11

20 The bar chart shows the percentage of women who had babies with low birth weight. Some of
these women were smokers and some were non-smokers.

30

percentage of women
having babies with
low birth weight

0
smokers non-smokers

What is shown by the bar chart?

A More women smoke during pregnancy than do not.

B Smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight.
C Smoking is bad for the health of a pregnant woman.
D Women whose babies have low birth weight are smokers.

21 Which disease might be treated successfully with an antibiotic?

A anaemia
B cholera
C HIV
D malaria

22 When babies are born, they have some passive immunity.

Which conditions are needed for passive immunity to develop?

A Antibodies produced by the mother have crossed the placenta.

B The baby has developed in a very sterile environment.
C The baby has not yet been vaccinated or exposed to disease.
D The mother’s diet is good enough for the baby to produce its own antibodies.

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23 In which structure is there a fluid with a low concentration of urea?

A
B

24 A person blinks when an insect flies into their eye.

What explains this reflex action?

A muscles in the eyelid cause the eye to blink  impulses are sent down the motor
neurones  relay neurones  sensory neurones  receptor cells in the cornea detect
the insect

B muscles in the eyelid cause the eye to blink  impulses are sent down the sensory
neurones  relay neurones  motor neurones  receptor cells in the retina detect
the insect

C receptor cells in the retina detect the insect  impulses are sent down the relay
neurones  sensory neurones  motor neurones  muscles in the eyelid cause the
eye to blink

D receptor cells in the cornea detect the insect  impulses are sent down sensory
neurones  relay neurones  motor neurones  muscles in the eyelid cause the eye
to blink

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25 The graph shows changes in the diameter of a person’s pupils while outdoors on a sunny day.

At which time did the person take off their sunglasses?

diameter
of pupils

A
D

time

26 The graph shows the blood glucose concentration for a person in the hours after eating breakfast
at 07:00.

140
120
100
blood glucose 80
concentration
/ mg per 100 cm3 60
40
20
0
07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00
time

Which level of blood glucose concentration is approximately the set point?

A 70 mg / cm3
B 80 mg / cm3
C 100 mg / cm3
D 120 mg / cm3

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27 Which hormone causes blood glucose concentration to be lowered?

A adrenaline
B glucagon
C insulin
D testosterone

28 Which statement about auxin is correct?

A Auxin is equally distributed in the plant in response to gravity and light.

B Auxin inhibits cell elongation.
C Auxin is made in the plant stem.
D Auxin spreads through the plant from the shoot tip.

29 The diagram shows some stages in cell division in a fruit fly.

cell X
mitosis

cell Y

meiosis

cell Z
(sperm cell)

Cell X contains 8 chromosomes.

How many chromosomes are in cell Y and in cell Z?

cell Y cell Z

A 4 4
B 4 8
C 8 4
D 8 8

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30 Which statement applies to organisms that reproduce asexually?

A Offspring always grow to the same height.

B Offspring are genetically identical.
C Organisms only reproduce asexually during extreme conditions.
D Reproduction happens by the fusion of diploid nuclei.

31 What is the function of the sepals of most flowers?

A to attract insects
B to produce pollen
C to protect the flower buds
D to receive pollen

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32 Which diagram matches the hormones with their functions in preparation for pregnancy?

A B
hormone function hormone function
stimulates the ovary stimulates the ovary
FSH to release an egg FSH to release an egg

stimulates increased stimulates increased

LH thickening of the lining LH thickening of the lining
of the uterus of the uterus

stimulates a follicle stimulates a follicle

oestrogen to develop oestrogen to develop

repairs lining of repairs lining of

progesterone the uterus following progesterone the uterus following
menstruation menstruation

C D
hormone function hormone function
stimulates the ovary stimulates the ovary
FSH to release an egg FSH to release an egg

stimulates increased stimulates increased

LH thickening of the lining LH thickening of the lining
of the uterus of the uterus

stimulates a follicle stimulates a follicle

oestrogen oestrogen
to develop to develop

repairs lining of repairs lining of

progesterone the uterus following progesterone the uterus following
menstruation menstruation

33 Which row describes the exchange of substances at the placenta?

passing from mother to fetus passing from fetus to mother

A carbon dioxide, glucose and alcohol oxygen and urea

B carbon dioxide, nicotine and glucose oxygen and urea
C oxygen and urea carbon dioxide and glucose
D oxygen, glucose and antibodies carbon dioxide and urea

34 In a strand of DNA containing 100 nucleotide pairs, 46 nucleotides contain the base A.

How many nucleotides in this DNA strand contain the base T?

A 23 B 46 C 54 D 154

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35 Two brothers had different blood groups. One was blood group A and the other was blood
group B.

What can be concluded about their parents’ blood group genotypes?

A Both of the parents must be heterozygous.

B Both of the parents must be homozygous.
C One parent (at least) must be heterozygous.
D One parent (at least) must be homozygous.

36 The diagram shows a fermenter that is used to grow the fungus Penicillium, to produce penicillin.

nutrient

outer water
jacket
sensor

monitor
outlet

inlet

air
air
filter

What is the function of the outer water jacket?

A to add extra nutrients for the Penicillium

B to maintain the fermenter at a constant pH
C to maintain the fermenter at a constant temperature
D to monitor the oxygen concentration in the fermenter

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37 The diagram shows four ecological pyramids.

1 2 3 4

In a food chain, grass is eaten by cows. The cows have insects living on their skin. The insects
are eaten by birds.

Which is the pyramid of biomass and which is the pyramid of numbers in this food chain?

pyramid of pyramid of
biomass numbers

A 1 3
B 1 4
C 3 1
D 3 2

38 The diagram shows a simplified nitrogen cycle.

nitrogen gas in
the atmosphere

compounds with
compounds with compounds with
nitrogen in the
nitrogen in plants nitrogen in animals
soil and water

Which process in the cycle happens at stage X?

A decomposition
B denitrification
C nitrogen fixation
D nitrification

© UCLES 2023 5090/12/M/J/23

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39 Which change would lead to an increase in biodiversity in an area?

A building a large number of blocks of family dwellings in a city

B increasing the number of cows in a pedigree herd
C replacing a forest with a large palm oil plantation
D stopping fishing in an area of sea for several years

40 Areas of tropical rainforests are often cut down and cleared. After cutting down the trees, the
areas are normally burnt.

What are the effects of this activity?

number and
atmospheric
variety of soil stability
carbon dioxide
species

A decreases decreases increases

B decreases increases decreases
C increases decreases decreases
D increases decreases increases

© UCLES 2023 5090/12/M/J/23

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23 The blood in the renal vein has a different composition to the blood in the renal artery.

How is the blood in the renal vein different?

A less carbon dioxide, less urea, less water

B less oxygen, more urea, less water
C more carbon dioxide, less urea, less water
D more oxygen, less urea, less water

24 The diagram shows a reflex arc.

muscle

A person was involved in an accident and their arm was injured. The sensory neurones at X were
cut.

Which statement describes what happens if this person touches a hot object with their finger?

A The person is not able to feel their finger touching the hot object but is able to move their
finger away from the heat stimulus.
B The person is not able to feel their finger touching the hot object or move their finger away
from the heat stimulus.
C The person can feel the heat stimulus but is not able to move their finger away from the heat
stimulus.
D The receptor cells in the person’s finger are not stimulated by the heat.

© UCLES 2023 5090/11/M/J/23

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25 The diameter of a person’s pupil is measured as the light intensity is varied.

During which time period does the light intensity increase fastest?

A B C D
10

diameter 6
of pupil
/ mm 4

0
time

26 On a warm sunny day, a swimmer climbs out of a pool and sits on the edge to dry.

After a few minutes, the swimmer’s skin begins to feel cold.

What has caused this to happen?

A Body temperature drops until it reaches air temperature.

B Muscles and other organs stop producing heat from respiration.
C Sunlight causes the hypothalamus to begin processes that increase heat loss.
D Water on the skin absorbs heat from the body and evaporates.

27 A genetic disorder causes too much insulin to be secreted.

What is the effect of the secretion of too much insulin?

A Blood glucose concentration is low.

B Glucose can be detected in the urine.
C Glycogen level in the liver is low.
D Less glucose is converted to glycogen.

28 Auxin is a chemical produced by plants.

What is the role of auxin?

A It stimulates cells in the plant shoot to elongate.

B It stimulates meiotic cell division.
C It stimulates the development of a branching root system.
D It stimulates the process of seed germination.

© UCLES 2023 5090/11/M/J/23 [Turn over

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29 The diagram shows cell X which contains 24 chromosomes. It divides by mitosis to produce cells
Y and Z.

cell X

cell Y cell Z

How many chromosomes does cell Z contain?

A 12 B 24 C 46 D 48

30 What is a feature of asexual reproduction in a plant?

A All the offspring will grow to an identical height.

B Any seeds produced will be identical.
C The plant needs to carry out the process of meiosis.
D The offspring will all have identical genotypes.

31 The diagram shows the parts of a flower.

Which labelled part will develop into a seed following fertilisation?

D A

C B

© UCLES 2023 5090/11/M/J/23

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32 The diagram shows the 28 days of a typical menstrual cycle. The letters around the outside
indicate different points in the cycle.

Z
20 21 22 23
19 24
Y 18 25
17 26
16 27
15 28
X 14 1
13 2
12 3 U
W 11 4
10 5
9 8 7 6
V

Which row shows the points in the cycle?

stage of cycle
maximum
thickness of menstruation ovulation
uterus lining

A Z W X
B X U Y
C Z U X
D V X Z

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33 The diagram shows the arrangement of blood vessels in the uterus wall and placenta of a
pregnant woman.

1 2

baby’s blood
space filled
with mother’s blood
umbilical cord

developing baby

What will increase in concentration in the blood as it flows from 1 to 2?

A amino acids
B carbon dioxide
C glucose
D oxygen

34 Some lizards in a population had longer leg bones than others. They were able to climb better
than the lizards with shorter legs, so they were able to escape from their predators on the ground.
Over time, lizards with shorter legs died out so that all the lizards in the population now have
longer legs.

Which process has caused this change within the lizard population?

A extinction
B natural selection
C conservation
D artificial selection

35 The genotype for the height of an organism is written as Tt.

Which conclusion may be drawn?

A The allele for height has at least two different genes.

B There are at least two different alleles of the gene for height.
C There are two different genes for height, each having a single allele.
D There is one allele for height with two different forms.

© UCLES 2023 5090/11/M/J/23

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36 The diagram shows some apparatus set up to produce alcohol by fermentation.

layer of oil

yeast cells limewater

in glucose
solution

What is the purpose of the layer of oil?

A to keep the alcohol in the solution

B to prevent aerobic respiration
C to produce carbon dioxide
D to provide nutrients for the yeast

37 The diagram shows a pyramid of biomass.

sparrowhawk 12 g / m2

robin 120 g / m2

caterpillar 600 g / m2

lettuce 1200 g / m2

Which percentage of biomass is passed from the primary consumer to the secondary consumer?

A 1% B 10% C 20% D 50%

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 5090/11/M/J/23 [Turn over

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38 The diagram shows part of the carbon cycle.

feeding
2 3

photosynthesis decomposition
respiration

respiration
1 4

respiration

Which row shows the correct labels for the numbered boxes?

1 2 3 4

A plants the air decomposers animals

B the air plants decomposers animals
C plants the air animals decomposers
D the air plants animals decomposers

39 Which human activity is likely to contribute most to global warming?

A non-biodegradable plastics in the ocean

B pollution due to insecticides
C emissions from burning fossil fuels
D water pollution by sewage

40 Drainage from fields where nitrogen-containing fertilisers have been spread can result in fish
dying in rivers.

Which sequence of events describes what happens when fish die as a result of water pollution by
nitrogen-containing fertilisers?

A less oxygen dissolved in the water  more growth of water plants  more plant
decomposition by bacteria

B less oxygen dissolved in the water  more plant decomposition by bacteria  less plant
growth

C more growth of water plants  less plant decomposition by bacteria  more oxygen
dissolved in the water

D more growth of water plants  more plant decomposition by bacteria  less oxygen
dissolved in the water

© UCLES 2023 5090/11/M/J/23

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22 Which action can prevent the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?

A keeping healthy by taking regular exercise

B avoiding contact with saliva

C breast-feeding babies

D using condoms during sexual intercourse

23 Which row matches the parts of the urinary system to their functions?

makes urine carries urine holds urine removes urine

from body
A bladder ureter urethra kidney
B bladder urethra ureter kidney
C kidney ureter bladder urethra
D kidney urethra bladder ureter

24 Which action is not an example of a simple reflex action?

A blinking when sand blows in your eyes

B jumping when hearing a loud noise

C removing your hand from a hot object

D stopping a car at a road junction

25 A person is reading a book in a room with low light intensity.

Which row shows the state of the eye muscles?

ciliary muscles iris circular muscles iris radial muscles

A contracted contracted relaxed
B contracted relaxed contracted
C relaxed contracted relaxed
D relaxed relaxed contracted

26 Which structures are all involved in controlling human body temperature?

A blood vessels near the skin surface, pituitary gland and sweat glands

B blood vessels near the skin surface, hypothalamus and muscles

C kidneys, pituitary gland and sweat glands

D kidneys, hypothalamus and muscles

© UCLES 2020 5090/01/SP/23

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27 Which row shows the effects of the hormones glucagon and insulin?

effect of glucagon effect of insulin

A Glucose is converted into glycogen in the Glycogen in the liver is converted into
liver. glucose.
B Glycogen in the liver is converted into Glucose is converted into glycogen in the
glucose. liver.
C Glycogen in the liver is converted into Glucose is converted into glycogen in the
glucose. pancreas.
D Glycogen in the pancreas is converted into Glucose is converted into glycogen in the
glucose. pancreas.

28 What is the role of auxin in the control of phototropism in the shoot of a plant?

A Auxin is only made on the shaded side of the shoot.

This causes the cells on the shaded side to grow longer.

B More auxin is distributed on the shaded side of the shoot.

This causes the cells on the shaded side to grow longer.

C The light side of the shoot contains more auxin and so grows less.
This causes the shoot to bend towards the light.

D The light side of the shoot contains more auxin.

This stimulates cell division and so the light side of the shoot grows more.

© UCLES 2020 5090/01/SP/23 [Turn over

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29 The diagram shows the chromosomes in a cell nucleus.

Which diagram shows the product of one division of the cell nucleus by mitosis?

A B

C D

© UCLES 2020 5090/01/SP/23

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30 The diagram shows the parts of a flower.

Where must pollen land to pollinate the flower?

D A

31 Which conditions are needed for the germination of most seeds?

carbon dioxide oxygen water

A   
key:
B     = yes
 = no
C   
D   

32 Which row correctly matches a hormone with its function in the menstrual cycle?

hormone function
A FSH stimulates release of eggs
B LH stimulates release of eggs
C oestrogen maintains uterus lining
D progesterone repairs uterus lining

33 Which human feature shows discontinuous variation?

A blood group

B hair colour

C height

D foot length

© UCLES 2020 5090/01/SP/23 [Turn over

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34 Which statements about genes and chromosomes are correct?

A chromosome contains DNA. A gene is a section of DNA.

A true true
B true false
C false true
D false false

35 The diagram shows a family in which some members suffer from a disease caused by a recessive
allele.

1 2
key:

male without the disease

female without the disease

3 4 5
male with the disease

female with the disease

6 7

Identify two members of the family who must be heterozygous for the gene?

A 5 and 7 B 3 and 6 C 2 and 5 D 1 and 4

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36 Which statement identifies a possible benefit of genetically modified crop plants?

A Some crop plants can be genetically modified to give resistance to diseases.

B Cross-pollination of genetically modified crop plants with weeds could produce new varieties
of weeds.

C The use of genetically modified crops may explain the increase in food allergies in children.

D There is more research needed on the long-term effects of genetically modified crops on the
environment.

37 The diagram shows a pyramid of biomass for a food chain.

Which level represents the producers?

38 Which stage of the carbon cycle depends on the presence of bacteria and fungi in the soil?

A combustion

B decomposition

C photosynthesis

D respiration

© UCLES 2020 5090/01/SP/23 [Turn over

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39 The graph shows changes in the populations of plant and animal plankton (microscopic organisms)
in a lake.

key:

plant
population
plankton
size
animal
plankton
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
month

Consider the following statement in relation to the data provided by the graph.

‘Population changes in animal plankton occur after similar changes in plant plankton because the
animals feed on the plants.’

Which description fits this statement?

A It is a possible interpretation of the data.

B The data do not support the statement.

C The data are too random to be interpreted.

D It is the only way to interpret the data.

40 When untreated sewage flows into a river, why does the oxygen concentration decrease?

A Less oxygen is absorbed from the air.

B There is a decrease in the number of plants.

C There is an increase in the number of bacteria.

D There is an increase in the number of fish.

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2020 5090/01/SP/23

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25 Which of these structures would be the first to receive nicotine absorbed into the blood from
tobacco smoke?

A brain
B left atrium
C liver
D right atrium

26 Some characteristics of microorganisms are listed.

1 can be killed by antibiotics

2 cell wall made of chitin
3 genetic material is DNA or RNA
4 have hyphae
5 make spores
6 may have flagella
7 have a protein coat
8 release enzymes to digest food
9 reproduce inside a host cell

Which row matches the features of bacteria, fungi and viruses?

bacteria fungi viruses

A 1 and 6 4 and 5 7 and 9

B 2 and 4 3 and 8 1 and 5
C 6 and 9 1 and 7 2 and 3
D 7 and 8 2 and 3 6 and 9

© UCLES 2017 5090/12/O/N/17 [Turn over

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27 Two containers, X and Y, were filled with equal amounts of dough mixture for making bread.
The mixture in Y had yeast in it.

The containers were then left in a warm place for two hours. The diagram shows their
appearance after this time.

dough mixture
with yeast
dough mixture
without yeast

container X container Y

Which substance produced by the yeast causes the difference between containers X and Y?

A alcohol
B carbon dioxide
C lactic acid
D oxygen

28 Which statement describes relationships in ecosystems?

A Carbohydrates are passed from decomposers to producers.

B Energy is passed from carnivores to herbivores.
C Proteins are passed from primary consumers to producers.
D Water is passed from respiring decomposers to producers.

29 The diagram shows a food chain.

grass → rabbit → fox → flea

Which pyramid of numbers matches this food chain?

A B C D

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30 The diagram shows the carbon cycle.

During which stage in the cycle is oxygen excreted by living organisms?

carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere
A
B
D carbon compounds
in plants
carbon compounds
in animals

carbon compounds C
in fossil fuels

carbon compounds
in dead remains

31 Three statements about malarial parasites are listed.

1 Insecticides are used to kill the vectors.

2 Netting is used to keep the vectors away from people.
3 People take drugs that stop the malarial pathogen developing.

Which methods can be used to control malaria?

A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 only D 2 and 3 only

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32 The diagram shows some ways in which human activities affect the environment.

Which activity is most likely to lead to acid rain?

A
town
forest trees
being cut down

D B
discharging burning
sewage fossil fuels
paper
products

C
discharging
factory waste

33 Which statements about meiosis are correct?

meiosis produces meiosis produces

genetically identical nuclei haploid nuclei

A false false
B false true
C true false
D true true

34 Which conditions are needed for the germination of most seeds?

light oxygen water

A    key
B    = yes
C    = no
D   

© UCLES 2017 5090/12/O/N/17

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35 The diagram shows a fetus in the uterus.

P
Q
R

Which of the labelled structures are essential for feeding the fetus, and which for supporting it
and protecting it from mechanical shocks?

supporting
feeding
and protecting

A P and Q R and S
B P and R Q and S
C Q and S P and R
D R and S P and Q

36 The diagram shows the changes in thickness of the uterus lining during one menstrual cycle.

thickness of
uterus lining

0 7 14 21 28
time / days

When would the levels of progesterone and LH be highest?

progesterone LH

A between day 12 and 16 between day 25 and 28

B between day 19 and 23 on day 14
C on day 5 between day 1 and 5
D on day 13 on day 10

© UCLES 2017 5090/12/O/N/17 [Turn over

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37 A gene is a unit of inheritance that controls the production of

A a chromosome.
B an allele.
C a protein.
D DNA.

38 Two brothers had different blood groups. One was blood group A and the other was group B.

What can be concluded about their parents’ blood group genotypes?

A Both of the parents must be heterozygous.

B Both of the parents must be homozygous.
C One parent (at least) must be heterozygous.
D One parent (at least) must be homozygous.

39 What is a potential danger of growing genetically engineered crops?

A changing the genotypes of plants in nearby ecosystems

B producing cereals with different nutrient content
C producing greater yields within a shorter time
D reducing the amount of pesticides on crops

© UCLES 2017 5090/12/O/N/17

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40 The table shows the genotypes and phenotypes for hair colour for the members of a family, but
one phenotype is shown incorrectly.

genotype phenotype
family member allele 1 allele 2 hair colour

mother a A brown
father A A brown
son 1 a A blonde
daughter 1 a a blonde
son 2 A A brown
daughter 2 A a brown

Which family member has the incorrect phenotype?

A daughter 1
B daughter 2
C son 1
D son 2

© UCLES 2017 5090/12/O/N/17