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1 Catalase is an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide inside cells. Red blood cells contain
catalase.

Some dogs have an inherited condition in which catalase is not produced. This condition is known
as acatalasia and it is caused by a mutation in the gene for catalase.

(a) Define the terms gene and gene mutation.

A fragment of DNA that has a specific base sequence to synthesize a specific structural
gene...................................................................................................................................
or functional protein in the process of protein synthesis. Are the units of inheritance.
...........................................................................................................................................
An alteration in the base sequence of the strand resulting in the production
gene mutation....................................................................................................................
of an unwanted or useless protein due to external influence of chemicals, waves etc.
...........................................................................................................................................

[2]

(b) A geneticist was asked to investigate the inheritance of acatalasia in dogs.

The normal allele is represented by B and the mutant allele is represented by b.

The geneticist made the diagram in Fig. 3.1 to show the inheritance of acatalasia in a family
of dogs. The shaded symbols indicate the dogs with acatalasia.

normal male
1 2 3
normal female

male with acatalasia

4 5
female with acatalasia

Fig. 3.1

(i) State the genotypes of the dogs identified as 1, 2 and 3 in Fig. 3.1.

Bb
1 .............................................................................................................................
bb
2 .............................................................................................................................
Bb
3 ............................................................................................................................. [3]

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 (ii) The geneticist crossed dog 4 with dog 5. Approximately half of the offspring had
acatalasia and half the offspring did not have acatalasia.

Complete the genetic diagram to show how this is possible.

dog 4 dog 5
parental phenotypes normal has acatalasia

parental genotypes Bb
............. bb
.............

B b + b
gametes .......... , .......... ..........

Punnett square

Bb, bb
offspring genotypes................................................................................................
Normal, has the disease.
offspring phenotypes.............................................................................................. [3]

(iii) State the name given to the type of cross that you have completed in (b)(ii).

................................................................................................................................ [1]

[Total: 9]

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2 Anthocyanin is a red pigment found in carnation flowers. Some carnation plants have a gene for
making anthocyanin.

(a) (i) A flower grower bred red carnations.

Describe how growers selectively breed plants.

The farmer picks 2 plants one with the desired characteristics (In this case the
................................................................................................................................

carnation flowers that contain anthocyanin). They are then cross pollinated
................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................
till red carnation plants are produced. Then the best offspring is selected.

................................................................................................................................
Then the plant is placed in a culture solution for faster growth. Above

................................................................................................................................
steps repeated over many generations.

................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................ [3]

(ii) Explain the disadvantages of using sexual reproduction to breed red carnations.

Sexual reproduction is much more time consuming than asexual. In

................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................
sexual reproduction, due to random fusing of gametes, the desired red

................................................................................................................................
carnation won't produced all the time and the yield of red carnation will

................................................................................................................................
decrease than using asexual.

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

(b) Meiosis is necessary for sexual reproduction of carnation plants.

Define the term meiosis.

The type of cell division where diploid cell are used to 4 produce haploid nuclei
...........................................................................................................................................

for reproduction.
...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

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

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 (c) Carnation plants show co-dominance for the anthocyanin gene. There are two alleles:
A
• F – allele for anthocyanin pigment (red flowers)
N
• F – allele for no anthocyanin pigment (white flowers)

(i) State the genotype of a carnation plant that is heterozygous for this gene.

FaFn
................................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) Describe the phenotype of a heterozygous carnation plant for this gene.

A mix between red and white colours. Generally pink.

................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................ [1]

A N A A
(iii) The breeder crossed a F F carnation plant with a F F carnation plant. Predict, using
a genetic diagram, the proportion of pure breeding carnation plants in the offspring.

parental genotypes FAFN × FAFA

+
gametes Fa
........... Fn
........... Fa
........... Fa
...........

Punnett square

FaFn FaFa
offspring genotypes .............................................................................................
Pink Red
offspring phenotypes ...........................................................................................
1
proportion of pure breeding carnation plants .......................................................

[4]

[Total: 13]

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3 (a) Sex in cats is determined in the same way as in humans.

Complete the diagram below to show how sex is determined in cats.

male cat female cat

female cat (XX)

gametes X X

X
...... XX XX
male cat
XY
(.........)
...... XY XY
Y

male : female = 1:1

offspring ratio..................................................................................................................... [3]

(b) A scientist investigated the inheritance of fur colour in cats.

The gene for coat colour is located on the X chromosome. The gene has two alleles:

• B black

• b orange.
B
The X chromosome with the allele for black is represented by X .
b
The X chromosome with the allele for orange is X .

A female cat can be a mixture of these colours, described as calico.

Fig. 3.1 shows the inheritance of this condition in a family of cats.

orange male
1 2
black male

calico female

orange female
3 4 5 6 7
black female
Fig. 3.1

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 (i) State the genotypes of cats 1, 4, and 5 in Fig. 3.1.

bb
cat 1 .......................................................................................................................

cat 4 .......................................................................................................................
BB
cat 5 .......................................................................................................................
BB [3]

(ii) Coat colour in cats is an example of discontinuous variation.

Explain why coat colour is an example of discontinuous variation.

Fur coat colour is independent of the environmental facts and it completely

................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................
dependent on the genetics. Only specific colors like black, orange etc.
................................................................................................................................
can be represented. Not intermediates therefore is not continuous. Thus
................................................................................................................................
it is a discontinuous variable
................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................ [3]

[Total: 9]

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4 Fig. 5.1 shows the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans.

Fig. 5.1

(a) (i) State the genus of this nematode.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) State two structural features of nematodes.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

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

(b) Nematodes feed on dead and decaying material. Explain why this gives nematodes an
important role in ecosystems.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[3]

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 (c) Fig. 5.2 shows the life cycle of C. elegans. The diploid number of this species is 12.

adult which has

both male and
female sex organs

diploid body cells

of the adult
P
egg
sperm

larval stage

embryo passes out

of adult and
not drawn to scale continues
development

Fig. 5.2

(i) Suggest why there is very little genetic variation in the offspring of the adult nematode
shown in Fig. 5.2.

In nematode, both the gametes are produced by the same organism. Has the
...........................................................................................................................................

same genes as in parents most of the time after fertilization since no additional
...........................................................................................................................................

exterior to body of parent introduced to the gametes, since its self - fertilisation
...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
Meiosis only source
Only new gen by mutations
.......................................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) State the haploid number of C. elegans.

6
.......................................................................................................................................[1]

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 (iii) Explain why meiosis occurs at P and mitosis occurs at Q.

At P gametes are produced, the no. of chromosomes must be

meiosis at P ........................................................................................................................

halved. Therefore, meiosis occurs to produce diploid gamete for fertilisation.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
Prevents doubling
Reduction division
...........................................................................................................................................

At Q the fertilised cell must replicate and form identical cells of same
mitosis at Q ........................................................................................................................

genotype. Therefore, mitosis occurs to produce more genetically identical cells.

...........................................................................................................................................

Growth
...........................................................................................................................................
More diploid cells
.......................................................................................................................................[3]

(d) C. elegans was one of the first organisms to have its genome sequenced.

An organism’s genome is the sum of all its genetic material. Gene sequencing identifies all
the component parts of the DNA that makes up the genome.

State where DNA is located in a cell.

Chromes in nuclei
...................................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 14]

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