1.

Explain the use of two named enzymes in biotechnology.

(Total 8 marks)

2.

Polygalacturonase (PG) plays an important role in fruit softening by making the pectin of the
cell wall more soluble. It is synthesized only when the fruit is ripe.
In order to slow down the ripening of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), antisense RNA
technology was used. Messenger RNA from untransformed and transformed fruit was
hybridized to a radioactively labelled probe specific to the PG sense strand.
The results of a gel electrophoresis of mRNA are given below. (The size of the mRNA strands
is expressed in kilobases, kb.) The histogram shows these results expressed as the percentage of
PG mRNA in ripe untransformed fruit.

Lane 1: Ripe untransformed fruit

Lane 2: Unripe untransformed fruit
Lane 3: Ripe transformed fruit
Lane 4: Unripe transformed fruit
1

S iz e / k b

. 7

. 2

a n

e
2

% P G m R N A re la tiv e to
rip e u n tra n s fo rm e d fru it

0
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

a n

[Source: Smith et al., Nature, (1988), 334, pages 724726]

(a)

State the percentage of PG mRNA in ripe transformed fruit.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Compare the results obtained for ripe and unripe fruit.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

Using the information provided, explain how the antisense technology affects
transformed fruit.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

3.

(a)

Define the term degenerate as it relates to the genetic code.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Apart from international cooperation, outline two positive outcomes of the Human
Genome Project.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

State the catalytic activity of reverse transcriptase.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(d)

State one use of monoclonal antibodies in diagnosis and one use in treatment.
Diagnosis:
.......

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

Treatment:
.......

.......................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

4.

Discuss the ethical arguments for and against the cloning of humans.
(Total 4 marks)

5.

Outline the process of DNA profiling (genetic fingerprinting), including ways in which it can be
used.
(Total 6 marks)

6.

Discuss the ethical issues for and against the use of transgenic plants.
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(Total 6 marks)

7.

Outline DNA profiling (genetic fingerprinting), including one way in which it has been used.
(Total 5 marks)

8.

Outline two examples of the commercial application of enzymes in biotechnology.

(Total 6 marks)

Rats were bred for several generations to prefer alcohol (ethanol) consumption. When tested, it
was discovered that the brains of these rats possessed lower quantities of the chemical
neuropeptide Y (NPY).
To test the hypothesis that lower quantities of NPY leads to a preference for alcohol, rats were
genetically engineered to be NPY deficient (genotype NPY /), or to produce an excess of
NPY (NPY-EX). In separate experiments, the two groups were compared to normal rats (in
terms of their alcohol preference) possessing the genotype NPY +/+. The groups were offered
solutions of increasing alcohol concentration. The quantity of each solution consumed per day
was measured.
Figure 1
1

Figure 2

P Y/
P + Y/ +

N
N

C o n s u m p tio n / g k g 1 d a y 1

C o n s u m p tio n / g k g 1 d a y 1

9.

9
6
3
0

5
C

1 0
1 5
2 0
c e n t r a t i o n

2 5
o f

N
N

P Y - E
P + Y/ +

9
6
3
0

1 0
1 5
2 0
a l c o C h o o n l c s e o n l tu r t a i to i no n /

2 5
%o f

a l c o

[Source: adapted from Thiele et al, Nature, (1998), 396 pages 366369]

(a)

Calculate the difference in consumption of the 6% alcohol solution between the

(i)

NPY / and NPY +/+ rats (figure 1);

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

NPY-EX and NPY+/+ rats (figure 2).

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Compare the alcohol consumption of the NPY / rats with the NPY-EX rats.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)

(c)

Identify the relationship between NPY levels and alcohol consumption.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

An experiment was carried out to test the hypothesis that an increase in preference for alcohol
might be related to a decrease in sensitivity to its effects.
Rats were injected with a sample of alcohol and then assessed for the length of time it took for
them to regain the righting reflex. (The righting reflex refers to the ability of the rat to return to
its feet after being placed on its back.)
Figure 3
7
T

i m
e
r i g h t
r e f l e x

t 5o 0 r e g a i n
i n g
2/ 5 m
i n s
0

Y N

P / Y N

+ P / Y+

- E

[Source: adapted from Thiele et al, Nature, (1998), 396 pages 366369]

(d)

Deduce the relationship between NPY levels and the time required to regain the righting
reflex.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)

An additional experiment was carried out to determine whether differences in sensitivity to the
effects of alcohol might be related to differences in the rats ability to remove alcohol from their
blood. Rats were injected with alcohol and blood samples were taken one hour and three hours
later to determine alcohol levels. The results are shown below.
Figure 4
K
3

C o n c e n t r a1 t i o n
o f
i n
t h e
p l a s m 2 0a 0 / m
1

a l c o
g
d L

e y :
P Y

/ +

0
T

1
i m

3
a f t e r

i n

j e c t i o

[Source: adapted from Thiele et al, Nature, (1998), 396 pages 366369]

r s

(e)

Evaluate the hypothesis that differences in sensitivity to the effects of alcohol might be
related to differences in the ability of the rats to remove alcohol from their blood.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(f)

Using all the data, outline the relationship between preference for alcohol and sensitivity
to the effects of alcohol.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(g)

(i)

Define the term homozygous.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

State the phenotype of a rat with the genotype NPY +/+.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii)

Using a Punnett grid, predict the fraction of offspring that would have the genotype
NPY +/ if two rats were crossed, one homozygous for the NPY+ allele and one
homozygous for the NPY allele.

...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 17 marks)

10.

Discuss the potential benefits and possible harmful effects of genetic modification.
(Total 7 marks)

11.

Outline two examples of the commercial application of named enzymes in biotechnology.

(Total 6 marks)

12.

Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)

(a)

Draw and label a simple diagram to show how DNA is constructed from sugars,
phosphates and bases.
(6)

(b)

Define the terms gene and gene mutation.

(4)

(c)

Genetic modification involves the transfer of DNA from one species to another. Discuss
the potential benefits and possible harmful effects of one example of genetic modification
in a named organism.
(8)
(Total 20 marks)

13.

Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)

(a)

Describe the structure and function of the placenta.

(6)

(b)

Draw and label a diagram of the adult male human reproductive system.
(5)

(c)

Discuss the implications of genetic screening.

(7)
(Total 20 marks)

14.

(a)

State one advantage and one disadvantage of genetic modification technology for crop
plants.
Advantage:
.

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

.
Disadvantage:
.

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

.
(2)

10

(b)

Explain the effect of base substitution mutation in sickle cell anemia.

....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

15.

Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)

(a) Explain why enzymes are substrate specific and why their activity is affected by
substrate concentration.
(8)

(b)

Outline the use of restriction enzymes (endonucleases) and DNA ligase in gene
technology.
(6)

(c)

Outline the role of two enzymes found in the digestive system of humans.
(4)
(Total 20 marks)

11

The mold Penicillium expansum causes serious crop loss of apples and pears during storage and
packing. The graphs below show the density of P. expansum spores on normal skin, damaged
skin and lenticels (small air pores allowing gaseous exchange) of apples. The experiments show
the results at two humidity levels over a four day period.
H
0

i g

i d

i t y

2 2

4 4

i d

L o g 10sp o re s / c m

L o g 10sp o re s / c m

16.

1
0

2 2

4 4

i m

s i t y
s i t y
s i t y

o
o
o

e y d: e n
d e n
d e n

8 9
/

f
f
f

s p
s p
s p

o
o
o

r e
r e
r e

o
o
o

n
n
n

i m

n o r m
a l s k i n
d a m
a g e d
s k
l e n t i c e l s

8 9

i n

[Source: This article was published in Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, Volume 67, Issue 1, authors
Achour Amiri, Danielle Cholodowski and Gilbert Bompeix, Adhesion and germination of waterborne and airborne
conidia of Penicillium expansum to apple and inert surfaces, pp. 40-48, copyright Elsevier (2005).]

(a)

State the time taken for spores on the skin to reach a density of 100 spores/cm at high
humidity.
......................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Compare the density of spores on normal skin with spores on lenticels for apples stored at
high humidity.
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(2)

12

i t y

(c)

Discuss whether apples should be stored at high humidity or low humidity.

......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

17.

(a)

Explain one use of reverse transcriptase in biotechnology.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)

(b)

List two commercial production processes that rely on the activity of Saccharomyces.
1. .................................................................................................................................
2. .................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

13