APPENDIX C - GRADE XII

MARKING SCHEME
CENTRE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF STANDARDS IN EXAMINATIONS
(GEMS ASIAN SCHOOLS)
COMMON REHEARSAL EXAMINATIONS 2024

Grade: 12
Subjects: Biology

Qn. Value Points Points Tot

No wise al
marks Ma
rks
1 a) 1,2, and 3 1 1
2 c) strawberry 1 1
3 b) it is single stranded DNA 1 1
4 c) i and iv 1 1
5 d) 1 1

6 d)X linked recessive 1 1

7 d) Monascus purpureus 1 1
8 a) 42% 1 1
9 a) Lane 1 1 1
10 b) Person A – Passive immunity Person B – Active immunity 1 1
11 c) Phenylalanine, Methionine 1 1
12 c) If Pvu II acts on its restriction site, then antibiotic resistance offered by pBR322 1 1
will be totally lost.
13 b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A. 1 1
14 d) A is false but R is true 1 1
15 a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. 1 1
16 a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. 1 1
17 (a) Light pollen grains / pollen grains more in number / exposed stamen / ½+½ 2
feathery stigma / single ovule / numerous flowers packed into an inflorescence
(Any two)
(b) • Yes
• Viability of wheat pollen grain is only 30 minutes and so it can be stored in
pollen bank for a long period of time
½+½
18 This interaction will lead to competition between the individuals of population ½+½ 2
A, B and C for resources. Eventually, the ‘fittest’ individuals will survive and
reproduce.

1
 The resources for growth will become finite and limiting, and population growth
will become realistic. 1
19 ¼ for 2
each
step

20 (i) Cannabinoids – Cannabis sativa 1 2

1
(ii) flower tops, leaves and the resin of cannabis plant

21 a) The mRNA was edited OR Introns are present in DNA 1

b) Maximum number = 324 amino acids OR 323; 2

Explanation = (972 ÷ 3 =) 324 because three bases/nucleotides code for one amino
acid 1
OR (324 - 1 =) 323 amino acids due to presence of a STOP codon;
1+1
In the first cross the tall parent plant is heterozygous for the trait, in second cross
tall parent plant is homozygous for the trait, hence the respective observation.
1st Cross 2nd Cross

22 1 3

1
2
23

½+½

[ANY TWO]

OR

3
24 a) Excessive use of pesticides has resulted in selection of resistant varieties in a 1 2
much lesser time scale,
as evolution is a stochastic process based on chance events in nature and chance 1
mutation in organism .
Evolution by anthropogenic action 1
25 The infertile couples could be assisted to have children through certain special 1
techniques known as assisted reproductive technologies (ART). 3

ZIFT: The zygote or early embryo with up to 8 blastomeres is transferred into the 1
fallopian tube. This is called zygote intra fallopian transfer (ZIFT).
GIFT: It is the transfer of an ovum collected from a donor into the fallopian tube
of another female, who cannot produce one but can provide suitable 1
environment for fertilisation and further development of the embryo.
Intra-uterine transfer (IUT) refers to the introduction of embryo with more than
8 blastomeres into the uterus of a female to complete its further development
26 (a) Y in YAC stands for yeast and B in BAC stands for bacterial. They are ½+½
specialized cloning vectors used in Human Genome Project (HGP) for cloning
or amplification of foreign DNA fragments.

(b) Less than 2% of total genome codes for proteins in humans and around 50%
of gene functions are known during HGP. ½+½

(c) SNP stands for single-nucleotide polymorphism.

1
27 As a student of Biology I would think of the following methods that can protect 3
these endangered species from extinction:
1. Ex- situ conservation - Threatened plant and animal species are removed from
their habitats and kept in special settings, such as zoos, botanical gardens, and 1
wildlife parks.
The advantages of Ex- situ conservation are:
- Protects the organism
- Helps in maintaining their number
- Prevent them from becoming extinct
2. Nowadays, endangered species gametes can be preserved by methods such as
cryopreservation and can be fertilized in vitro followed by propagation by
methods of tissue culture. The seeds can be conserved in seed banks for plant
4
 species. This method is called an off- site method meaning a method of 1
conservation from outside the site.
Advantages include,
- Offsite collection may be used to restore depleted populations, reintroduce
wildlife species, and restore degraded habitats.
- It is useful in keeping a large number of small area genotypes, rapid
multiplication of even endangered species, through tissue culture, etc. 1
3. We can lower the deforestation rate, thus avoiding indiscriminate forest use.
Advantages are:
- The habitat of the forest species is preserved
- More trees are grown which helps in a pollution- free environment and gives
more rain.
- Protect species from extinction.
28 Mycorrhiza: (Fungal symbiont of the association) Absorbs phosphorus from soil.
Anabaena: Fix atmospheric nitrogen and adds organic matter to the soil. 1x3 3
Rhizobium: Fix atmospheric nitrogen (in leguminous plants).
Methanobacterium: They digest cellulosic material and their product/spent
slurry can be used as
a fertiliser.
Trichoderma: Biocontrol agent for several plant pathogens. (Any three)
29 a) The two different DNA molecules will have compatible ends to recombine. 1
b) Restriction enzyme cuts the DNA of the vector and then ligates the gene of
interest into the DNA of the vector. 1 4
c) 2 fragments
5'ATTTTGAG 3 '5'GATCCGTAATGTCCT 3'
3' TAAAACTCCTAG 5' 3'GCATTACAGGA 5'
OR 2
c) The experiment will not likely be affected as recombinant DNA molecule is
circular and closed, with no free ends. Hence, it will not be a substrate for
exonuclease enzyme which removes nucleotides from the free ends of DNA
30 4
(i) Since hare & lynx share prey-predator relationship, any fluctuation in
11/2
one population affects the other too. Lynx is dependent on hare
population for food, so increased predation reduces numbers which in
turn leads to less food for the lynx population thus being affected by
them.
(ii) Extinction of all predators - detrimental effects - increase in herbivores
- impact on certain plant communities - forest structure. 1
(iii) Increased competition for similar resources between the predators –
niche portioning – increased pressure on prey population – impact on
ecosystem

5
 OR 11/2
(iii) Amensalism - one species (inhibitor – A) causes harm to the other amensal
through the production of toxic secretions.

11/2
31 The process of formation of megaspores from the megaspore mother cell is called ½x 5
megasporogenesis. 10
i) Ovules generally differentiate a single megaspore mother cell (MMC) in the
micropylar region of the nucellus. It is a large cell containing dense cytoplasm
and a prominent nucleus. The MMC undergoes meiotic division to form
megaspores.
ii) In a majority of flowering plants, one of the megaspores is functional while the
other three degenerate. Only the functional megaspore
develops into the female gametophyte (embryo sac). This method of embryo sac
formation from a single megaspore is termed monosporic development.
iii) The nucleus of the functional megaspore divides mitotically to form two
nuclei which move to the opposite poles, forming the 2-nucleate embryo sac.
iv) Two more sequential mitotic nuclear divisions result in the formation of the 4-
nucleate and later the 8-nucleate stages of the embryo sac.
v) These mitotic divisions are strictly free nuclear, that is, nuclear divisions are
not followed immediately by cell wall formation.
vi) After the 8-nucleate stage, cell walls are laid down leading to the organisation
of the typical female gametophyte or embryo sac.
vii) Six of the eight nuclei are surrounded by cell walls and organised into cells;
the remaining two nuclei, called polar nuclei are situated in the large central cell.
viii) Three cells are grouped together at the micropylar end and constitute the
egg apparatus. The egg apparatus, in turn, consists of two synergids and one egg
cell. The synergids have special cellular thickenings at the micropylar tip called
filiform apparatus.
ix) Three cells are at the chalazal end and are called the antipodals.
x) The large central cell, as mentioned earlier, has two polar nuclei. Which come
to lie below egg apparatus. Thus, a typical angiosperm embryo sac, at maturity,
though 8-nucleate is 7-celled.
a)

b) (i) Cells that divide by mitosis to increase their number—Spermatogonia 2

6
 (ii) Cells that undergo Meiosis I—Primary spermatocytes
(iii) Cells that undergo Meiosis II—Secondary spermatocytes
(iv) Cells that help in the process of spermiogenesis—Sertoli cells

b) Spermatogenesis is initiated at the age of puberty by the gonadotropin 3

releasing hormone (GnRH) secreted by the hypothalamus.
The increased levels of GnRH stimulate the anterior pituitary which then
secretes the FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinising hormone).
FSH stimulates Sertoli cells to secrete some factors which help in spermiogenesis.
Fig. 3.7 Schematic representation of spermatogenesis
LH acts on the Leydig cells and causes the secretion of androgens, i.e.,
testosterone from the testes ,which in turn stimulate the process of
spermatogenesis.
32 Matthew Meselson and Franklin Stahl performed the following experiment in 4 5
1958:
• They grew E. coli in a medium containing 15NH4Cl (15N is the heavy
isotope of nitrogen) as the only nitrogen source for many generations. The result
was that N was incorporated into newly synthesised DNA (as well as other
nitrogen-containing compounds). This heavy DNA molecule could be
distinguished from the normal DNA by centrifugation in a cesium chloride
(CsCl) density gradient.
• Then they transferred the cells into a medium with normal 14NH4Cl and
took samples at various definite time intervals as the cells multiplied, and
extracted the DNA that remained as double-stranded helices. The various
samples were separated independently on CsCl gradients to measure the
densities of DNA.
• Thus, the DNA that was extracted from the culture one generation after
the transfer from 15N to 14N medium [that is after 20 minutes; E. coli divides in
20 minutes] had a hybrid or intermediate density. DNA extracted from the
culture after another generation [that is after 40 minutes, II generation] was
composed of equal amounts of this hybrid DNA and of ‘light’ DNA. They
concluded that DNA replicates semi conservatively. Thus DNA is semi-
conservative in nature was proved by them.
b) Taylor and his colleagues worked on Vicia faba /faba beans, using radioactive 1
thymidine to prove that DNA In the chromosomes also replicates semi
conservatively.
a) When a cross is made between plants (parents) differing in two or more pairs 3
of contrasting characters, the inheritance of one pair of contrasting characters is
independent of the other pair of contrasting characters. The two characters are
transmitted independently in their own patterns. This law can be explained with
the help of a dihybrid cross. A cross between two parents which differ in two
pairs of contrasting characters is known as a dihybrid cross. The cross can be
made between true breeding parent plants, one having yellow and round seeds
(YYRR) and another plant having green and wrinkled seeds (yyrr). This cross is
shown here under:
To understand the Law of Independent Assortment, study the formation of
gametes in the F plant (RrYy). Consider the segregation of one pair of genes R
7
 and r. 50% of gametes have the gene R and the other 50% have r. In addition,
each gamete should also have the allele Y or y. We can see segregation of 50%
Rand 50% r is independent of the segregation of 50% Y and 50% y. Therefore,
50% of r bearing gametes have Y and the other 50% y. Similarly, 50% of R-bearing
gametes have Y and the other 50% have y. Thus four different kinds of gametes.
i.e., RY, Ry, ry, ry are formed.
(b) Morgan's experiment onDrosophilamelanogaster F1
generation (tiny fruit flies) Morgan hybridized yellow bodied - white-eyed 2
female flies with brown-bodied-red-eyed males and inter-crossed their F1
progeny. He observed that the two genes did not segregate independently of one
another and the F 2
, ratio deviated very significantly from 9:3:3:1 ratio. Morgan knew that the genes
were located on the X-chromosome and saw quickly that when the two genes in a
dihybrid cross 9:3:3:1 were situated on the same chromosome, the proportion of
parental gene combinations was much higher than the non-parental
combinations. Morgan attributed this to the linkage or physical association of
genes on a chromosome. The total number of genes present on one chromosome
constitutes a linkage-group. The genes are called linked genes.
33 (a) After getting into the body of a person, the virus enters the macrophages. 5
Here, RNA is replicated to form viral DNA by enzyme reverse transcriptase. 3
The viral DNA now gets incorporated into the host cell’s DNA and directs the
infected cells to produce viruses.
The macrophages continue to produce virus particles and hence act like HIV
factory.
The virus particles enter helper T-lymphocytes (TH cells) in the blood, where
they continue to replicate and produce viral progenies.
Thus, the number of helper T-lymphocytes progressively decreases in the body
of the infected
persons.
With the decrease in number of T-cells, the immunity also decreases. The person
is unable to produce any immune response even against common bacteria like
Mycobacterium, parasites like Toxoplasma, viruses and fungi. Infected cells can
survive while viruses are being replicated and released.
(b) An HIV-infected patient loses immunity due to loss of T-lymphocytes. 1
c) Symptoms are fever, diarrhoea, susceptibility to other diseases and prone to
microbial infection. (Any two) 1
a)
- Zaheer is not likely/less likely get malaria. [1 mark]
- Since Zoya has been bitten by an infected mosquito and the process of infection 2
of the liver cells and red blood cells takes more than 5 days, the non-infected
second mosquito is not likely/ less likely to get infected by
biting Zoya, and thus cannot/less likely to transfer the Plasmodium to Zaheer. [1
mark]
b) Biocontrol is an eco-friendly method for reducing malaria-carrying
mosquitoes, mainly Anopheles species. It involves using natural predators,
parasites, or pathogens to limit mosquito numbers. The goal is to disrupt 3
mosquito life cycles and reduce malaria transmission.
8
Examples:
Gambusia Fish (Mosquito Fish):
Advantages: These fish eat mosquito larvae and are put in stagnant water where
larvae grow, preventing them from becoming adult mosquitoes.
Limitations: They aren't picky eaters and may harm other aquatic life. Their
introduction needs careful management.
Dragonflies for Malaria Control:
Advantages: Dragonflies naturally prey on mosquitoes at different stages,
especially larvae. They can significantly reduce mosquito numbers in water
bodies. They're eco-friendly and don't need artificial introduction.
Limitations: Dragonflies can be affected by environmental changes like habitat
loss and water pollution. They may not eliminate all mosquitoes, especially in
places with many breeding sites. They're better at controlling mosquito larvae
than adult mosquitoes. (3 marks)