IGCSE BIOLOGY

1. State the effect of hormone and their source. (Jan 15 1B Q1a)

Source Name of hormone Effect

Pituitary gland Follicle Stimulating Hormone Stimulates egg development
(FSH) and oestrogen secretion in
females and sperm secretion
on males.
Luteinising Hormone (LH) Stimulates egg release
(ovulation) in females and
testosterone production in
males.
Anti-diuretic Hormone (ADH) Controls water content of
the blood. (increase
Growth Hormone (GH) permeability of the
collecting duct)
Speeds up the rate of
growth and development in
children
Thyroid gland Thyroxin Controls bodys metabolic
rate
Pancreas Insulin Lowers blood glucose
Glucagon (converts glucose to
glycogen)
Raises blood glucose
(converts glycogen to
glucose)
Adrenals Adrenaline Prepares body for physical
activity
Testes Testosterone Controls development of
male secondary sexual
characteristics
Ovaries Oestrogen Controls development of
Progesterone female SSC (repairs uterus
lining)
Regulates menstrual cycle
9. Design an investigation to show how pheromone traps can control pests. (Jan 15 1B Q6e)

Pheromone set up to attract pests in the field. Include same species/size of pest and provide same species/size of food. Repeat the
experiment in many fields. Count the number of trapped pest or the amount of food damaged in a period of time. Keep other factors like
temperature, light, water, time of year, location, size of field, number of plants, size of trap same.
10. State the adaptations of villi to absorb food molecules. (Jan 15 1B Q 8b)

It has microvilli which increases SA; One celled thick so short diffusion distance; Dense network of capillaries so faster diffusion. A tube
inside villi called lacteal absorbs fat.
11. Describe the process of micropropagation used to produce plants with desirable character. (Jan 15 1B Q13a)

Part of the main plant is cut which is the explant; the explant is placed in agar which contains nutrients, amino acid and glucose; the
explant is dipped into growth hormone for faster growth and rooting hormone for faster root growth. Place the explant is compost with
optimum nutrition, then place it on greenhouse with optimum conditions for growth; Make sure that the place is sterile and has controlled
light and humidity.
12. Advantage of using micropropagation rather than seeds. (Jan 15 1B Q13b)

Faster process; cheaper process; Genetic modification can be introduced quickly to a large number of plants quickly; desired features are
retained; can be produced on anytime of the year.

13. Why protease is present in the in WBC of lungs. (Jan 15 2B Q1b)

The enzyme digest and breakdown the pathogens in the lung. This prevents the pathogens from reproducing and thus prevent causing
disease.
14. How vaccinations prevent further infection? (Jan 15 2B Q1e)

A harmless pathogen of the same antigen is injected into the patients body. The lymphocyte starts making memory cells and antibodies for
defence. As these memory cells last long, when the pathogen of that antigen enter, it will respond quickly to neutralize it.

15. Describe how legume plants convert gaseous nitrogen to nitrates in the soil? (Jan 15 2B Q3b)

Denitrifying bacteria uses nitrates as energy source and convert them into nitrogen gas. Denitrification reduces the amount of nitrate in the
soil. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert nitrogen into nitrates which is absorbed by plant to be converted into amino acid and other organic
compounds. Death and decomposition of these plants provides the stored nitrates to the soil.
22. The nitrogen in nitrate ion of soil can become the nitrogen of protein molecule of animals. (June 14 2B Q2c)

The nitrates are absorbed by root hair cell, then the nitrates are uptaken by active transport. Plant use these nitrates to make amino acids
to assimilate into protein. Then when the plant is eaten by animals, they food is digested by protease and thus they are used to make
protein molecules in animals.
23. Suggest why the daily intake of iron is higher for pregnant women than a non-pregnant woman? (June 14 2B Q5ciii)

A pregnant woman has extra weight so more iron helps to respire more and it helps in growth and development of fetus.
24. How tissue samples are removed and transferred to agar medium during tissue culture (micropropagation)? (June 14 2B Q6a)

Cut the sample with scissors or knife then use tweezers to transfer the tissue sample. Make sure that both the apparatus and sample is
sterile.
25. Which nutrients added to agar medium would help plant growth? Also include their deficiencies (June 14 2B Q6b)

Nitrate To make amino acids, protein, chlorophyll, genetic material and nucleic acid.
Stunted growth, older leaves turn yellow.
Magnesium To make chloroplast and chlorophyll.
Leaves turn yellow.
Phosphate To make ATP, DNA and parts of cell membrane.
Poor root growth, younger leaves turn purple.
Potassium Needed to make respiratory enzyme and photosynthesis to work
Leaves turn yellow with dead spots
26. How large ears of elephant helps it to control body temperature? (June 14 2B Q7a)

Ears have large surface area so more heat loss due to rapid sweating and evaporation. They have a blood supply that helps in vasodilation.
27. Why might and organism die if its body temperature gets too high? (June 14 2B Q7b)

The enzyme gets denatured which affects reactions/digestion/respiration.

28. How to produce a cloned mammal? (Jan 14 1B Q5)

Gamete/egg cell taken and then its haploid nucleus has been removed. A somatic/body cell from desired featured mammal is taken and
then its diploid nucleus is removed and kept. The diploid nucleus is inserted into the egg cell and an electric shock is applied to initiate the
cell division by mitosis. The embryo formed is placed in the uterus/womb of a surrogate mother. The offspring produced will be genetically
identical to the desired mammal.
 have muscle contractions due to reflexes. Plants use hormones, their response is slower and the stimulus and response are closer; In plants,
they respond by growth, not by contractions.
37. State the effect of greenhouse gas on the environment. (Jan 17 1B Q8bii)

Greenhouse effect traps outgoing IR and heat which causes global warming. This causes the ice caps to melt and rise in sea level. A change
in climate can be observed and habitats starts to get destroyed. Thus disruption is food chain and extinction starts and leads to migration,
disease and pest spreading.
38. Long distance runners and cyclists have lower heart rate than average heart rate, Suggest why. (June 16 1B Q8b)

Due to exercise and training, their heart has grown larger and developed more muscle. So due to that, more blood is pumped in each beat
and thus there is fewer beats per unit time pumps same volume of blood compared to average person. And so more oxygen for aerobic
respiration is provided.
39. What changes happen to the uterus lining during menstrual cycle? (June 16 1B Q10biii)

The lining thickens and gets repaired and the lining is maintained if the woman gets pregnant. If not, then the lining is slouched off/broken
down.
40. How cell divisions by meiosis differ from mitosis? (June 16 1B Q11b)

Meiosis produces four cells, produce haploid cells with half the chromosome number. The cells have genetic variation and they are gametes.
Meiosis takes place at sex organs.
41. How fish hearts differ from human heart? (Jan 16 1B Q8aiii)

Have two chambers, one atrium and one ventricle. They have fewer valves and no septum present. The chamber walls have smaller size and
have only two blood vessels.
42. How pollination leads to seed formation? (Jan 16 1B Q9c)

Pollen grain lands on stigma and pollen tube grows down via style into the ovule. The grain enters via micropyle and pollen nucleus fuse
with egg nucleus. Ovule become seed and ovule wall become seed coat and the ovary becomes fruit.
43. Why breathing rate is higher after exercise? (Jan 16 1B Q12b)

Less aerobic respiration of muscles during exercise so more anaerobic respiration and thus lactic acid build up. After exercise, body need
more oxygen to reduce the oxygen debt and remove the lactic acid and carbon dioxide so the breathing rate increases.
 contaminated and might spoil the taste and other bacteria might not be killed and would use lactose and compete with given bacteria.
Why jars need to be warm when kept to form curdle? It might take longer and result in less production. Lower temperature will stop the
bacteria growing and temperature reaching below optimum will reduce enzyme activity.
Why fruits added to the yoghurt formed is helpful? It contains vitamin C & A that prevents scurvy & prevent night blindness respectively.
52. Describe an experiment to determine the energy content of a seed. (June 16 2BR Q4d)

Weigh the mass of the seed and take a boiling tube with known volume of water (1 cm3=1gm). Now measure the temperature of the water
and ignite the seed under the tube. Keep on igniting it until it no longer burns, and stir the water for even heating, now measure the final
temperature of the water.{We know 4.2 joule raises temperature of 1gm of water by 1oC}. Now find the temperature change and repeat the
experiment. Use Energy = (temperature change x waters mass x 4.2 Joule)/ mass of food to find the energy content.
53. How the structure of motor neurone is adapted for its function? (June 16 2BR Q6b)

Dendrites connect with other neurones; Axon carries impulses; Myelin sheath for insulation and faster impulses; Connected to muscle fibres
so allow impulses to reach muscle fibres.
54. Why faeces help plants to grow? (May 15 1BR Q3b)

The faeces is decomposed by bacteria which acts as fertilizer due to the mineral ions.
55. Some cell lining the bronchioles in the lung produce mucus. Cystic fibrosis causes which blocks the bronchioles. (May 15 1BR Q6cii)

Mucus is a food source of microbes so they feed on them and reproduce rapidly. As they arent removed, they soon block the bronchioles.
56. Explain how reflex responses, such as blinking, differ from other nerve responses, such as picking up a pencil? (June 15 2BR Q1c)

Reflex responses are rapid and faster which is involuntary and doesnt require thinking. This is an instinctive feature that might be a
mechanism to protect body from damage.
57. Explain the structure and functioning of a simple reflex arc, ex- withdrawal of finger from a hot object. (June 15 2BR Q1f)

The receptor detects the stimulus and impulse is sent via sensory neurone. The end of the sensory neurone enters the grey matter and
impulse is sent by neurotransmitter through synapse into the next neurone. The relay neurone then carries the impulse to motor neurone to
contract or relax the muscles.
58. How the placenta is adapted for the efficient exchange of substances? (June 15 2BR Q2c)

It has villi provides large surface area; Capillaries ensures a concentration gradient; Thin walled short diffusion distance.
 same restriction enzyme. Now the recombinant plasmid is obtained by ligase and placed inside a bacterium. Place the bacterium in a
fermenter to grow and then collect the human growth hormone.
68. What is a hormone? (May 13 1B Q13bi)

It is an object that is released by glands of the endocrine system that travels through the blood stream to the targeted cells or organs to
cause a change or produce response.
69. How selective breeding can be used to produce a more milk producing cow? (May 13 1B Q13bii)

Take a cow with more yield production and a bull with either their daughters/mother having high milk production. Allow them to mate and
produce offspring; observe the milk production of offspring. Repeat the process for several generation to get the suitable batch of offspring.
70. What is the function of pores in the skin in homeostasis? (June 13 2B Q5bi)

Release sweat and allows it to deposit on skin. The sweat escapes by evaporation and thus the heat is lost and skin cooled.
71. Define the function of capillary loop in homeostasis. (June 13 2B Q5bii)

Vasodilation occurs so more blood is near the skin surface and thus greater heat loss.
72. Why Streptococcus thermophilus is used before lactobacillus bulgaricus in yoghurt production?

To provide anaerobic conditions for lactobacillus bulgaricus

73. How chlorophyll in leaf cells is removed before testing a leaf for starch test? (Jan 13 1B Q4ciii)

Boil the leaf in ethanol but use water bath and avoid direct flame as ethanol is flammable. Then there should be no chlorophyll.
74. How having more RBC is an advantage to athletes who take part in long distance races? (Jan 13 1B Q10b)

More RBC means more haemoglobin and so more oxygen carriage to muscles to allow them to respire. More aerobic respiration occurs and so
more energy for running. Having capability to carry more oxygen builds up less lactic acid so less muscle cramp and can run longer.
75. Why having more RBC is not an advantage to sprint athletes? (Jan 13 1B Q10c)

Sprint is a short race so it takes less time to complete and so oxygen is not needed much. And also aerobic respiration is a time-consuming
process so most of the respiration occurs is anaerobic.
76. Why transplanted kidney is placed in lower abdomen instead of kidneys usual location? (Jan 13 1B Q11cii)

It is nearer to the bladder and the blood vessels, so it is easier to access as it is closer to the surface.
85. *Note*-Genetic engineering of cereals like maize require the gene gun method!
Describe how to produce a new variety of maize. (June 13 1H AQA)

Desired gene is extracted from bacteria and wrapped around gold pellets. Young tissue is extracted from young maize plants. A gene gun is
used to shoot the pellets at the plant tissue. This tissue which has been taken up by the bacteria gene is micro propagated to produce
several maize plants with new gene quickly.
86. Changes in order of basses in a DNA molecule may cause variation among species. Explain how? (June 13 1H AQA)

A change in gene is mutation. This causes a change in sequence of base. Hence, there will be a new triplet code. The order of bases is the
code for a specific protein sequence, so different code produces a different protein sequence. Thus the final protein made is different from
the original one. As a result, the active site of an enzyme changes causing the previous substrate no longer compatible. This will lead to a
formation of different product and so there will be a variation among species.
87. Why might a group of organisms want to change its habitat? (June 15 2H AQA)

New/more disease spread; More competition; More predators; Less food; Change is temperature and climate.
88. What are the chemical substances that are transported by the plasma? (June 15 1B AQA)

Amino acids; Antibodies; Antitoxins; Carbon dioxide; Cholesterol; Enzymes; Fatty acid; Glucose; Glycerol; Hormones; Ions; Proteins; Urea;
Vitamins; Water.
89. How pathogens cause infections? (June 15 1B AQA)

Bacteria and viruses are pathogens. They reproduce rapidly inside the body. Bacteria may produce toxins/poison and viruses live inside cells,
reproducing and damaging them.
90. Why farm chicken has better meat or egg production that outdoor ones? (June 15 1B AQA)

Less movement so less energy is used/ less energy transfer. Can control the surrounding conditions for suitable growth. So more energy is
reserved for growth and egg production.
91. How the body temperature would return to normal after a vigorous exercise? (June 13 2H AQA)

Sweat glands produce more sweat; Sweat evaporates to cool the body. Vasodilation occurs and more blood flows through the surface
capillaries. More heat loss by radiation and body cools down to normal temperature.
92. Differ aerobic and anaerobic respiration. (June 13 2H AQA)

They both release energy and use glucose but:

100. Define transpiration & Translocation.

Translocation: After water and mineral ions had reached the leaf, food is made by photosynthesis. The food is then sent to other parts of the
plant via phloem
Transpiration: After photosynthesis, there is excess water with no minerals. So the leaves lose water by transpiration through the stomata as
vapour.
101. Name the gas exchange organs for humans.

Lung & Placenta

102. A: Nucleus (This is hyphae of a fungus so there are multiple nucleuses)
A B: Vacuole
C: Cytoplasm
B D: Cell wall

C
D

103. How to control diabetes?

Careful diet and exercise.