New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Second Edition)

Question Bank – New Questions

Chapter 28 Biotechnology

Multiple-choice questions

[10176931] Comparison High order thinking

* The diagram below shows the DNA fingerprints of individuals W, X, Y and Z.

Which of the following statements correctly describes the family relationship

between W, X, Y and Z?
A W is the child of Y and Z.
B X is the child of W and Y.
C Y is the child of X and Z.
D Z is the child of W and X.
D
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New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Second Edition) Chapter 28
Question Bank – New Questions

[10176942] Graph interpretation High order thinking

* A sample containing DNA fragments X, Y and Z of different lengths was loaded

into a well of a gel slab and the fragments were separated using gel
electrophoresis. The graph below shows the lengths of X, Y and Z.

Which of the diagrams below shows the bands on the gel slab after gel
electrophoresis and the DNA fragments they contain?
A

B
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New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Second Edition) Chapter 28
Question Bank – New Questions

Short questions

[10176946] STSE Reading comprehension High order thinking

* Read the following paragraph and answer the questions.

Chymosin is an enzyme used in the production of cheese. Traditionally, farmers
kill the calves and obtain chymosin from the calf stomachs. Nowadays,
chymosin can be made by genetically modified (GM) yeast produced using
recombinant DNA technology. The GM yeast containing the gene for chymosin
synthesize chymosin and release it into the culture solution. Chymosin is then
separated from the yeast and purified for the production of cheese.

a Describe how GM yeast containing the gene for chymosin can be produced
using recombinant DNA technology. (4 marks)
b Give two advantages of using recombinant DNA technology to produce
chymosin over the traditional method. (2 marks)
c Explain why cheese produced using chymosin made by GM yeast may be
acceptable to people who are against GM foods. (1 mark)

-- answer --
a The DNA fragments containing the gene for chymosin are obtained from a donor
cell. 1m
The DNA fragments and the plasmids from yeast cells are cut using the same
restriction enzyme. 1m
The DNA fragments and the plasmids are joined together using a DNA ligase.
1m
The recombinant plasmids are introduced into yeast cells. 1m
b The production yield of chymosin is much higher. 1m
Calves are not needed to be killed for chymosin. 1m
(or other reasonable answers)
c The cheese does not contain any GM yeast. 1m
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New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Second Edition) Chapter 28
Question Bank – New Questions

[10176948] Cross-topic Comparison

* To determine the biological father of a boy, blood samples from the boy, the
boy’s mother and two men who claimed to be the boy’s father were collected and
analysed. The blood groups of them were determined and DNA fingerprints were
obtained. The table below shows their blood groups.
Boy Mother Man X Man Y
Blood group O A O B

The diagram below shows their DNA fingerprints. The bands are numbered for
easy reference.

a Based on the blood groups of the four people, can you tell which man is
more likely to be the biological father of the boy? Explain briefly. (Given
that the alleles for the antigens that determine blood groups are IA, IB and i.)
(3 marks)
b With reference to the DNA fingerprints, can you tell which man is more
likely to be the biological father of the boy? Explain briefly. (2 marks)
c Based on your answers in a and b, state which of the two methods,
matching blood types or DNA fingerprinting, is more useful in a parentage
test. (1 mark)

-- answer --
a No. The boy is of blood group O. He must have received one allele i from each
parent. Therefore, his father must possess at least one allele i. 1m
Man X is of blood group O. His genotype is ii. Man Y is of blood group B. One of
the possible genotypes is IBi. 1m
The allele i of the boy may have received from either man. Therefore, both men

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New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Second Edition) Chapter 28
Question Bank – New Questions

are likely to be the biological father of the boy. 1m

b Yes. Half of the DNA bands of the boy are common to those of his mother (i.e.
bands 9, 12, 14 and 15) and the other half are common to those of man Y (i.e.
bands 26, 28, 29 and 30). 1m
Therefore, man Y is more likely to be the biological father of the boy. 1m
c DNA fingerprinting 1m
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Structured question

[10176950] Cross-topic Graph interpretation High order thinking

** A gene (Sub1A) on chromosome 9 of rice plants was found to be involved in

tolerance of submergence. Submergence is a condition in which the rice plants
are completely covered with water. The diagram below shows the alleles of the
gene in a submergence-tolerant rice plant and a submergence-intolerant rice
plant.

The allele Sub1A-1 codes for a protein that induces the expression of the gene for
an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. Alcohol dehydrogenase catalyses the
breakdown of alcohol.
a i What is meant by an allele? (1 mark)
ii Sub1A-1 is activated when the plant is submerged. Explain the
importance of producing alcohol dehydrogenase in submerged
conditions. (3 marks)
Scientists introduced Sub1A-1 allele into a submergence-intolerant rice plant
using recombinant DNA technology to produce a genetically-modified (GM) rice
plant which has a high tolerance to submergence.
b Rice plants having a high tolerance to submergence can also be produced by
selecting certain rice plants to breed. Give one advantage of using
recombinant DNA technology to produce a plant having a high tolerance to
submergence over this method. (1 mark)

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New Senior Secondary Mastering Biology (Second Edition) Chapter 28
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c A submergence-intolerant rice plant grows more rapidly in response to

submergence. In an investigation, the heights of the GM rice plant (X) and a
submergence-intolerant rice plant (Y) before and after submergence in
water for 11 days were measured. The graph below shows the results.

i Compare the effect of submergence on X and Y. (1 mark)

ii With reference to the results of this investigation, explain how
introducing Sub1A-1 allele to a submergence-intolerant rice plant
increases its chance of survival in submerged conditions. (2 marks)

-- answer --
a i An allele is one of the alternative forms of a gene. 1m
ii When the plant is submerged, oxygen supply to the plant is inadequate.
1m
The plant switches to anaerobic respiration. Alcohol is produced which is
toxic to the plant. 1m
Alcohol dehydrogenase catalyses the breakdown of alcohol. It helps remove
alcohol in the plant. 1m
b The plant can be produced more quickly. 1m
c i X grew less rapidly than Y. 1m
ii As the plant with the allele grows less rapidly in submerged conditions, less
energy is needed. 1m
The rate of respiration is lower. Less alcohol is accumulated in the plant.
Thus, the chance of survival of the plant increases. 1m
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