Cambridge International AS & A Level

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BIOLOGY 9700/42
Paper 4 A Level Structured Questions October/November 2022

2 hours

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 100.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 28 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (CE/CB) 302040/2
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1 The Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, is found only in the Gir Forest National Park in the Gujarat
region of western India.

Fig. 1.1 shows a female Asiatic lion.

Fig. 1.1

(a) The Asiatic lion is at risk of extinction in the wild and is categorised as endangered by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Outline the role of the IUCN.

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(b) The Maldhari community is a tribe of herdsmen that lives in the Gir Forest. The Maldhari have
co-existed with the Asiatic lions for thousands of years. The Maldhari place old and weak
cattle at the edges of their cattle enclosures.

Suggest why the Maldhari place old and weak cattle at the edges of their cattle enclosures.

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(c) Some zoos use assisted reproduction techniques, such as IVF, in their captive breeding
programmes for endangered species.

Describe how IVF can be used with an endangered species such as the Asiatic lion.

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2 Yeast cells can respire in anaerobic conditions.

(a) (i) Outline how yeast carries out respiration in anaerobic conditions.

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(ii) Explain why respiration in anaerobic conditions is an advantage to yeast.

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Bioethanol is a type of biofuel produced from maize starch on an industrial scale. In the high
temperature method, heating to 120 °C is used to break apart starch molecules. The enzymes
α-amylase and glucoamylase are added to the resulting starch suspension once it has cooled
down. These enzymes hydrolyse the starch to glucose. Yeast cells are then added and maintained
in anaerobic conditions to produce ethanol.

The high temperature method is expensive to carry out, so a new method has been developed
which heats starch to a lower temperature of 80 °C.

In the lower temperature method, enzymes catalysing the hydrolysis of starch do not need to be
added to the starch suspension. A genetically modified (GM) strain of the same yeast species is
used. The GM strain of yeast has genes that allow the cell to produce α-amylase and glucoamylase
and to attach these enzymes to the external surface of the cell surface membrane. The GM yeast
cells are added to the starch that was heated to 80 °C and are maintained in anaerobic conditions
to produce ethanol.

(b) An investigation was carried out to compare the GM strain of yeast with the yeast that had
not been genetically modified (non-GM strain).
In this investigation, the starch suspension produced after heating to 80 °C was allowed to
cool to 30 °C before adding yeast cells.

The results are shown in Fig. 2.1.

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60 30

50 25

40 20
concentration concentration
of starch of ethanol
/ g dm–3 / g dm–3
30 15

20 10

10 5

0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
time / h
Key
ethanol concentration using non-GM strain
starch concentration using non-GM strain
ethanol concentration using GM strain
starch concentration using GM strain

Fig. 2.1

With reference to Fig. 2.1, describe the trends in the data for ethanol production by the
GM strain compared to the non-GM strain.

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(c) The rate of ethanol production is similar for the lower temperature method and the higher
temperature method.

Suggest why using the lower temperature method has a similar rate of production of ethanol
to the higher temperature method.

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(d) Suggest one reason why the high temperature method is expensive to carry out.

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3 (a) Photosynthesis is an energy transfer process that takes place in chloroplasts of plant cells.

(i) Fig. 3.1 shows a diagram of a chloroplast.

C
D not to scale

Fig. 3.1

Using the letters A, B, C or D, identify the structure that:

• contains genes that code for some of the enzymes used in photosynthesis

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• is the site of synthesis of some of the enzymes used in photosynthesis.

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(ii) Explain how grana are adapted for their specific role in photosynthesis.

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(b) An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of changing light conditions on the
pH of the chloroplast stroma. Scientists followed pH changes in chloroplast stroma using
fluorescent chemicals that can be used as pH indicators.

• Chloroplasts were isolated from cells.

• A suspension of chloroplasts was prepared and kept in the dark for 180 seconds.
• The chloroplasts were exposed to a period of light of fixed intensity for 240 seconds,
then returned to dark conditions.
• The pH of chloroplast stroma was continuously measured and recorded.

Fig. 3.2 shows the results of this experiment.

dark light dark

7.7

7.6

pH of 7.5
chloroplast
stroma 7.4

7.3

7.2
0 120 240 360 480 600 720
time / s

Fig. 3.2

(i) Describe the results shown in Fig. 3.2.

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(ii) Discuss how the results in Fig. 3.2 support that chemiosmosis occurs
during photophosphorylation.

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4 Haemophilia is a blood clotting disorder in humans caused by a mutant allele on the X chromosome.

Table 4.1 compares two forms of haemophilia: haemophilia A and haemophilia B.

Table 4.1

haemophilia A haemophilia B
gene F8 F9
clotting factor protein factor VIII factor IX
proportion of males born with
1 in 5000 1 in 30 000
haemophilia
length of functional gene (exons
7.0 1.6
only) / kilobase pairs

(a) Genetic engineering is used to make recombinant human proteins to treat people with
haemophilia A and haemophilia B.

Outline the principles of genetic engineering.

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(b) Scientists are working towards a goal of treating haemophilia by gene therapy. They plan to
use a common, harmless virus to introduce the functional gene. The virus has a genome that
is 4.7 kilobase pairs long.

(i) With reference to Table 4.1 and the introduction to (a), assess:
• which form of haemophilia, A or B, scientists should try to treat first
• whether they should attempt to treat haemophilia with gene therapy at all.

Explain your reasoning.

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(ii) In gene therapy trials to treat haemophilia, the gene coding for the clotting factor needs
to be introduced together with a promoter.

Explain why a promoter has to be introduced as well as the desired gene.

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(iii) Some individuals taking part in gene therapy trials have been naturally exposed to the
virus carrying the functional gene, so that their blood already contains antibodies to
the virus.

Predict how this will affect the success of the gene therapy treatment.

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(c) Gene editing is a newer technique for modifying DNA. Some scientists are researching the
use of gene editing, instead of introducing a functional gene, to treat haemophilia.

State two possible advantages of using gene editing as a method of treating haemophilia.

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5 Myosotis is a genus of small flowering plants. Many different Myosotis species grow on the islands
of New Zealand, which are an important site of Myosotis evolution. Lowland Myosotis species
grow at low altitude while alpine Myosotis species grow at high altitude at the tops of mountains.

(a) Scientists wanted to obtain molecular data to determine the evolutionary relationships of
New Zealand’s Myosotis species. They extracted DNA from individuals of Myosotis species
collected from three different islands in New Zealand.

To carry out a polymerase chain reaction before DNA sequencing, the DNA samples were
mixed with primers, deoxynucleotides and Taq polymerase and put through 35 cycles of
treatment. Each treatment cycle involved one minute at 95 °C, followed by one minute at
50 °C and then four minutes at 72 °C.

Describe what happened to the DNA at each temperature.

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(b) Fig. 5.1 shows the three largest New Zealand islands.

North Island

South Island
0 200
km

Stewart Island

Fig. 5.1

North Island has mostly lowland habitat. South Island and Stewart Island have mountains
with alpine habitats that are above the tree line.

DNA sequence data for three Myosotis species were compared. The results are described in
the bullet points.

• In the alpine species M. pygmaea, individuals on South Island showed genetic differences
from individuals of M. pygmaea on Stewart Island.
• In the alpine species M. pulvinaris, individuals from different mountains on South Island
showed genetic differences.
• In the lowland species M. pottsiana, individuals from different areas of North Island
showed overall genetic similarity.

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Discuss reasons for the results in the three species.

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(c) State two factors, other than natural selection, that could drive genetic changes in populations
of Myosotis.

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6 (a) The lac operon of prokaryotes contains a group of structural genes that are under the same
control and are transcribed together.

Another operon found in prokaryotes is the trp operon.

Fig. 6.1 summarises the structure and control of the trp operon.

inactive repressor
RNA polymerase binds to promoter

trpR promoter operator trpE trpD trpC trpB trpA

attenuator
(regulates the structural genes
extent of are transcribed
transcription)
tryptophan

active repressor

trpR promoter operator trpE trpD trpC trpB trpA

attenuator
no transcription of
structural genes

Fig. 6.1

(i) Describe the differences in structure and control between the lac operon and
the trp operon.

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(ii) Suggest why structural genes in operons are transcribed together.

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(iii) trpA is an example of a structural gene and trpR is an example of a regulatory gene.

Describe the differences between the functions of structural genes and regulatory genes.

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(iv) trpA codes for the enzyme tryptophan synthase.

Tryptophan synthase catalyses the formation of the amino acid tryptophan.

Explain why tryptophan synthase is an example of a repressible enzyme.

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(b) Control of gene expression in eukaryotes is more complex than in prokaryotes.

In plants, the control of gene expression can involve plant hormones, such as gibberellin, and
proteins known as JAZ and MYC.

(i) Describe how gibberellin activates genes in plant cells.

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(ii) Transcription of some plant genes is prevented when JAZ proteins bind to other proteins
known as MYC.

When JAZ proteins are broken down, MYC proteins are free to bind to DNA. This allows
transcription to begin.

State the term that is used to describe proteins such as MYC proteins.

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Turn over for Question 7.

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7 The determination of sex in domestic turkeys is different from that in humans. The sex
chromosomes in turkeys are named Z and W. Male turkeys are ZZ and female turkeys are ZW.

The gene for feather colour is located only on the Z chromosome.

• The dominant allele codes for bronze feathers.

• The recessive allele codes for brown feathers.

(a) Define the terms dominant and recessive.

dominant ...................................................................................................................................

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(b) Using suitable symbols, construct a genetic diagram to show the results of a cross between a
heterozygous bronze male turkey and a brown female turkey.

symbols

parent phenotypes bronze male brown female

parent genotypes

gametes

offspring genotypes

offspring phenotypes

[5]

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(c) Explain how you would carry out a test cross to determine the genotype of a
bronze male turkey.

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8 (a) Selective reabsorption takes place in the proximal convoluted tubule of a kidney nephron.

Fig. 8.1 is a diagram of two cells of the proximal convoluted tubule and part of the adjacent
blood capillary.

blood
lumen of proximal plasma
convoluted tubule

proximal convoluted
tubule cell

Fig. 8.1

The cells of the proximal convoluted tubule are adapted to carry out selective reabsorption.

On Fig. 8.1, use label lines and letters to indicate:

• C, where cotransporter proteins are located

• P, where sodium-potassium pumps are located. [2]

(b) Explain how the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule are adapted to carry out
selective reabsorption.

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(c) The plasma, the glomerular filtrate and urine are composed of various substances.

Table 8.1 shows the percentage composition of plasma, the glomerular filtrate and urine.

Table 8.1

substance percentage composition

plasma glomerular filtrate urine
water 90.00 90.00 94.00
glucose 0.10 0.10 0.00
amino acids 0.05 0.05 0.00
plasma proteins 8.00 0.00 0.00
urea 0.03 0.03 2.00
other substances 1.82 9.82 4.00

As a result of the action of the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule, glucose and amino acids
have been reabsorbed by the blood, whereas only some of the urea has been reabsorbed.

Calculate how many times the percentage composition of urea has increased in the urine
compared with the glomerular filtrate.

Show your working and give your answer to the nearest whole number.

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

[Total: 9]

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9 (a) Voltage-gated channels are involved in the generation of an action potential.

Fig. 9.1 is a diagram of the voltage-gated channels of sodium ions and potassium ions in the
membrane of an axon. The channels are shown in three different states, 1, 2 and 3.

tissue fluid
state
1
axon cytoplasm

state Key
2 voltage-gated Na+ channel
voltage-gated K+ channel
Na+
K+
state
3

Fig. 9.1

Fig. 9.2 is a diagram of different phases of an action potential in an axon. The phases are
labelled A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

+40

+20
C D
0

–20
membrane
potential –40 E
/ mV B
–60

–80 G
A

0 1 2 3 4 5
time / ms

Fig. 9.2

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Complete Table 9.1 to match each of the listed phases of the action potential with the
appropriate state of the voltage-gated channels: 1, 2 or 3.

Table 9.1

phase of action potential state of voltage-gated channels

A
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C
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E
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F
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G
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[3]

(b) Many neurones are surrounded by myelin sheaths.

Describe and explain the role of the myelin sheath in the transmission of an action potential.

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10 (a) Glucagon has a role in the maintenance of blood glucose concentration.

Fig. 10.1 shows the relationship between blood glucose concentration and blood glucagon
concentration, measured over 90 minutes in a healthy person. The person did not have any
food in the three hours before the measurements were taken.

Key
blood glucose concentration
blood glucagon concentration
5 50

4 40
blood blood
3 30
glucose glucagon
concentration concentration
/ mmol dm–3 2 20 / pmol dm–3

1 10

0 0
0 15 30 45 60 75 90
time / min

Fig. 10.1

Explain the relationship shown in Fig. 10.1.

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(b) The passage below outlines cell signalling.

Complete the passage by using the most appropriate scientific terms.

Cells need to interact with their environment and other cells around them. This is called

cell signalling. Cells in mammals are involved in a complex system of communication with

each other. For example, liver cells detect signals using receptors in their cell surface

membranes. Glucagon binds to the receptors because its shape is ........................................ .

This binding activates a ........................................ , leading to stimulation of the enzyme

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[Total: 7]

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