Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level

* 3 1 6 3 1 8 7 2 1 3 *

BIOLOGY 9700/23
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions October/November 2016
1 hour 15 minutes
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your Centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.

Answer all questions.

Electronic calculators may be used.

You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use appropriate units.

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

This document consists of 14 printed pages and 2 blank pages.

DC (CW/FD) 109122/3
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Answer all the questions.

1 (a) Table 1.1 shows some features of four biological molecules that are all polymers.

Complete Table 1.1 by using a tick (3) to indicate the features that apply to each polymer.

Table 1.1

feature amylopectin cellulose RNA polypeptide

synthesised from
amino acid monomers
contains glycosidic
bonds
polymer is branched

contains nitrogen

can be found in both

animal and plant cells
[4]

(b) Fig. 1.1 is a simple diagram of a phospholipid molecule.

Explain how the structure of a phospholipid molecule makes it suitable for its function in cell
membranes. You may label and annotate Fig. 1.1 as part of your answer.

Fig. 1.1

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(c) State two components of a cell surface membrane other than phospholipid molecules and
describe their function.

component 1 .............................................................................................................................

function .....................................................................................................................................

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component 2 .............................................................................................................................

function .....................................................................................................................................

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2 (a) Explain how enzymes lower the activation energy needed to allow reactions to proceed.

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(b) Folic acid is a molecule used by all cells for growth. Bacteria cannot absorb folic acid from
their surroundings. Bacteria use an enzyme to make a molecule called PABA. PABA is used
to make folic acid.

An investigation was carried out to determine the effect on the production of PABA when
the concentration of an enzyme inhibitor is increased. Four different concentrations (1 M to
30 M) of the inhibitor were used, together with a control with no inhibitor.

The concentration of PABA produced in each reaction mixture was determined at 10 minute
intervals.

The results are shown in Fig. 2.1.

5 concentrations
of inhibitor
no inhibitor
1 M
4
concentration
of PABA
produced / M
3 M
3

10 M
2

30 M
1

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
time / min

Fig. 2.1

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(i) Use Fig. 2.1 to describe the results of the investigation.

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(ii) Outline an experiment that could be carried out to determine whether the inhibitor of the
enzyme that catalyses the reaction to produce PABA is competitive or non-competitive.

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(iii) Folic acid from the diet is able to enter human cells, but is not able to cross bacterial cell
walls. Human cells do not have an enzyme to make PABA.

Suggest why the inhibitor of this enzyme could be used as a drug to treat bacterial
infections in humans.

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(iv) Suggest why there are few drugs that have any effect on viruses.

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(c) The search for new antibiotics is important because there are many strains of bacteria that
are resistant to antibiotics.

Suggest two ways to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance.

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

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[Total: 14]

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3 Fig. 3.1 shows part of a transverse section of a root of Ranunculus repens.

Fig. 3.1

(a) Name tissues A to D.

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

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

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

D ...........................................................................................................................................[4]

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(b) Explain how water moves from X to Y.

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[Total: 8]

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4 Protein synthesis requires ribosomes, mRNA, tRNA, amino acids and enzymes.

Fig. 4.1 is a diagram of a molecule of tRNA.

A
C
C

CGA

Fig. 4.1

(a) Name the bond labelled P.

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(b) Use Fig. 4.1 to describe the role of tRNA in protein synthesis.

You may annotate Fig. 4.1 to help your answer.

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(c) tRNA molecules are synthesised inside the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.

Outline the process by which tRNA molecules are synthesised in the nucleus.

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5 In an investigation, the volume of oxygen that combined with haemoglobin at different partial
pressures of oxygen was determined. The results are shown in Fig. 5.1.

20

18
volume of
oxygen
combined with 16
haemoglobin
/ cm3 100 cm3 14
blood
12

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
partial pressure of oxygen / kPa

Fig. 5.1

(a) The partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli is 13.3 kPa. At this partial pressure of oxygen the
total volume of oxygen that is carried by 100 cm3 blood is 19.78 cm3 at pH 7.4 and 37 C.

The volume of oxygen that combines with haemoglobin at 13.3 kPa is 19.48 cm3 100 cm3
blood.

(i) Calculate the percentage of oxygen that is combined with haemoglobin in 100 cm3 blood.

answer .......................................................% [1]

(ii) Suggest how the oxygen that is not combined with haemoglobin is transported in the
blood.

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(iii) Explain why a long-term smoker would have a lower volume of oxygen combined with
haemoglobin in the alveoli at 13.3 kPa.

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(b) Describe the role of carbonic anhydrase in the transport of carbon dioxide.

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(c) The investigation was repeated in the presence of carbon dioxide. The volumes of oxygen
combined with haemoglobin at partial pressures of oxygen below 8.0 kPa were less than
shown in Fig. 5.1.

Name this effect and explain the advantage of this decrease at partial pressures of oxygen
below 8.0 kPa.

name .........................................................................................................................................

advantage .................................................................................................................................

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6 Measles is a highly infectious disease.

(a) Name the pathogen that causes measles.

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The number of cases of measles is reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by countries
throughout the world so that global data are collected.

Fig. 6.1 shows the global data collected between January 2008 and December 2012.

Key
Africa
Rest of the world
45 000
40 000
35 000
30 000
number
of cases 25 000
20 000
15 000
10 000
5000
0
Jan 2008
Mar
May
Jul
Sep
Nov
Jan 2009
Mar
May
Jul
Sep
Nov
Jan 2010
Mar
May
Jul
Sep
Nov
Jan 2011
Mar
May
Jul
Sep
Nov
Jan 2012
Mar
May
Jul
Sep
Nov Fig. 6.1

(b) Use the data in Fig. 6.1 to describe the pattern shown in the number of cases of measles
reported to the WHO between January 2008 and December 2012.

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(c) The WHO is coordinating a vaccination campaign to reduce the number of cases of measles.
Between seven to ten days after receiving the vaccination for measles the concentration of
antibodies in the blood begins to increase.

Describe what happens in the body after the injection of a measles vaccine until the
concentration of antibodies in the blood begins to increase.

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(d) Explain why countries that have established vaccination programmes still have cases of
measles.

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[Total: 10]

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