5 Answers to end-of-chapter questions

1 B [1]
2 C [1]
3 B [1]
4 C [1]
5 C [1]
6 C [1]
7 C [1]
8 B [1]
9 D [1]
Structured questions
10 a • Purines: adenine and guanine [1]
• Pyrimidines: thymine and cytosine [1]

b
5'
  3’  3’3'

G or C C or G

T or A A or T

3' 5' 6 labels [3]

4–5 labels [2]
• Note that A pairs with T and C with G 2–3 labels [1]

ii Hydrogen bonds [1]

iii Shown on diagram [2]

c i • Refers to the direction of the two strands

• One end of the DNA molecule is a phosphate – labelled 5' (5 prime)
• At the other end is a hydroxyl group – labelled 3'.
• This DNA strand runs in the 5' → 3' direction
• It is the polar hydroxyl group that relates to the term ‘polarity’
• The 2nd strand runs in the 3' → 5' direction
• The strands are said to be antiparallel Well described [2]

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 ii Shown on diagram above [1]

iii The two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between the bases [1]

d • Chromosomes: when cell division begins, DNA coils around the proteins
forming visible structures called chromosomes. A pair of chromatids joined
by a centromere form the chromosome. It therefore consists of a pair of
sister chromatids [2]
• Chromatin: is a mass of uncoiled DNA and associated proteins called histones.
Chromatin appears to be loosely coiled, long thin threads spread throughout the
nucleus. [1]

11 a • Replication: molecule can be copied perfectly over and over again so it can be
passed down from cell to cell and generation to generation
• Expression: production of proteins from coded information in the DNA [2]

Well drawn diagram which shows correct

base pairing [3]
[note: 2 rows dots between a and T; 3 rows between C and G]

c • To have a complete set of the genetic information / all nuclei are

genetically identical / same genetic information
• So that the proteins coded for by the DNA remain the same from
generation to generation / the functioning of cell would remain the
same
• No changes to genetic information / mutation
• If there are changes, proteins would change / cells would not
function effectively Each point 1 mark [max 2]

d i Yes:
• Their hypothesis suggested that the resulting DNA molecules
would be made up of one old strand and one new strand
• After one generation / the 2nd generation, one intermediate
band (14N/15N) would be seen
• This is because the new DNA strands would be made up of an
old strand (15N) and a new strand (14N) / two isotopes in one
molecule
• In the 3rd generation, 2 bands would be seen; an intermediate
band and a light band
• This is because the parent strands from the 2nd generation
both have a strand with 15N and light band, 14N. These Well explained
strands would separate to act as a template, giving rise to two using three pieces
bands of evidence [3]

ii Semi-conservative [1]

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 iii

[2]

e
Percentage of base present
DNA Cytosine Adenine Guanine Thymine
sample
Strand 1 24 38 26 12
Strand 2 26 12 24 38 [2]

Essay questions

12 a

mRNA
• essentially linear
• number of nucleotides varies / length
of a gene
• carries the code for proteins in form
of codons, in form of 3 adjacent
nucleotides coding for an amino acid
• no place of attachment for amino
acid
tRNA
• folds into a clover-leaf
shape
• about 80 nucleotides long
• consists of a single
anticodon
• attaches to an amino acid
and carries it to ribosome Any 2 points [2]

b i • Used in transcription – the production of an mRNA molecule

that has a complementary base sequence to one strand of a
length of DNA
• The RNA polymerase proceeds to ‘read’ one strand / reference /
coding strand of the DNA
• As the RNA polymerase travels along the DNA strand, it
assembles ribonucleotides into a strand of RNA
• It catalyses the condensation reactions that take place to form
phosphodiester bonds between the adjacent nucleotides
• Each ribonucleotide is inserted into the growing RNA strand
following the rules of base pairing
• Thus for each C encountered on the DNA strand, a G is inserted
in the RNA; for each G, a C; for each T, an A and for A, a U 6–7 points [3]

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 • The enzyme also checks that the bases have been correctly 4–5 points [2]
paired up 2–3 points [1]
ii • Used in translation of mRNA – the process by which the code
for making a protein, now carried by the mRNA molecule, is
used to line up amino acids in a particular sequence and link
them together to form a polypeptide
• It has an anticodon complementary to the codon on mRNA
• It works as an adaptor that matches the amino acids to their
codons
• Each amino acid has its own tRNA
• Specific enzymes / tRNA transferases for each amino acid load
the specific amino acid on the tRNA
• The tRNA–amino acid complex then moves to the ribosomes
• It binds to the complementary codon
• Allows for correct sequence of amino acids along the growing 3–4 points [2]
polypeptide 2 points [1]

iii • Used in translation in protein synthesis

• Composed of large and small subunits
• Function is to hold in position mRNA, tRNA and enzymes
controlling the process
• Holds in the small subunit in a cleft six nucleotides or two
codons at a time / provides a structural site for mRNA
• In large subunit, two tRNA–amino acid complexes are held
• When the peptide linkage is formed between the amino acids, 3–4 points [2]
the ribosome moves down one codon 2 points [1]

c • Two strands present held by hydrogen bonds

• Therefore, bonds can break to separate strands and allow each
strand to act as a template
• Semiconservative method of replication
• Free nucleotides pair with each strand
• Complementary base paring / purine to pyrimidine / A–T; C–G 6–7 points [3]
• Results in two DNA molecules that are identical to each other 4–5 points [2]
• Each consists of one strand from parent and one new strand 2–3 points [1]

d • Inhibit synthesis of new DNA strands so cells would not replicate.

If DNA replicated, more cells would be produced to form a tumour
• Inhibit the production of one of the nucleotides so that
complementary basepairing in replication does not occur
• Disrupt production of DNA and RNA so that replication,
transcription and translation do not occur 1 point each[max 3]

13 a

DNA
• made up of two strands
• sugar is deoxyribose
• base thymine present
• molecule is large
RNA
• made up of one strand
• sugar is ribose
• base uracil present Any 2 points [2]
• molecule is shorter [max 4]

b Transcription
• DNA helicase breaks hydrogen bonds between DNA strands
• DNA strands separate / DNA unzips

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 • Exposing required gene / sequence of nucleotides
• One strand / sense / coding / reference strand is used as template
• Complementary base pairing: C–G; G–C; T–A; A–U
• RNA polymerase catalyses the condensation reactions that take place to form
phosphodiester bonds between the adjacent nucleotides, forming mRNA
• The enzyme also checks that the bases have been correctly paired up 7–8 points [4]
• RNA polymerase continues moving along the sense strand of DNA 5–6 points [3]
until it reaches the end of the gene 3–4 points [2]
• mRNA then passes through the nuclear pore to the ribosomes 1–2 points [1]

Translation
• Occurs in the ribosome
• Codon carried on the transcribed mRNA
• mRNA held in the small subunit / in a cleft 6 nucleotides or two codons
at a time / provides a structural site for mRNA
• Codon binds with complementary anticodon
• The specific tRNA for the complementary codon attaches the specific
amino acid, catalysed by a tRNA transferase
• In large subunit, two tRNA–amino acid complexes are held
• Process is made up of initiation, elongation and termination
• Initiation – involves the tRNA with an anticodon that is complementary
to the first codon, AUG
• The tRNA with the appropriate amino acid, methionine, binds to the
codon by hydrogen bonding
• The next tRNA with the specific amino acid dictated by the codon
arrives in the large subunit
• It binds with the complementary codon
• A peptide bond is formed between the two amino acids in the ribosomes
resulting in elongation of the strand
• The ribosome moves one codon and another specific amino acid is
added 7–8 points [4]
• This continues until a stop signal is encountered / termination 5–6 points [3]
• The polypeptide is released 3–4 points [2]
• The ribosome subunits separate 1–2 points [1]

Transcription
• synthesis of mRNA from
DNA
• occurs in nucleus
• linking of nucleotides
• phosphodiester bonds formed
• involves producing codons
• catalysed by RNA
polymerase
Translation
• synthesis of proteins from
mRNA
• occurs in cytoplasm /
ribosomes
• linking of amino acids
• peptide bonds formed
• involves joining of codons
and anticodons
• catalysed by various Any 3 points
enzymes in ribosomes [max 3]

14 a i Unwinds DNA by breaking hydrogen bonds [1]

ii • Proceeds along template strand / the single stranded 5' → 3'

direction

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 • Obtaining complementary nucleotides/ A–T; C–G)
• Catalyses the condensation between two nucleotides to form a
phosphodiester bond 1 point 1 mark [max 3]

iii • Joins pieces of replicated DNA / lagging strands [1]

• With a phosphodiester bond [1]

b • So that the resulting DNA molecules would be identical to parent

DNA [1]
• To carry the exact genetic information / allow for exact replication [1]

c • DNA is double-stranded and antiparallel / one strand runs in a

5' → 3' direction, the other in a 3' → 5' direction
• Replication is catalysed by DNA polymerase
• DNA polymerase synthesises the new DNA strand only in a 5' → 3'
direction
• This means that it has to jump ahead in one of the strands and
synthesise the DNA backwards in pieces
• One strand would be therefore produced continuously / leading and
the other in pieces / lagging Any 2 points [2]

Transcription Replication
• 1 DNA strand copied / sense • 2 DNA strands copied
strand
• RNA polymerase used • DNA polymerase used
• mRNA / codons produced • DNA molecules / sister
chromatids
• base uracil instead of thymine • base thymine instead of uracil
used used
• only a short piece of DNA / • entire DNA unzips
gene unzips Any 2 points [2]
e Tumour formation
• Cells may activate the enzyme telomerase which prevents the telomeres from
getting shorter [1]
• Cells can continue to divide uncontrollably [1]

Aging
• When the telomere gets too short, cells stop dividing / no
replacement of cells [1]

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