CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 5 b It suggests that any change in the primary
structure would threaten survival – in
other words, the precise tertiary structure
Before you start of the histones is vital for survival. It
Structural features of the eukaryotic nucleus: highlights the critical importance of
• surrounded by two membranes, the nuclear histones. Only organisms with conserved /
envelope unchanged molecules are likely to survive.
function: separates the biochemistry of c 8.7 cm = 87 mm = 87 000 µm
the nucleus from that of the cytoplasm / 87 000 µm of DNA is packed into 10 µm
continuous with the ER of chromosome
• the nuclear envelope is perforated by nuclear
therefore packing ratio = 87 000 ÷ 10 =
pores
8700
function: helps to control what enters and
leaves the nucleus, e.g. mRNA, ribosomes d total length of chromosomes = 46 × 6 µm =
• contains the chromosomes/chromatin/ 276 µm
euchromatin and heterochromatin/DNA 1.8 m = 1800 mm = 1 800 000 µm
(and histones) 1 800 000 µm of DNA is packed into
function: chromatin contains the DNA 276 µm of chromosomes
and histones; DNA is the genetic material;
histones provide a scaffolding for DNA to therefore packing ratio = 1 800 000 ÷ 276 =
allow it to be packaged without tangling 6522
• contains the nucleolus e Histones provide a scaffolding around
function: the nucleolus makes ribosomes. which DNA molecules can coil. A coiled
strand can be packed into a smaller
Science in Context volume than a straight strand.

Some possible issues are listed below: 2 Microtubules can be shortened by removal of
tubulin subunits (depolymerisation).
• Is it an advantage for the human race that its
individual members grow old and die? 3 Asexual reproduction involves production of
new individuals that are genetically identical
• Should the treatment be universally available?
to the parent. The nuclei in the cells of these
If not, who should benefit?
individuals must be genetically identical.
• If you had a choice, would you choose to
Mitosis is the type of nuclear division
extend your natural life? What if you did and
required to produce genetically identical
your partner didn’t?
nuclei.
• How long would you like to live for, assuming
you would be healthy for most of your life? 4 a 92 chromatids
• Should you be entitled to a particular b 92 DNA molecules (each chromatid
number of years of healthy life before the contains one DNA molecule)
treatment was withdrawn? If so, would this c 92 kinetochores
create a black market for any drugs or other
d 46 chromatids
treatments involved?
e 92 chromatids
Self-assessment questions
1 a The primary structure of a protein is the
amino acid sequence.

1 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology – Jones, Fosbery, Taylor & Gregory © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK

5 a Exam-style questions
The mark schemes, suggested answers and
comments that appear here were written by the
author(s). In examinations, the way marks are
awarded to answers like these may be different.

Notes about mark schemes

A or accept indicates an alternative acceptable
answer.
R = reject. This indicates a possible answer that
metaphase should be rejected.

b ; The bold semicolon indicates the award of
1 mark.
/ This indicates an alternative answer for the same
mark. The alternatives may be separated from the
rest of the answer by commas.
( ) Text in brackets is not required for the mark.
Underlining This is used to indicate essential
word(s) that must be used to get the mark.
AW means ‘alternative wording’. It is used to
indicate that a different wording is acceptable
anaphase provided the essential meaning is the same, and is

used where students’ responses are likely to vary
6 Their function is to hold chromatids together
more than usual.
and to attach chromosomes to the spindle.
AVP means ‘additional valid point’. This means
7 Of 75 000 cells, 9 were undergoing mitosis.
accept any additional points given by the student
Mitosis lasts one hour. Therefore, cell cycle is
that are not in the mark scheme, provided they
75 000 / 9 hours long
are relevant. But accept only as many additional
= 8333 hours points as indicated by the bold semicolons, e.g.
= 8333 / 24 days AVP ; ; means award a maximum of 2 extra marks.
= 347 days. ORA means ‘or reverse argument’ and is used
when the same idea could be expressed in the
(Cell cycles vary in length in adult animals reverse way. For example: ‘activity increases
from less than eight hours to more than one between pH2 and pH5 ORA’ means accept
year.) ‘activity decreases between pH5 and pH2’.
8 It suggests that specialisation is not due to max. This indicates the maximum number of
different genes being present in different cells, marks that can be given.
but that different genes are switched on in
different cells. In a liver cell, for example, only 1 D ; [1]
the genes that control the activities of a liver 2 B ; [1]
cell are switched on, even though liver cells
3 D ; explanation: as an example, human
contain all the information to make any cell.
cells contain 46 chromosomes. At S phase
9 Cancer cells are immortal. They achieve this in the cell cycle, each chromosome makes
by renewing their telomeres after each division. a copy of itself, forming two chromatids.
To do this, telomerase is required. (A normal Therefore there are 92 chromatids going into
cell would eventually use up its telomeres and mitosis. After mitosis, each daughter nucleus
die if it divided repeatedly like a cancer cell.) contains 46 chromatids. These are now called
chromosomes. The term chromosome can
therefore be confusing. The confusion arises
because the term ‘chromosome’ was originally
applied to the structures which appear

2 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology – Jones, Fosbery, Taylor & Gregory © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK

during mitosis, each of which consists of two centromere leading for each chromatid ;[3]
chromatids (duplicate chromosomes) and the  [Total: 6]
term chromosome is now also applied to the
46 structures found in the interphase nucleus 9 a microtubules are made out of tubulin
between cell divisions. [1] molecules ;
4 B ; [1] the tubulin molecules stick together in a
particular pattern to form the microtubules,
5 A ; [1]
so the presence of colchicine would
6 centrosome: interfere with this ; AW [2]
a microtubule organising centre ; b spindle ;
makes spindle during mitosis ; centrioles ; [2]
contains two centrioles ; c (held up in) prophase ;
located just outside nucleus ; spindle cannot form (due to presence of
centriole: colchicine) ;
has nine triplets of microtubules ; so, metaphase / subsequent phases,
no function (during mitosis) ; cannot occur ;  [3]

part of centrosome ; award this mark only if  [Total: 7]

not mentioned under centrosome 10 Award 1 mark for correct statement, True or
centromere: False. No explanation is required.

region of a chromosome that holds two A True ;

chromatids together ; Centrosomes replicate during interphase,
point of attachment for microtubules during before M phase begins.
mitosis ; B True ;
point of attachment of chromatids to spindle ; Sister chromatids are formed by the
AVP ; replication of DNA. Each contains one
daughter DNA molecule identical to the
 [max. 6 with a max. of 3 for centrosome] parent molecule.
7 a A anaphase ; C False ;
B prophase ; Microtubules extend from the kinetochore
C metaphase ; [3] to the nearest pole. The kinetochores
b 
Information for this answer can be found in in sister chromatids are connected to
Figure 5.9 in the Coursebook. opposite poles.

Award 1 mark for each correct summary.[3] D False ;

 [Total: 6] This occurs during M phase during

spindle manufacture (polymerisation)
8 a i metaphase ; [1] and chromatid movement
ii prophase drawing shows two single (depolymerisation).
chromosomes, each with a centromere E False ;
(not paired chromatids), ‘randomly’
distributed, surrounded by cell surface Kinetochores are found on chromatids.
membrane but with no spindle ; [1] F False ;
b a long and a short chromatid, each with Telomeres are the caps at the ends of
a centromere, are shown inside each chromosomes. Microtubules are attached
new nucleus ; [1] at the centromeres (kinetochores).
c six chromatids about half-way between G True ;
equator and each pole (12 chromatids in Chromatids separate at the start of
all) ; two long, two short, two hooked in anaphase.
each direction ;
 [Total: 7]

3 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology – Jones, Fosbery, Taylor & Gregory © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK

11 The following table of data is based on valid point) in the marking scheme is
data obtained from the same source as the indicative of this.
figure used for the question (visit https://     the total number of cancer sufferers
ourworldindata.org). The figure is interactive has increased ;
on the website. The following table of data
may help teachers when marking.     has (roughly) doubled ;
    that could just be a result of
Year 1990 Year 2016 population increase ;
Age millions % Age millions %    could be due to people living longer ;
group group
    could be due to the fact that exposure
70+ 6.52 34.2 70+ 15.67 37.3
to risk factors is increasing / could be
50 – 69 8.73 45.8 50 – 69 19.27 45.9 due to changes in lifestyle / could be
15 – 49 3.36 17.6 15 – 49 6.51 15.5 due to increasing pollution / could
under 0.46 2.4 under 0.55 1.3 be due to increased smoking (of
–15s –15s tobacco) ;
Total 19.07 100 Total 41.99 100     there is no / little change in the
number of cancer cases among the
a cancer is caused by mutation ; under-15s (actually gone down from
2.4% to 1.2% of total) ;
in, genes / a gene, controlling, cell division
/ mitosis ;     would expect an increase if there were
more under-15s in 2016 than 1990 ;
a mutated gene causing cancer is called an
oncogene ; [max. 2]     could be due to better medical
treatment of cancer in under-15s ;
b a, substance / chemical, (or environmental
factor) that can cause cancer ; [1]     there is no / little change in the actual
number of cancer cases among the
c i 50–69 ; [1]
under-15s, although the % has gone
ii it contains the greatest number of down from 2.4% to 1.3% of total
people ; (almost halved) ;
  the people have had longer to     therefore, no new factors / no change
accumulate mutations than younger in factors, causing cancer (?) ;
age groups ;
    any comment suggesting that further
   the death rate in the 70+ age group is information is needed to fully
higher, so fewer remaining sufferers interpret the trends ;
of cancer ; [3]
   any calculation of percentages ;
iii 
Questions asking students to comment
   AVP ; ; ; [max. 5]
on data can elicit a great variety of
answers, so some judgement is often  [Total: 12]
needed in deciding what is a suitable
marking point. The use of AVP (any

4 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology – Jones, Fosbery, Taylor & Gregory © Cambridge University Press 2020