Edexcel A-Level Biology

Year 1
Topic 3

Voice of the
genome

EXAM
QUESTIONS
BOOKLET
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 1.
Use this booklet to revise for exams
and improve exam technique.
Ensure you identify areas of strength
and weakness near exam time to
make your revision effective, and use
the revision notes to fill in any gaps

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1. The figure below is a diagram of an animal cell as seen using a transmission
electron microscope.

F
20 µ m

(i) Name the structures of the cell labelled A, B, C and D.

A ....................................................................

B ....................................................................

C ....................................................................

D ....................................................................

[4]

(ii) Structures C and E are examples of the same organelle.

Suggest why E looks so different to C.

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[2]

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(iii) Calculate the actual length of structure C.

Show your working and give your answer in micrometres (µm).

Answer = .................................................. µm

[2]

[Total 8 marks]

2. The division of stem cells by mitosis produces cells that are genetically identical.

(i) State what is meant by the term stem cell.

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[2]

(ii) Name one tissue in plants that contains stem cells.

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[1]

[Total 3 marks]

3. State three reasons why mitosis is important to organisms.

1 ...............................................................................................................................

2 ...............................................................................................................................

3 ...............................................................................................................................

[Total 3 marks]

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4. The table below compares the structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

prokaryotic eukaryotic

no true nucleus genetic material held in a nucleus

genetic material consists of ‘naked’

 
DNA

average diameter of cell 0.5 – 5 µm  

  ribosomes about 22 nm in diameter

  cell wall sometimes present

[Total 4 marks]

5. The cytoskeleton is an important component in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic

cells.

(i) Name one structure, associated with the cytoskeleton, which can bring about cell
movement.

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[1]

(ii) Suggest two processes inside cells that rely on the cytoskeleton for movement.

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[2]

[Total 3 marks]

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6. The figure below shows some drawings of a cell during different stages of mitosis.

P Q

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Place stages P, Q, R, S and T in the correct sequence.

The first stage has been identified for you.

.....................................................................................................................................
[Total 4 marks]

7. Mitosis is part of the cell cycle.

The figure below shows a diagram of the cell cycle.

IN T E R P H A S E

G 1
S

is
in es
t ok G 2
s is

Cy
it o
M

(i) Name one process that occurs during stages G1 and G2.

.....................................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii) During stage S, the genetic information is copied and checked.

Suggest what might happen if the genetic information is not checked.

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[2]

[Total 3 marks]

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8. During meiosis a cell undergoes two divisions.

Suggest how cells produced by meiosis may differ from those produced by mitosis.

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[Total 2 marks]

9. The figure below is a diagram of a mammalian sperm cell.

Explain how the structure of the sperm cell is specialised for carrying out its role.

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[Total 3 marks]

10. (a) Name the stage of the mitotic cell cycle in which each of the following takes
place:

(i) chromosomes become visible as two chromatids

...................................................................................................................

[1]

(ii) DNA replicates

................................................................................................................... [1]

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 (iii) nuclear envelope reforms.

................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) During mitosis, chromosomes line up at the equator of the cell.

Describe what happens to chromosomes after this, until the nuclear envelope
reforms.

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[4]

[Total 7 marks]

11. The diagram below is a drawing of an organelle from a ciliated cell as seen with
an electron microscope.

A B

× 20 000
(i) Name the organelle shown in the diagram.

.....................................................................................................................................
[1]

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(ii) State the function of this organelle.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
[2]

(iii) State why ciliated cells contain relatively large numbers of these organelles.

.....................................................................................................................................
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[1]

(iv) Calculate the actual length of the organelle as shown by the line AB in the
diagram. Express your answer to the nearest micrometer (m).

Show your working.

Answer = ........................................... m

[2]

(v) An image drawn to the same magnification as in the diagram could be produced
using a light microscope.

Explain why such an image would be of little use when studying cells.

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[2]

[Total 8 marks]

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12. (i) What is meant by the term ‘epigenetics’?

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[1]

(ii) State 2 ways on how histone proteins can be modified.

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[2]

(iii) Explain the 3 stages involved in regulating target gene expression.

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[3]

(iv) How could differential gene expression enable cells with the same DNA to have
different functions?

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[4]

(v) What are transcription factors?

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[2]

[Total 12 marks]

13. Ovary cells contain large amounts of endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Suggest the importance of this in using these cells for the production of Factor VIII.

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[Total 2 marks]

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14. The diagram below shows drawings of nuclei, A to D, from two different plant
species seen in the prophase stage of mitosis.

A B

C D

(a) On drawing A, one of a pair of homologous chromosomes has been shaded.

Shade in the other member of the pair.

[1]

(b) (i) Name the stage in mitosis that immediately follows prophase.

................................................................................................................

[1]

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 (ii) Describe the behaviour of the chromosomes in this stage.

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...................................................................................................................
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................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) The diploid number for crocus, Crocus balansae, is 6 and the diploid number for
broad bean, Vicia faba, is 12.

State which of the drawings, A, B, C or D, shown in the diagram, represents the

following:

haploid cell of broad bean ..............................................................

root tip cell of crocus ..............................................................

[2]

[Total 6 marks]

15. The figure below shows several stages in the life cycle of the water flea,
Daphnia.

C
m ito s is A
m a le g ro w th
g a m e te s
m e io s is
z y g o te s E

m e io s is m it o s is
fe m a le m ito s is B
g a m e te s
D fe m a le eggs

f a v o u r a b l e c all
 In favourable conditions, o n dthe
i t i o nindividuals
s in a population are females, A.

 These females produce eggs, B, by mitosis which develop into further females.

 In unfavourable conditions, eggs are produced by meiosis and develop without

fertilisation into either males, C, or females, D.

 Gametes are produced by mitosis from C and D.

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 The resultant zygotes, E, develop a protective case which enables them to
survive unfavourable conditions.

 When favourable conditions return, these zygotes develop into young females.

(i) State which of the stages, A to E, contain individuals with the diploid number of
chromosomes.

.....................................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii) Explain why the females in stage A show greater variation than the females in
stage D.

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[2]

(iii) Explain why gametes are produced by mitosis from males C and females D.

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[2]

[Total 5 marks]

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 16. Four light micrographs of onion cells undergoing mitosis are shown below.

E A

In this question, one mark is available for the quality of the use and organisation of
scientific terms.

Outline what happens to chromosomes during the mitotic cell cycle.

You will gain credit if you refer to the labelled cells in the micrographs.

[9]

Quality of Written Communication [1]

[Total 10 marks]

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17. (a) Describe the role of mitosis.

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[3]

Below is a diagram that shows the stages of the mitotic cell cycle.

(b) (i) Which processes must occur in a cell during interphase before mitosis
can take place?

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...................................................................................................................[3]

(ii) Draw an arrow on the diagram to indicate the sequence in which the
stages occur during the mitotic cell cycle.

[1]

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18. (a) (i) A gene controlling coat colour in cats is sex linked. The two alleles of
this gene are black and orange. When both are present the coat colour is
called tortoiseshell.

Define the following terms:

gene...........................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................
allele...........................................................................................................
................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Explain why there are no male tortoiseshell cats.

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...................................................................................................................
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Two pure breeding strains of snapdragon, a garden plant, were obtained. One strain
had red flowers and the other had white flowers. The two strains were crossed
yielding F1 plants all with pink flowers. The F1 were then interbred to produce F2
plants with the following colours:
red 62
pink 131
white 67

The following hypothesis was proposed:

Flower colour is controlled by a single gene with two codominant alleles.

(b) Complete the genetic diagram to explain this cross. Use the following symbols to
represent the alleles:

Cr = red, Cw = white

Parental phenotypes: red flowers x white flowers

Parental genotypes: .................................... ..................................

Gametes: .................................... ........................................

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F1 genotypes: ..................................................................................................

F1 phenotypes: ................................................................................................

Gametes: ........................................................................................................

F2 genotypes: ..................................................................................................

F2 phenotypes: ................................................................................................

Expected F2 phenotypic ratio: .........................................................................

[6]

19. The diagram below shows the life cycles of two organisms, A and B.

a d u lt a d u lt
(2 n ) (2 n )

g a m e te
(n )

y o u n g o r g a n is m g a m e te
z y g o te
(2 n ) (n )
(2 n )

organism A organism B

(i) Name the type of reproduction taking place in the life cycle of organism A.

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[1]

(ii) Explain why it is important that the gametes in the life cycle of organism B
contain the haploid number of chromosomes.

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[2]

[Total 3 marks]
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20. Haemophilia A is a sex-linked genetic disease which results in the blood failing to
clot properly. It is caused by a recessive allele on the X chromosome. The figure
below shows the occurrence of haemophilia in one family.

= m a le = fe m a le = m a le h a e m o p h ilia c

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12
(i) Using the following symbols:

H = dominant allele h = recessive allele

state the genotypes of the following individuals. The first one has been completed
for you.

individual genotype

1 XHXh

2 …………

5 …………

6 …………

9 …………

[4]

(ii) State the probability of individual 8 being a carrier of haemophilia.

.....................................................................................................................................
[1]

(iii) Explain why only females can be carriers of haemophilia.

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.....................................................................................................................................
[2]

[Total 7 marks]

21. A human zygote divides to produce stem cells. Stem cells have the ability to
develop into any cell type, in a similar way to meristematic cells in plants.

The figure below shows development of three cell types from human stem cells.

z y g o te

s te m c e lls

h a e m a to p o e itic n e u ra l p a n c r e a tic
s te m c e lls s te m c e lls s te m c e lls

b lo o d n e u ro n e s c e lls o f is le ts o f
c e lls L a n g e rh a n s

There are many potential medical uses of stem cells from human embryos. One
potential use is to make cells of the islets of Langerhans for transplantation, as a
treatment for diabetes mellitus.

(i) Suggest one ethical objection to the use of stem cells from human embryos.

.....................................................................................................................................
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[1]

(ii) Suggest two other medical conditions which could be treated using the
embryonic stem cells shown in the figure.

1...................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
2...................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
[Total 3 marks]

[2]

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22. Complete the following flow chart according to the cell organization of
multicellular organisms.

[3]

23. (a) (i) What is polygenic inheritance?

...................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) Give an example for polygenic inheritance.

................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Do polygenetic traits often have a narrow or wide range of phenotypes? Explain
your answer.

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.....................................................................................................................................
[2]

Total 4 marks]

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