Q1.

(a)     Describe how mRNA is formed by transcription in eukaryotes.

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(5)

(b)     Describe how a polypeptide is formed by translation of mRNA.

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(6)

(c)     Define ‘gene mutation’ and explain how a gene mutation can have:

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 •        no effect on an individual
•        a positive effect on an individual.

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(4)
(Total 15 marks)

Q2.
The fruit fly is a species of small insect.

The fruit fly has a gene that codes for an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (AD). AD
catalyses the breakdown of alcohol when alcohol is in the insects’ food.

The gene coding for AD has two alleles, ADF and ADS.

(a)  The enzyme encoded by the ADF allele catalyses the breakdown of alcohol faster

than the enzyme encoded by the ADS allele. Suggest why.

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 ___________________________________________________________________
(3)

A scientist took a random sample of adult fruit flies from a population. He measured the
frequency of the ADF allele in this sample (generation 0). He then:

•   selected 100 of these insects at random and kept them in a container

•   fed the insects food containing alcohol
•   let the insects reproduce
•   repeated these steps for 45 generations of fruit fly reproduction.

The scientist measured the frequency of the ADF allele in the 45th generation.

(b)  Suggest why the scientist took his sample from the population at random.

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(1)

The table below shows the scientist’s results.

 
Generation of fruit
Frequency of ADF
fly reproduction

0 0.20

45 0.74

(c)  Alcohol is toxic to fruit flies. Suggest and explain why the frequency of the ADF allele
changed during the 45 generations.

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 (4)

(d)  Identify the type of selection investigated in the 45 generations of fruit fly

reproduction.

Tick (✓) one box.

 

No selection

Directional selection

Random selection

Stabilising selection

(1)
(Total 9 marks)

Q3.
(a)  In taxonomy, an organism is identified by referring to the species name and the
genus name.

What term is used to describe this method of naming organisms?

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(1)

(b)  Define the term mutagenic agent.

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(1)

(c)  Figure 1 shows how the species Spartina townsendii is produced.

The number of chromosomes in cells is shown in some of the boxes.

Figure 1

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 Complete Figure 1 by giving the correct number of chromosomes in each of the
boxes.
(1)

A mutation in the number of chromosomes in a S. townsendii cell produced a new

species, Spartina anglica.

Figure 2 shows the number of chromosomes in leaf cells of these species.

Figure 2

(d)  Name the type of mutation that changed the number of chromosomes in S.

townsendii to produce S. anglica. Explain your answer.

Name of mutation  ___________________________________________________

Explanation  ________________________________________________________

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(3)

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 (e)  Genetic variation within a species is increased during meiosis by crossing over and
the independent segregation of homologous chromosomes.

Apart from mutation, explain one other way genetic variation within a species is
increased.

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(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q4.
Table 1 shows how a bird called the bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) is classified by
biologists.

Table 1
 
Taxon Name of taxon

Domain Eukaryota

Animalia

Chordata

Aves

Passeriformes

Muscicapidae

Genus

Species

(a)     Complete Table 1 by filling the seven blank spaces with the correct terms.
(2)

A group of scientists investigated genetic diversity in different species of bird. For each
species, the scientists:
•        collected feathers from a large number of birds
•        extracted DNA from cells attached to each feather
•        analysed the samples of DNA to find genetic diversity.

Table 2 summarises their results.

Table 2
 

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 Species of bird Number of genes Number of genes
examined examined that
showed
genetic diversity

Willow flycatcher 708 197

House finch 269 80

Bluethroat 232 81

(b)     In this investigation, what is meant by genetic diversity?

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(1)

(c)     The scientists concluded that the bluethroat showed greater genetic diversity than
the willow flycatcher. Explain why they reached this conclusion. Use calculations to
support your answer.

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(2)
(Total 5 marks)

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