Q1.

(a) In the UK in 2016, there were 525 048 deaths. Cancer caused 30.4% of all deaths.
Throat cancer caused 5% of all deaths from cancer.

Calculate the mean number of people who died of throat cancer per month in 2016.

Show your working.

Answer _______________ people per month

(2)

Increased methylation of the promoter region of a tumour suppressor gene causes one
type of human throat cancer.

In this type of throat cancer, cancer cells are able to pass on the increased methylation to
daughter cells. The methylation is caused by an enzyme called DNMT.

Scientists have found that a chemical in green tea, called EGCG, is a competitive inhibitor
of DNMT. EGCG enables daughter cells to produce messenger RNA (mRNA) from the
tumour suppressor gene.

(b) Suggest how EGCG allows the production of mRNA in daughter cells.

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(3)

The scientists investigated the effect of different amounts of EGCG on the growth rate of
the throat cancer cells grown in vitro. Their results are shown in the graph below.

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 (c) A reporter who reviewed all of this work concluded that drinking green tea could be
a cure for cancer.

Suggest three reasons why his conclusion might not be valid.

1 _________________________________________________________________

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2 _________________________________________________________________

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3 _________________________________________________________________

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(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q2.
(a) Describe how alterations to tumour suppressor genes can lead to the development
of tumours.

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 ___________________________________________________________________

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(3)

Q3.
(a) Explain how the methylation of tumour suppressor genes can lead to cancer.

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(3)

Scientists investigated a possible relationship between the percentage of fat in the diet
and the death rate from breast cancer in women from 10 countries.

Their data is shown in the table below.

Percentage of fat in Death rate of women

diet of population
from breast cancer
per 100 000 women

9.5 1.5

15.0 7.0

20.0 12.0

25.0 9.0

32.0 15.0

35.0 8.0

35.0 20.0

40.5 18.0

43.0 24.0

Page 3 of 12
 45.0 26.0

(b) Describe how you would plot a suitable graph of these data. Explain your choice of
type of graph.

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(3)

(c) What can you conclude from these data?

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(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q4.
Interferon gamma is a substance secreted by some types of white blood cells, including
helper T cells. It regulates the production of a number of proteins by target cells. Which
protein is produced depends on the type of target cell.

The diagram shows how interferon gamma regulates three genes.

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(a) Use information in the diagram to suggest how the binding of interferon gamma to
its receptor protein leads to the production of phosphorylated STAT1.

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(2)

(b) Name the two transcription factors in the diagram.

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) The regulation of the formation of helper T cells by interferon gamma is an example
of positive feedback.

Explain why it is an example of positive feedback.

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 ___________________________________________________________________

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(2)

(d) The IRF gene can be a tumour suppressor gene.

Use the information in the diagram to explain how the IRF gene acts as a tumour
suppressor gene.

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(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Q5.
(a) (i) A mutation of a tumour suppressor gene can result in the formation of a
tumour.

Explain how.

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(2)

(ii) Not all mutations result in a change to the amino acid sequence of the
encoded polypeptide.

Explain why.

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(1)

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 (b) Some cancer cells have a receptor protein in their cell-surface membrane that binds
to a hormone called growth factor. This stimulates the cancer cells to divide.

Scientists have produced a monoclonal antibody that stops this stimulation.

Use your knowledge of monoclonal antibodies to suggest how this antibody stops
the growth of a tumour.

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(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q6.
Figure 1 shows part of a gene that is being transcribed.

Figure 1

(a) Name enzyme X.

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(1)

(b) (i) Oestrogen is a hormone that affects transcription. It forms a complex with a
receptor in the cytoplasm of target cells. Explain how an activated oestrogen
receptor affects the target cell.

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 ______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Oestrogen only affects target cells. Explain why oestrogen does not affect
other cells in the body.

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(1)

(c) Some breast tumours are stimulated to grow by oestrogen. Tamoxifen is used to
treat these breast tumours. In the liver, tamoxifen is converted into an active
substance called endoxifen. Figure 2 shows a molecule of oestrogen and a
molecule of endoxifen.

Figure 2

Use Figure 2 to suggest how endoxifen reduces the growth rate of these breast
tumours.

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) 665 (people per month);;

Allow one mark for 7980/7981 in working (number of deaths from throat
cancer per year)
Accept answers not rounded
2

(b) 1. (EGCG) binds to active site of DNMT;

Ignore active site changes shape
Ignore ‘forms enzyme-substrate’ complex

2. (DNMT) cannot methylate (promoter region of tumour suppressor gene);

3. Transcription(al) factor(s) can bind (to promoter region);

4. RNA polymerase (stimulated/activated);

Accept less methylation (of promoter region/tumour
suppressor gene)
3 max

(c) 1. Only investigated in throat cancer

OR

Might not work for other types of cancer;

2. Not all cancers are caused by (increased) methylation (of a tumour

suppressor gene)

OR

There are other causes of cancer;

3. Only a significant reduction with 20/50/above 10 (µmol)

Allow converse, ie no significant effect with 5/10 (µmol)

4. Do not know how much EGCG is in green tea;

5. Only reduces growth rate (of cancer cells)

OR

No evidence of cancer being cured;

6. In vivo cells/cells in the body might respond (to EGCG) differently

(from those grown in vitro);
3 max
[8]

Q2. (a) 1. (Increased) methylation (of tumour suppressor genes);

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 Accept abnormal methylation or hypermethylation
Ignore decreased acetylation of histones

2. Mutation (in tumour suppressor genes);

3. Tumour suppressor genes are not transcribed/expressed

OR
Amino acid sequence/primary structure altered;
Accept mRNA for transcription/transcribed
Accept tertiary structure altered
Accept different amino acid
Ignore reference to protein not being formed

4. (Results in) rapid/uncontrollable cell division;

Accept cell division cannot be regulated
Ignore growth
3 max

Q3.
(a) 1. Methylation prevents transcription of gene;
2. Protein not produced that prevents cell division / causes cell death /
apoptosis;
3. No control of mitosis.
3

(b) 1. Scatter graph;

2. Fat on x axis and death rate on y axis;
3. (Because) looking at relationship between two discrete / independent
variables.
3

(c) 1. (Trend) shows positive correlation / shows the more fat in diet, the higher
death rate from breast cancer;
2. But number of points off line / anomalies.
2
[8]

Q4.
(a) 1. Binding (of interferon gamma) changes shape/tertiary structure of receptor
(protein);
2. This activates/switches on the enzyme;
3. Use of ATP (to phosphorylate STAT1);
1. Accept reference to second messenger
mechanism/process
3. Context is important
2 max

(b) 1. Phosphorylated STAT1;

2. IRF (protein);
Accept in either order
1. Must be phosphorylated but accept STAT1P
2. Ignore references to phosphorylated
2

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 (c) 1. Causes more helper T cells to form;
2. (So) more interferon (gamma) production (by helper T
cells);
1. and 2. require idea of more
2

(d) 1. (Tumour suppressor gene) slows cell division/causes

death of damaged/tumour/cancer cells;
2. IRF gene leads to formation of IRF (protein) that binds
to gene B;
3. (Gene B protein) causes death of damaged/mutated
cells OR slows division;
2. ‘It’ means IRF gene
3. Context is important
3. If clearly stated and includes the protein, scores 2 marks
because it subsumes point 1
3
[9]

Q5.
(a) (i) 1. (Tumour suppressor) gene inactivated / not able to control / slow down
cell division;
Ignore: references to growth

2. Rate of cell division too fast / out of control.

1 and 2 Accept: mitosis
1 and 2 Reject: meiosis
2

(ii) 1. (Genetic) code degenerate;

Accept: codon for triplet
Accept description of degenerate code, e.g. another triplet
codes for the same amino acid

2. Mutation in intron.
Accept: mutation in non-coding DNA
1 max

(b) 1. Antibody has specific tertiary structure / binding site / variable region;
Do not accept explanations involving undefined antigen

2. Complementary (shape / fit) to receptor protein / GF / binds to receptor

protein / to GF;
Ignore: same shape as receptor protein / GF

3. Prevents GF binding (to receptor).

3
[6]

Q6.
(a) RNA polymerase;
DNA polymerase is incorrect
Ignore references to RNA dependent or DNA dependent

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 Allow phonetic spelling
1

(b) (i) (Receptor / transcription factor) binds to promoter which stimulates RNA
polymerase / enzyme X;

Transcribes gene / increase transcription;

2

(ii) Other cells do not have the / oestrogen / ERα receptors;

But do not accept receptors in general.
1

(c) Similar shape to oestrogen;

Binds receptor / prevents oestrogen binding;

Receptor not activated / will not attach to promoter / no transcription;

Accept alternative
Complementary to oestrogen;
Binds to oestrogen;
Will not fit receptor;
2 max
[6]

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