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Cambridge Assessment
International Education

Cambridge International AS & A Level

BIOLOGY 9700/42
Paper 4 A Level Structured Questions February/March 2025
2 hours
You must answer on the question paper.

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 32 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

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(a) Different types of respiratory substrate can have different energy values and therefore release
different quantities of energy when they are respired.

Complete Table 1.1 to show the energy value of each of the three main types of respiratory
substrate.

Use one tick (V) to identify which of the two possible energy values is correct for each
respiratory substrate.

Table 1.1

type of respiratory
energy value/kJ g-l
substrate approximately 17 approximately 37

carbohydrate

lipid

protein

(b) Determining the respiratory quotient (RQ) of an organism can be used to indicate the main
type of respiratory substrate that is being metabolised in respiration. This is because the
different types of respiratory substrate have different RQ values. Table 1.2 shows typical RQ
values for carbohydrate, lipid and protein.
Table 1.2

State the name of the laboratory apparatus that can be used to determine the RQ value of
organisms such as blowfly larvae.

When determining RQ values using the laboratory apparatus stated in (b)(i), chemicals such
as soda lime or potassium hydroxide solution are used.
State the reason for using chemicals such as soda lime or potassium hydroxide solution
when measuring RQ values.

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(c) Organic acids such as malic acid can also act as respiratory substrates. When respired
aerobically, their RQ values may be different to the RQ values of the main respiratory
substrates.

Fig. 1.1 shows the formula that is used to calculate RQ values.

number of molecules of carbon dioxide produced
number of molecules of oxygen taken in

When malic acid is respired aerobically, the equation is:

C4H605 + 02 4C02 + 31420 + energy

Calculate how many molecules of oxygen are taken in when one molecule of malic acid is
respired aerobically.

number of molecules of oxygen =

(ii) Calculate the RQ for

malic acid.
Give your answer to
two decimal places.

(d) The deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, lives in forests in North America.
Fig. 1.2 shows a deer mouse.

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Fig. 1.2
The deer mouse is active throughout the year and is much more active during the night than

during the day.

At certain times of the year, deer mice spend a number of hours during the day in a
physiologically controlled state of inactivity (not active), known as torpor. During this time

there is a decrease in metabolic rate.

Fig. 1.3 is a graph showing the RQ of a deer mouse from 6:00 to 22:00 on a day that included
time in torpor.

torpor

6:00 10:00 14:00 18:00 22:00 time of day

Fig. 1.3

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Describe the trend shown during torpor in Fig. 1.3 and suggest
an explanation for this trend.

[3]

(ii) Deer mice have a daily period of torpor only at certain times of the year.
Suggest reasons why a deer mouse enters torpor only at certain times of the year.

[2]

[Total: 10]

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2 The orca, Orcinus orca, has the largest distribution of all aquatic mammals and is found in nearly all
seas and oceans. Orca are social mammals that usually live in groups. These groups can vary in
size.

Fig. 2.1 shows an orca.

Fig. 2.1
There are a number of distinct types of orca. These distinct types of orca are classified as members
of the same species. However, there is evidence that sympatric speciation is occurring.

(a) (i) There are two distinct types of orca in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean: Type 1 and Type 2. Type
1 orca feed mainly on fish. Type 2 orca feed mainly on aquatic mammals, such as seals.

Fig. 2.2 shows the locations in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean where Type 1 orca and Type
2 orca have been observed. Orca do not occur only in these areas and some groups of orca
travel great distances.

Northeast
Atlantic
Ocean

key o Type 1
orca
• Type 2 orca

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Fig. 2.2
With reference to Fig. 2.2, explain why the type of speciation that is occurring in the orca
is described as sympatric speciation.

(ii) Suggest examples of behavioural separation that would contribute to sympatric speciation
of Type 1 orca and Type 2 orca.

[3]

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(b) In the Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica, there are three distinct types of orca: Type
B, Type C and Type D.
Fig. 2.3 shows the locations around Antarctica where Type B orca, Type C orca and Type D
orca have been observed.
Type B orca and Type C orca are mainly seen near the coastline of Antarctica (inshore). Type
D orca are mainly seen in the Southern Ocean further away from the coastline of Antarctica
(offshore).

inshore region of
Southern Ocean

offshore region of
Southern Ocean

1000 km
key

A
Type C orca

O Type D orca

Fig. 2.3
There are phenotypic differences between the different types of orca. Fig. 2.4 shows a diagram
of a Type B orca, a Type C orca and a Type D orca.

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eye

7m

eye
With reference to Fig. 2.4, state one way in which the Type D orca is different from both the
Type B orca and the Type C orca.

Phenotypic differences between Type D orca and the other types of orca shown in Fig.
2.4 could have resulted from the process of genetic drift, including the founder effect.

Suggest how genetic drift could result in phenotypic differences between Type D orca and
the other types of orca shown in Fig. 2.4.

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[3]

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(c) In the future, the different types of orca may be classified as separate species. If so,
some of these newly classified species will have very small population sizes.
Suggest two factors, other than population size, that should be monitored when assessing the
conservation status of any newly classified species of orca.

[2]

[Total: 10]

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Question 3 starts on page 12.

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3 Gentamicin is an antibiotic used to treat severe bacterial infections in children.

(a) Some children have a genetic mutation in the gene MT-RNRI. If gentamicin is given to children
with this genetic mutation, it can cause deafness.

Before gentamicin can be given to a child with a severe bacterial infection, PCR (polymerase
chain reaction) and electrophoresis are used to test whether the child has this mutation. If the
mutation is found, a different antibiotic must be given.
Describe and explain the role of Taq polymerase in PCR.

[4]

PCR with primers specific to the MT-RNRI gene is used to amplify DNA from the child that
is being tested.

The PCR primers are designed so that the amplified product of the normal allele of MT-
RNRI is longer than the amplified product of the mutant allele.

Gel electrophoresis is used to separate the PCR products.

Fig. 3.1 shows the results of gel electrophoresis after using this method of PCR on DNA
samples collected from three children.
child 1 child 2 child 3

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direction
of DNA
movement

Fig. 3.1
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State which of the children in Fig. 3.1 cannot receive the antibiotic gentamicin to treat a
severe bacterial infection.

(iii) Explain how gel electrophoresis produces the pattern of results shown in Fig. 3.1 from the
PCR products of the MT-RNRI gene.

(b) Some bacteria have plasmids that contain a gene conferring resistance to gentamicin. The gene
can be transferred to other bacteria.

Suggest how the gentamicin-resistance gene can be transferred to other bacteria.

[Total: 10]
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4 The HFE gene codes for the HFE protein, which has a role in the regulation of iron absorption by the
body. Iron is an essential mineral that can be obtained only from the diet.

A mutation of the HFE gene known as C282Y causes hereditary haemochromatosis, which is an
autosomal recessive disease. The mutant allele codes for a non-functioning protein. People who are
homozygous for the mutant allele produce no functioning HFE protein and this results in an excess
of iron being absorbed by the body. The accumulation (build-up) of iron in body organs over many
years can cause organ damage.

People that are heterozygous for the HFE gene do not have hereditary haemochromatosis. They do
absorb more iron from their diet than people who do not have the mutation, but this does not usually
have any health effects.

(a) Construct a genetic diagram of a monohybrid cross to show how two parents who do not have
hereditary haemochromatosis can produce a child with the disease.
Use the following
symbols: H = normal HFE
allele h = mutant HFE
allele.

[3]

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(b) Some scientists believe that the C282Y mutation may have first occurred in Ireland.
Scientists sequenced DNA obtained from two human fossil skeletons in Ireland. One of the
fossils was 5200 years old and the other was 4000 years old.

The scientists concluded that:

the human living 4000 years ago did have the C282Y mutation
the human living 5200 years ago did not have the C282Y mutation.

Explain how analysis of the results of these DNA sequencing studies could have been carried
out to allow the scientists to make these conclusions.

[2]

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(c) At about the same time as the C282Y allele is thought to have first occurred in Ireland, the
lifestyle of people in Europe began to change from hunter-gatherers to farmers.

Hunter-gatherers ate mainly meat with some wild plant food. Their diets had high quantities of
iron. Early farmers ate mainly plants with some meat. Their diets had lower quantities of iron
and these quantities were often inadequate (not enough).

Fig. 4.1 is a map of Europe showing the percentage of people in different countries who now
have one C282Y allele of the HFE gene.

300 km

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Fig. 4.1
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Fig. 4.1 shows that the C282Y allele does not occur only in Ireland and is now present
throughout Europe. The C282Y allele has been maintained in European populations, even
though it is a cause of hereditary haemochromatosis.
Suggest how the C282Y allele of HFE has been maintained in European populations.

[4]

Suggest explanations for the differences in the percentage of people in different

European countries who have one C282Y allele of the HFE gene, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

[3]

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(d) Biological databases contain DNA sequence data from a large number of different
people.
Table 4.1 shows three of these databases and the percentage of people in each database who
have one C282Y allele of the HFE gene.

Table 4.1
percentage of people who have
database one
C282Y allele of the HFE gene
database A 2.6
database B
database C 6.3
Suggest one reason for the differences between the three databases shown in Table 4.1 .

(e) In one population consisting of 2501 people, there were 9 people who were homozygous

recessive for the HFE gene.

Use equation 1 and equation 2 of the Hardy—Weinberg principle to calculate the number of
people in the population who are heterozygous for the HFE gene.

equation 1: pwq equation 2: p2 +

2pq + q? = 1
key to symbols:

p = frequency of the dominant allele q = frequency

of the recessive allele p2 = frequency of
homozygous dominant genotype 2pq = frequency
of heterozygous genotype q2 = frequency of
homozygous recessive genotype

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number of people who are heterozygous for the HFE gene = [2]
[Total: 15]
O

5 Fig. 5.1 shows a photomicrograph of a single plant cell in a stage of meiosis.

Describe

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[5]

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6 (a) Fig. 6.1 outlines part of the control mechanism that regulates blood glucose concentration.

[3]

(ii) State the type of homeostatic control mechanism operating in Fig. 6.1 .

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(b) When the blood glucose concentration decreases below the set point, a hormone is released
from the pancreas.

Describe how the release of this hormone leads to the blood glucose concentration returning
to the set point.

[7]

[Total: 11]
7 The Sumatran tiger, Panthera tigris sumatrae, is classified as critically endangered on the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM

Fig. 7.1 shows a Sumatran tiger.

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(a) Fig. 7.2 shows the number of wild Sumatran tigers in the world between 1970 and 2020.

number
Sumatran
tigers

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 year

Fig. 7.2
O

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Calculate the mean rate of decrease in the Sumatran tiger

population between 1970 and
2020.

mean rate of decrease = year-

There are a number of different ways to help conserve Sumatran tigers. For example, some
zoos have captive breeding programmes.

Outline ways in which Sumatran tigers may be conserved, other than captive breeding
programmes.

(b) Outline [3]

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[4]

(c) Captive breeding programmes sometimes use IVF.

Table 7.1 shows some of the events that occur during an IVF procedure.
They are not listed in the correct order.
Table 7.1

Complete Table 7.2 to show the correct order of the events.

One of the events has already been added in the correct position.

[4]

[Total: 13]

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O

Question 8 starts on page 26.

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8 (a) In the link reaction, a two-carbon acetyl group is produced from pyruvate. The acetyl group is
transferred to coenzyme A to form acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-coA).
State the terms used to summarise the two chemical changes that occur in the link reaction
to produce an acetyl group from pyruvate.

[2]

(b) Acetyl-coA combines with oxaloacetate in the Krebs cycle to form citrate. This reaction is
catalysed by the enzyme citrate synthase.

Acetyl-coA has a similar shape to succinyl-coA, one of the compounds made in a later part of
the Krebs cycle.

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of increasing the concentration of
acetyl-coA on the activity of citrate synthase. The experiment was repeated, this time adding
a solution of succinyl-coA.
Fig. 8.1

60 80
activity of
citrate synthase
/ arbitrary units

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120
concentration of acetyl-coA/ arbitrary units

Fig. 8.1
With reference to Fig. 8.1, explain how succinyl-coA could help to regulate the Krebs cycle.

[4] (c)
The coenzyme NAD plays an important role in respiration.

Describe the role of NAD in the stages of aerobic respiration that occur in a mitochondrion.

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[4]

[Total: 10]
9 The chloroplasts of leaves of tobacco plants, Nicotiana sp., contain chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b.

(a) Describe the role of chlorophyll b in photosynthesis.

[2]

(b) A mutant tobacco plant was found to contain more chlorophyll b than normal tobacco plants.

An investigation was carried out to measure the rate of photosynthesis of normal and mutant
tobacco plants at increasing light intensities. The rate of production of oxygen was used as a
measure of the rate of photosynthesis.

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Other variables

Fig. 9.1 shows

200 600 800

rate of production
of oxygen
Immol mg-I hour

1000
light intensity/ lux

Fig. 9 1

shown in Fig. 9.1.

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[3]

It was observed that the mutant tobacco plants had a faster growth rate than the normal
tobacco plants.

Suggest explanations for this observation.

[4]

[Total: 9]
10 (a) Fig. 10.1 shows chemoreceptor cells in a taste bud. Two of the chemoreceptor cells have formed
synapses with sensory neurone dendrites.

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microvilli

support cell

Fig. 10.1
chemoreceptor

cell

sensory neurone
dendrite

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Describe how the contact of sodium ions with the microvilli of the chemoreceptor cell can
lead to the release of a neurotransmitter by the cell.

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(b) Some of the neurotransmitters in the brain are produced through a series of reactions (reaction
pathway) from a chemical called DOPA.
DOPA is also involved in other reaction pathways. For example, in the skin and eyes, DOPA is
part of a different reaction pathway that depends on the TYR gene.
Describe and explain the phenotypic consequences for the skin and eyes of a person who is
homozygous for a mutated, non-functional allele of the TYR gene.

[3]

7]

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