Have they always been that way?” He turned her face to look at her profile and
frowned slightly.

Dr Simmons began to fire questions at her. Did she have trouble sleeping? Did she often feel
nervous or “jittery”? Had she lost weight recently? Did she often feel like the room was too warm?
Did she have frequent bowel movements or diarrhoea?
Ellie’s head spun. “Uh, y-yeah, but I’m just stressed, you know, with classes. Aren’t all those
things just signs of stress?”
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1.1.1 What specific endocrine disorder does Dr Simmons suspect Ellie is suffering from?
(1)

1.1.2 Which gland does this affect and where is this gland located in the body? (2)

1.1.3 Name the hormone involved. (1)

1.1.4 What is the target organ of this hormone? (1)

1.1.5 Give the specific name for protruding eyeballs. (1)

1.1.6 What is the significance of the slight swelling in Ellie’s neck? (1)

1.1.7 Based on the information you have at this point, do you think Ellie’s thyroid gland
is hyperactive or hypoactive? Explain your answer. (2)

1.1.8 Dr Simmons ordered blood tests to measure Ellie’s levels of thyroid hormone and
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH or thyrotropin).

1.1.8.1 If Ellie has a hyperactive thyroid, what are the expected results? (1)

1.1.8.2 What are the anticipated results if she has a hypoactive thyroid? (1)

Part III – Thyroid Trouble

Once again, Ellie sat in the exam room waiting on Dr Simmons. He flew in the door, grabbed a
stool and, to Ellie’s relief, got right to the point. “Well, your blood work does show some problems
with your thyroid. Your TSH levels are lower than they should be, your T 4 levels are a bit high and
your T3 levels are very high. Those results suggest that you might have Graves’ disease, which
means that your thyroid is releasing too much thyroid hormone. Since thyroid hormones are
responsible for your metabolic rate, that explains why your heart rate and blood pressure are
elevated, why you’ve felt nervous and can’t sleep, and why you’ve lost weight even though you
aren’t dieting.”

Ellie’s mind whirled. “Sooooo, could this also be why I can’t concentrate when I try to study and
why I can’t seem to remember anything?”

“Well, maybe,” Dr. Simmons answered. “Some studies suggest that excess thyroid hormone is
correlated with decreased attention, concentration, and working memory. In other words, your
thinking might not be as clear as it should be. However, other experts argue that it’s the anxiety
and nervousness that cause patients to feel their thinking is impaired, even though there is no
actual impairment. The good news is that with treatment patients report an improvement in their
cognitive abilities, regardless of the underlying cause.”
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Ellie felt a twinge of relief. “Oh, good! That will certainly help my grades. But why is my thyroid
releasing too much hormone? And you said my TSH levels were low. Isn’t TSH a thyroid
hormone? If my thyroid is too active, shouldn’t it be high instead of low?”
Ellie has just asked some very good questions. If you were Dr. Simmons, how would you answer
her?

1.1.9 Make use of a fully labelled diagram of the negative feedback system to assist you
in explaining this to Ellie. (6)

1.1.10 Should any special allowances or conditions be made for Nellies nervous condition
when examinations are written? Motivate your decision. (3)

1.2 Advancement in blood glucose monitoring

In addition to advances in insulin, the way patients monitor their blood glucose levels has changed
dramatically. The first portable glucose monitor was developed in 1971. Since that time, glucose
meters have become smaller and faster, and require smaller samples of blood. Most can hold
blood glucose results in a memory for easy review. The ease of monitoring glucose levels
promotes more frequent glucose checking, which improves metabolic control. The most recent
advance in glucose monitoring is the continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which gives real-time
blood glucose results. With CGM, a small device with a catheter similar to that of the insulin pump
is inserted into the skin. The CGM measures the amount of glucose in the interstitial fluid in the
cells surrounding the catheter and converts it to a glucose level reading. Eventually, CGM and
insulin pumps work in coordination to release insulin from the pump in response to the real-time
blood glucose from the CGM. Research is currently in development for this closed-loop system,
which will nearly mimic the actions of the pancreas (steak et al, 2007)

https://books.google.com/books

1.2.1 State TWO advantages that come with this portable glucose machine. (2)
1.2.2 Explain what will help the diabetic patient, once the continuous glucose monitor real
time reading is above normal range. (6)
1.2.3 Sue is a second year university student and she is diabetic. She has a full time job
to manage her tuition and other bills so she is busy all the time. How could this
machine be helpful to Sue who has such a busy schedule? (2)
[30]
QUESTION 2
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Fig. 1.1 is a diagram of a longitudinal section of a human spermatozoa (sperm).

Fig. 1.1
2.1.1 With reference to Fig. 1.1,
(i) Name the structures labelled B AND D (2)
(ii) Describe briefly the roles of structures B and D in fertilisation. (2)
2.1.2 Calculate the actual size of the spermatozoa using the scale line provided. Show
your calculations. (4)
2.1.3 Give two differences between the sperm cell and the egg cell. (2)

2.2 The ability of sperm to penetrate oocytes whose zona pellucida had been removed was
investigated. Freshly ejaculated sperm were compared with sperm that had been frozen,
stored and then thawed. The percentage of oocytes penetrated by sperm at different
times after ejaculation or thawing is shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2
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2.2.1 With reference to Fig. 1.2;

i) Compare the ability of the two types of sperm to penetrate oocytes at

different periods of time after ejaculation and thawing. (3)
ii) How does the data from the fresh sperm support the behaviour of sperm
in natural conception? (2)
iii) Suggest an explanation for the behaviour of the frozen sperm immediately
after thawing. (2)

2.3 The charts below show the menstrual period, the thickness of the uterus lining and the
level of hormones for the first 14 days of the menstrual cycle. Answer 2.3.1 on this
question paper.

Endometrial

e lining
lining

Endometrial
lining lining

lining

Diagram depicting thickness of the endometrial lining

2.3.1 If ovulation occurs on day 14, complete the charts showing the uterus lining and
hormone levels:
(a) assuming that fertilisation occurred (3)
(b) assuming that fertilisation did not occur. (3)
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2.3.2 It is possible for a woman who has not yet ovulated, but has had sexual
intercourse, to fall pregnant. Explain how this can happen. (3)
2.3.3 Explain how the “rhythm method” could have been used to prevent a pregnancy
that occurred in this way. (2)
2.3.4 The “injectable hormonal implant” is often recommended as a method of
contraception to use for people living in poverty who are sexually active. Why do
think this is the case? (2)
[30]

QUESTION 3

'For those couples who are not capable of having children, surrogate motherhood is the
best option.'

Using the source material provided as well as your own knowledge, discuss your opinion on the
above statement in the form of a 2½ - 3 page essay.

To answer this question you are expected to:

 Read the source material carefully and present a debated argument to illustrate your
point of view.

 Select relevant information from sources A to E below.

 It is important to integrate your own relevant biological knowledge.

 Take a definite stand on the question and arrange the information to best develop your
argument.

 Write in a way that is scientifically appropriate and communicates your point of view clearly.

 Provide a clear plan of your essay before you start writing. Note that the plan will be
marked as part of the assessment of this question.

[40]
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SOURCE D
Legal aspects of surrogacy
The Children’s Act, outlining Surrogacy in South Africa, was promulgated on 1 April 2020. This
legislation protects the rights of the unborn child and the responsibilities of the intended parents
and surrogate mother.
The legislation summarized:
The Intended Parents
 Intended parents must live in South Africa.
 Intended parents must have medical proof of the need for a surrogate mother.
 Intended parents must have been psychologically assessed as regards their emotional
disposition towards a surrogacy program.
 The egg and sperm of either one or both of the intended parents must be used for
conception.
 Should both intended parents be male, the intended parents are required to show a
female influence in the life of the child.
 Intended parents are not discriminated against based on race, relationship status or
sexual preference.
 Intended parents may not advertise for the services of a surrogate mother.

The Surrogate Mother

 The surrogate mother must live in South Africa.
 She must undergo a medical and psychological assessment of her suitability to surrogate.
 Must have had at least one successful pregnancy.
 She must have at least one living child of her own.
 She must be prepared to surrogate for no financial rewards.

The Surrogacy Agreement

 A surrogacy agreement must be drawn up.
 Both intended parents, the surrogate mother and her partner/husband must sign the
agreement.
 The surrogacy agreement with supporting documentation, must be presented to the High
Court by appropriately commissioned surrogacy attorneys, for the granting of a High
Court order stating that the surrogacy may proceed.
 The granting of a court order results in no adoption of the child, by the intended parents
being necessary.
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 An agency may not accept payment for the match and management of surrogates and
intended parents.

Adopted from: www.giftovlife.com

SOURCE E

Maximum age for IVF treatment : 41 years

Approximate cost of one IVF treatment: R60 000 to R120 000
Initial consultation: R1 200 upwards
Initial blood tests: R1 200 upwards
Success rates … 25% - 30%
Source: surrogacy the truth: health24.com

SOURCE F

Adoption

‘Every child has a right to grow up in a loving family unit. No institution, no matter how well
managed, can match the feeling of belonging that a family can provide.’

Sheri Shenker: Adoption Accredited Social Worker.

TOTAL 200 MARKS