Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.1 The history of genetics

Question Answer Marks Guidance
number
1 He found that characteristics were inherited in clear and predictable 1
patterns,
that some characteristics were dominant over others, 1
and that they never mixed together. 1
2a People couldn’t see units of inheritance, 1
so no proof of their existence. 1
People were unused to studying careful records of results. 1
2b Microscopes enabled people to see chromosomes cell nucleus 1
and observe chromosome movement in meiosis. 1
This proved mechanism for Mendel’s principles of inheritance, 1
promoting their acceptance.
3 Wilkins and Franklin 1
examined structure of DNA using X-rays. 1
Watson and Crick 1
worked on 3‑D DNA model to explain how it works. 1
Watson and Crick ultimately developed double helix structure for DNA 1
molecule
based on Franklin’s X-ray results. 1

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.2 Theories of evolution

Question Answer Marks Guidance
number
1a development of all species of living and extinct organisms 1
from simple life forms 1
developed more than 3 billion years ago, 1
through a process of natural selection 1
1b Process by which evolution takes place. 1
Every population contains great variation. 1
More offspring are produced than can survive. 1
Only animals and plants best adapted to environment (the ‘fittest’) 1
will survive to breed and pass on their characteristics. 1
2 Points may include: 5 Any other thoughtful point.
• helped pave way for Darwin’s ideas,
• stimulated Darwin’s thinking,
• first theory to challenge creation of world by God,
• instigated debate on origins of life,
• flaws in Lamarck’s theory made Darwin’s theory more plausible.
3a Different types of same bird lived in slightly different areas, 1
making Darwin question how they came about. 1
3b Species varied from island to island, 1
making Darwin wonder how differences arose. 1
3c Gave Darwin time to collect many specimens 1
then make observations and consider theories. 1
3d Gave Darwin time to review specimens, drawings, and observations 1
before developing theories and ideas 1
and gathering evidence to support them. 1

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.3 Accepting Darwin’s ideas

Question Answer Marks Guidance
number
1 Finches had adapted to differing environments 1
by natural selection. 1
Adaptations evolved for particular environments 1
made finch species look different. 1
2 Breeding experiments with pigeons 1
to show how features could be artificially selected, as evidence for 1
natural selection seen in Galapagos finches.
Examination of different barnacle types and their habitats to show 1
adaptation of organisms to environment.
3 Points may include: 6 Any other valid point.
• Darwin’s ideas challenged popular and longstanding belief that
God made animals and plants,
• Darwin’s evidence was insufficient to convince some scientists,
• Darwin’s theory lacked obvious mechanism for inheritance.

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.4 Evolution and speciation

Question Answer Marks Guidance
number
1a geographical isolation: populations physically isolated by geographical 1
feature,
such as new mountain range, river, or island; 1
environmental isolation: organisms separated by climate change in a 1
particular area
1b Conditions in different isolated areas differ. 1
Different characteristics confer advantages in different environments 1
and will be selected for. 1
Organisms become increasingly specialised for isolated environment 1
until they cannot interbreed
and new species evolve (speciation). 1
2 Part of population becomes isolated under new environmental 1
conditions.
Alleles for characteristics enabling organisms to survive and breed 1
successfully in changed environment will be selected for.
These are likely to differ from the alleles selected for in original 1
environment.
Selection of different alleles for success in new environment causes 1
characteristics of isolated organisms to change.
Eventually, isolated organisms can no longer interbreed with original 1
organisms
and new species forms (speciation). 1

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.5 Evidence for evolution

Question Answer Marks Guidance
number
1a no one there to see it, 1
early organisms soft‑bodied so few fossils formed and most early 1
fossils destroyed by geological activity
1b demonstrate how plants and animals have changed over time, 1
how different organisms have developed, 1
and that some no longer exist 1
2a rock fossils 1
2b millions of years 1
2c when animal or plant does not decay after death 1
as preserved in ice or peat; 1
when hard parts of animal or plant replaced by other minerals, forming 1
part of rock (rock fossil);
when impression of organism made in mud becomes fossilised (mould 1
fossil);
when mould is filled in by minerals (cast fossil); 1
when traces (footprints, burrows, droppings) are preserved 1
3a Animal or plant buried in ice 1
where conditions for decay are absent (temperature too low), 1
so does not decay after death. 1
3b animals and plants preserved almost intact, giving clear insight into 1
what organism looked like;
very rare and often thousands of years old; 1
can show what animal had been eating or colour of long-extinct flower; 1
DNA can be extracted and compared to DNA of modern organisms 1

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.6 Fossils and extinction

Question Answer Marks Guidance
number
1 shows how tall they were, 1
what their feet were like, 1
what terrain they walked on, 1
how fast they moved 1
2 Complete record gives clear picture of how species evolves over time 1
in response to changing environmental conditions. 1
Some organisms have changed little – fossil sharks very similar to 1
modern sharks as they evolved early into a form almost perfectly
adapted to their environment.
Records not always complete. 1
3a rapid population decline 1
as prey population unable to adapt quickly enough 1
to avoid new predators 1
3b rapid population decline, 1
especially where whole population is close together (e.g., on island), 1
as disease spreads more rapidly than population can adapt to survive it 1
3c competitive advantage (from mutation or due to newly introduced 1
species)
of one organism over another can cause rapid population decline 1
in species unable to adapt quickly enough to compete effectively 1

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.7 More about extinction

Question Answer Marks Guidance
number
1a Any four from: 4 Any other valid point.
• new predators,
• new diseases,
• successful competition,
• environmental changes.
1b Any two from: 2 Any other valid point.
• massive volcanic eruption,
• collision of giant asteroids with the Earth,
• major climate change.
2 Without extinction, unsuccessful species would not die out 1 Any other valid point.
and there would be too much competition for resources. 1
Evolution of new species would be difficult as no niches to exploit. 1
3a crater, 1
layer of rock debris, 1
mineral formed when massive force hits rocks, 1
age of rocks suggest impact happened immediately before dinosaur 1
mass extinction event
3bi Asteroid impact would have blasted lots of dust and debris into 1
atmosphere
and triggered fires, earthquakes, and landslides 1
generating more smoke and dust. 1
3 b ii Levels of light reaching Earth would have been much reduced, 1
which would have stopped plants growing 1
and caused very low temperatures. 1
This global winter would have caused mass extinctions through 1
starvation and freezing.

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.8 Antibiotic resistant bacteria

Question Answer Marks Guidance

number
1a bacterium 1
1b MRSA has developed resistance to many antibiotics, including 1
methicillin,
as a result of extensive non‑essential antibiotic use in hospitals. 1
Small colonies of antibiotic resistant bacteria have survived and 1
reproduced, leading to antibiotic resistance.
2 flow chart should include: 6
colony of bacteria treated with antibiotic A → 5% survive through
mutation → surviving bacteria form new colony resistant to antibiotic A
and no longer affected by it → colony of bacteria treated with antibiotic
B → 5% survive through mutation → surviving bacteria form new colony
resistant to antibiotics A and B and no longer affected by them
3a antibiotic resistance caused by increased use of antibiotics/lower 1
hygiene standards in hospitals/spread of bacteria via hands and
clothing of medical staff
3b Any four from: 4 Any other valid point.
• reduction in prescription of antibiotics,
• treating specific infections with specific antibiotics,
• reminders to medical staff to wash hands/use alcohol gel
between patients,
• reminders to patients and visitors to wash hands/use alcohol gel
on entering and leaving medical facilities,
• increasing hygiene standards in hospitals,
• treating patients affected by antibiotic resistant strains of
bacteria in isolation.

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.9 Classification

Question Answer Marks Guidance

number
1 organisation of living organisms into groups according to their 1
similarities and differences
2ai animals, 1
plants 1
2 a ii archaea, 1
eubacteria, 1
protista, 1
fungi, 1
plants, 1
animals 1
2b Fewer organisms known when Linnaean system developed, 1
all classification based on observation of organism appearance. 1
Many more organisms have since been discovered observed using new 1
techniques.
3a smallest main group in classification, 1
group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. 1
3b Any five examples. 5
4a system by which organisms are named, 1
with two names indicating genus and species 1
4b Enables scientists globally 1
to discuss huge variety of living and extinct organisms 1
by common names, preventing confusion. 1

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

B15.10 New systems of classification

Question Answer Marks Guidance
number
1a archaea, 1
bacteria, 1
eukaryota 1
1b archaea: primitive forms of bacteria including extremophiles – 1
organisms that can live in extreme conditions,
one kingdom – archaebacteria; 1
bacteria: true bacteria and cyanobacteria – bacteria‑like organisms that 1
can photosynthesise,
one kingdom – eubacteria; 1
eukaryota: organisms with cells containing a nucleus enclosing genetic 1
material,
four kingdoms – protista, fungi, plants, animals 1
1c Domains are higher level of organisation than kingdoms – organisms 1
they contain have fewer things in common.
Domains based on biochemistry of ribosomes and method of cell 1
division.
Domain may contain several kingdoms. 1
1d Woese decided that there were too many differences between different 1
types of bacteria for them all to be in the same group.
His ideas have been accepted because they have been backed up by 1
evidence (e.g., DNA analysis),
and the new model works well in practice. 1

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 Student Book answers B15 Genetics and evolution

Question Answer Marks Guidance

number
2a Identify similarities and differences. 1
Traditionally these were in physical appearance, including internal 1
structures such as the skeleton, but biochemistry and cell function is
now considered.
Modern technology has made big changes, with use of microscopes to 1
examine cells
and DNA analysis to identify precise relationships between organisms. 1
2b Classifying organisms and seeing how closely they are related to other 1
organisms allows us to build up evolutionary trees.
DNA technology makes it easier to recognise relationships between 1
organisms that look very different but have evolved into separate
species only relatively recently,
or between organisms that look similar but are not closely related. 1
3 Evolutionary trees model evolutionary relationships between organisms 1
Can be used to determine how long ago they divided away from a 1
common ancestor.
Help to understand evolutionary pathways 1
Help to understand relationships between species 1
That look very similar but are not related, or are related but do not look 1
similar

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