HWA CHONG INSTITUTION

JC2 Preliminary Examinations

Higher 3

CANDIDATE NAME CT GROUP 20S7 ___

INDEX
CENTRE NUMBER
NUMBER

BIOLOGY 9816/01
Paper 1 Long Structured and Free-response Questions
Candidates answer on the Question Paper. 20 Sept 2021
Additional Materials: Insert 2 hour 30 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your name, CT group, Centre number and index number in the spaces provided at the top of this
cover page.

Section A
Answer all questions in the spaces provided on the Question Paper.

Section B
Answer any one question in the space provided on the Question Paper.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

For Examiners' Use
The use of an approved scientific calculator is expected, where
appropriate. 1 / 25
You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use
2 / 25
appropriate units.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question 3 / 4 / 25
or part question.
Final
You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in / 75
Mark
your answers.

This document consists of 16 printed pages and 5 blank pages.

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BOOKLET I

Section A
Answer all the questions in this section.
QUESTION 1

You should read through the whole of the insert and Question 1 carefully and then use the information
provided to answer the questions. The insert includes Fig. 1.1, Fig. 1.2, Fig. 1.3, Fig. 1.4, Fig. 1.5, Fig. 1.6
and Table 1.1.

(a) The reward system in humans involves the neurotransmitter dopamine pathway.

Describe how dopamine acts as a neurotransmitter.

[3]

(b)(i) Outline one way that a signal can be transmitted from the brain to the other body parts.

[2]

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(b)(ii) Explain how homeostasis is achieved as a result of leptin and ghrelin working together.

[3]

(c)(i) Using the results of the study shown in Fig. 1.4, deduce the effect of FTO mutation on ghrelin
concentration in the blood and explain how this affects the individual with the mutation.

[4]

(c)(ii) Comment on the validity of the results of this experiment.

[2]

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(c)(iii) Explain how the FTO enzyme is able to change the levels of ghrelin, a peptide hormone, on a
molecular level.

[3]

(d) Based on the information provided in Fig 1.6 and Table 1.1, justify if the substrate-binding ability is
abolished in the FTO protein coded for by the A allele.

[4]

(e)(i) Describe the role of the microbes that are normally found in humans.

[2]

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(e)(ii) Suggest and explain a suitable gene to be cloned into the bacteria to treat obesity.

[2]

[Total: 25]

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BLANK PAGE

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Candidate Name: CT Group: 20S7 ____

BOOKLET II

BLANK PAGE

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QUESTION 2

In a book published in 1905, HG Wells cited that ‘biologically, the species is the accumulation of the
experiments of all its successful individuals since the beginning’.

Discuss this statement. [25]

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Candidate Name: CT Group: 20S7 ____

BOOKLET III

BLANK PAGE

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Section B
Answer one question in this section.
Either

QUESTION 3
Discuss how epigenetics can contribute to the study of genetics and heredity without involving a change in
DNA. [25]

Or

QUESTION 4
Biological issues that impact both local and global contexts include the occurrence of a pandemic.
The probability of a pandemic occurring can be considered using various factors.
Explain why a pandemic is considered to be a biological issue and discuss the factors affecting the probability
that a pandemic will occur. [25]

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--- END OF SECTION B ---

--- END OF PAPER---

Copyright Acknowledgments:

Acknowledgement is herein given to third-party sources for the use of third-party owned material protected by copyright in this
document which is administered internally for assessment purposes only

© Hwa Chong Institution 2021 9816 H3 Biology / Preliminary Examinations / Paper 1