12 Answers to end-of-chapter questions

[1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

10 C

[1]

11 A

[1]

Structured questions
12 a

Characterised by a large, fluid-filled antrum

Secondary oocyte pushed to one side
Thin layer of theca cells / granulosa cells on the periphery
The corona radiata surrounds the oocyte

ii

I corona radiata / granulosa cells

II theca
III antrum
IV secondary oocyte

iii

Magnification = size of scale bar / actual size

= 20 000/50
= 400

34 points [2]
12 points [1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]

Complete calculation [2]

Partial [1]

b
corona radiata
zona pellucida
lipid droplets
haploid nucleus
nucleolus
cortical granules /
lysosomes
mitochondrion
cytoplasm

Biology for CAPE

first polar body

Good drawing [1]

56 labels [3]
34 labels [2]
12 labels [1]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Drawing showing the detailed structure of a secondary oocyte

13 a

34 correct [2]
12 correct [1]

I chorion
II amnion
III cavity of uterus
IV umbilical cord
V allantois
VI yolk sac
VII placenta / chorionic villi
VIII amniotic fluid
IX foetus

89 correct [5]
67 correct [4]
45 correct [3]
23 correct [2]
1 correct [1]

34 points [2]
12 points [1]

I oestrogen
II progesterone
III LH
IV FSH

Only meiosis I has been completed with the production of 1st polar body
Meiosis II is not completed / arrested in metaphase II
It is only completed when the sperm enters the oocyte
Completion of meiosis II produces 2nd polar body and ovum

amnion
chorion
yolk sac
allantois

34 correct [2]
12 correct [1]

To protect the foetus or embryo from physical shock and

mechanical damage; it acts as shock absorber
The foetus can move freely / allows development of the skeleton
and muscles and lung development
Provides a sterile environment hence prevents infection
Supports the foetus so it floats
Maintains a constant temperature in the foetus
Acts as a receptacle for waste e.g. exfoliations, secretions, urine
from foetus
The foetus swallows the amniotic fluid and therefore develops
swallowing reflex

Any 1 point [1]

[max 3]

Smoking
IGUR / slow / stunted growth / underweight baby
Carbon monoxide binds irreversibly to form a stable compound with
haemoglobin in red blood cells of foetus
Carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen
Reduces oxygen transport
Nicotine constricts / narrows / reduces blood flow in arteries
Reduces transport of nutrients
Increases foetal heart rate
Small placenta
Both carbon monoxide and nicotine reduce the foetuss growth in uterus
Increased risk of miscarriage / prenatal mortality / stillbirth
Baby might be premature / have respiratory illness
Any 1 point [1]
immature lungs / size of lungs reduced by 30%
[max 5]

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Alcohol
Foetal alcohol syndrome
Slows nervous system and brain development
Heart defects
Cleft palate
Poor muscle tone
Abnormal limb development
14 a

ii

iii

Any 1 point [1]

[max 2]

I acrosome
II nucleus
III mitochondrion
IV axial filament

34 correct [2]
12 correct [1]

I contains hydrolytic enzymes which are released during fertilisation

and are used to digest a path into the female gamete
II contains the haploid number of chromosomes and carries the
male genetic material; fuses with female gamete to keep the
chromosome number constant

III produce large amounts of ATP in aerobic respiration

ATP required by the microtubules of IV to move relative to each
other in order to bring about the wavelike movements of the tail,
producing the swimming movements used to take the spermatozoan
to the female gamete

[1]

[1]
[1]

[1]

plasma membrane
mitochondrion

9 + 2 microtubules

Drawing showing a section through middle

piece of the human sperm

Biology for CAPE

3 labels [2]
2 labels [1]
Correct drawing [2]
Partial [1]
[max 4]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

% viable sperm or
normal morphology

90
80
70
60
50
40
30

% viable
sperm
% normal
morphology

20
10
0

1019 2343 5170

Age range/years

ii

Biology for CAPE

Axes labelled correctly [2]

Bars drawn accurately [2]

Percentage of sperm with normal morphology was highest at

age 23 to 43 years
Percentage of sperm with normal morphology was lowest at
age 51 to 70 years
Percentage of viable sperm was lowest at age 51 to 70 years
Percentage of viable sperm was highest at age 10 to 19 years
As age increases, % of viable sperm decreases

Any point [1]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Essay questions
15 a

FSH
LH
Oestrogen
Progesterone

34 points [2]
12 points [1]

ii
Hormone

FSH

Main
site of
secretion
anterior
lobe of
pituitary
gland

LH

anterior
lobe of
pituitary
gland

Oestrogen

theca
cells of
follicle

Progesterone corpus
luteum

Effect of hormone
endometrium

stimulates
growth of the
follicle in the
ovary
stimulates the
secretion of
oestrogen by
theca cells
acts on ovaries
to stimulate
growth of
follicles
promotes
ovulation
promotes
development of
corpus luteum
no effect

no effect

no effect

no effect

promotes repair and

growth of uterine lining
/ lining to proliferate
and develop blood
vessels / become
vascularised
uterine lining becomes
more vascular to make
it ready to receive the
embryo if fertilisation
occurs

Cells of Leydig stimulated by LH / ICSH

Produces testosterone
Passes into the seminiferous tubules where it binds to Sertoli cells
Which stimulates / controls spermatogenesis in seminiferous
tubules
Promotes cell division / growth of spermatogonia
Inhibits GnRH and LH

ovary

Every 3 points
correct [1]
[max 4]
Excludes first
column

Any point [1]

[max 3]

Based on the 28-day menstrual cycle

Monitor cycle to determine safe period / ovulation days
Women ovulate 14 days before menstruation begins, give or take
two days

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

 Sperm can survive inside a woman for 3 days

Egg is viable for 3 days
Therefore, unsafe days 1117
Question changed from Rhythm method to IUD, answer needs to be changed
ii Contains progesterone and oestrogen
Inhibits FSH
Development of follicle is arrested
No ovulation
Thickens the mucus in the cervix, making it difficult for sperm to
reach an egg
Makes the lining of the womb thinner so it is less likely to accept a
fertilised egg
iii

16 a

46 points [2]
23 points [1]

46 points [2]
23 points [1]

Vasa differentia leading to both testes are cut and tied

So preventing sperm from entering the urethra

[1]
[1]

Exchange of respiratory gases (carbon dioxide, oxygen)

Exchange of nutrients (glucose, amino acids, etc.)
Exchange of antibodies
Exchange of nitrogenous waste
Production of hormones e.g. progesterone, oestrogen
Acts a physical barrier by preventing direct foetal / maternal blood
exchange and as blood pressure reducer
a chemical barrier by controlling transplacental transport e.g. by
restriction of large protein molecules, hormones and harmful
pathogens (HIV about 1550% of time; rubella, herpes simplex)

Any point [1]

[max 3]

ii
large surface area of villus, which
is part of the foetus, through
which foetal blood flows
increases exchange of
substances

foetal blood separated from

maternal blood maintains its
own blood pressure/isolated
from pressure changes

diffusion gradient
maintained by
circulation /
countercurrent
short diffusion
distance from sinus
to foetal blood /
efficient diffusion

foetal blood has a

higher affinity for O2
than maternal blood

many fine blood

capillaries to increase
transport

Biology for CAPE

Drawing neat and clear [1]

Any 3 annotations or more [3]
23 annotations [2]
1 annotation [1]
Drawing with no annotations but 3
labels [1]
[max 4]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Diffusion e.g. respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) and

nitrogenous waste (urea)
Facilitated diffusion e.g. glucose
Osmosis e.g. water
Well described
Pinocytosis e.g. antibodies
process with example [1]
Active transport of amino acids, ions
[max 2]

ii

Smaller, only substances with a certain molecular mass can pass

Must be soluble
There must be a diffusion gradient for substance (from mothers blood
to foetus)
Or a specific active transport carrier mechanism present (e.g. Na+ ions
via carrier proteins)

Any 1 point [1]

c [answer missing question is Discuss the possible effects of maternal

behaviour on foetal development. (make reference to cigarette smoking,
alcohol abuse, role of nutrition)]
17 a

Exchange of respiratory gases, carbon dioxide, oxygen

Sperms become capacitated / capacitation
Enabling them to swim more strongly and rapidly
A layer of glycoprotein around the sperm is hydrolysed by enzymes
in the uterus
Plasma proteins in the seminal fluid are also hydrolysed by enzymes
in the uterus
Any 3 points [3]
Changes happen in the membrane around the acrosome so that it can
2 points [2]
release its enzymes quickly once the oocyte is reached
1 point [1]

ii

Biology for CAPE

Acrosome reaction
Enzymes in acrosome digest path through corona radiata
Receptors in sperms cell surface membrane bond to receptors
in the zona pellucida
Another acrosome enzyme digests path through zona
pellucida
Sperm head membrane binds with membrane of oocyte
Oocyte releases enzymes from lysosomes / cortical
granules
Passes into zona pellucid
For fertilisation (not bold)
Zona pellucida thickens and becomes an
68 points [4]
impenetrable barrier / fertilisation membrane
5 points [3]
This barrier prevents penetration by more than one sperm
4 points [3]
Contact by sperm with oocyte causes meiosis II to be
23 points [1]
completed
For prevention (in bold)
Nucleus of sperm enters ovum
34 points [2]
Fuses with nucleus of ovum / fertilisation
12 points [1]
[max 6]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

b
Spermatogenesis
takes place in the testis
involves mitosis in
multiplication phase
continuous production of
primary spermatocytes
from puberty to old age
involves meiosis
meiosis completed in
days
maturation of sperm
takes about 70 days
does not begin in foetal
stage
four functioning, small
motile spermatozoa at the
end of the meiosis
gametes are haploid

Oogenesis
takes place in the ovary
involves mitosis in multiplication phase
fixed number of primary oocytes from birth which
develop into ova from menarche / beginning of
menstruation to menopause
involves meiosis
meiosis arrested in prophase I in foetal stage and
continues at puberty, completed with entry of sperm
into oocyte
can take as long as 4850 years / up to menopause
all primary oocytes produced from birth
one large, immotile oocyte and 2 degenerated polar
bodies are left at the end of the meiosis
gametes are haploid

[5]

[markscheme needed for 17b]

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011