IB Biology Mock Exam HL

IB Biology
Paper 2 - Higher level

Time allowed for this paper – 2 hours 30 minutes

MODEL ANSWERS
Name __________________________________ Mark _______ / 80

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
• Do not open the examination paper until told to.

• Section A: answer all the questions

• Section B: answer two questions

• Write answers inside the spaces provided.

• A calculator is required for this paper.

• The maximum mark for paper 2 HL is [80 marks]

Marks awarded

Section A – Data based question _______ / 15

Section A – structured questions _______ / 33

Section B – Extended response _______ / 32

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 Section A – Answer all questions in this section in the spaces provided. (48 marks)

1. One of the best recognised and most widespread urban environmental factors is the
urban heat island (UHI). It consists of elevated temperatures in the city centre due to
a combination of heat generation and trapping of heat. In 2019 a group of biologists
used citizen scientist volunteers to record colour data on 8000 snails in the
Netherlands. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-019-0511-6.pdf )

The snails were categorised into three colours, with one of four distinct banding patterns,
shown in the figure below. These features are thought to be caused by a small number of
genes. Banding is rarely seen in brown snails, which explains the missing images.

a) State the type of variables that, “shell colour” and “shell banding pattern” are?
(1 mark)

……………Discrete……………………………………………………………………………………………

Based on the GPS-coordinates, snails were assigned to one of four habitat types:

• agricultural land (n = 832),

• nature (including forests; n = 888),
• urban green areas (urban parks and forests, sport and recreational areas; n = 817),
• urban “grey” areas (residential, commercial, and industrial areas; n = 4008).
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

This chart shows the proportion of each shell colour in each habitat type.
The four boxes of gradually darker shades for yellow and pink shells represent the four
banding types. Brown shells only have three banding types, so there are only three boxes.

b) State the habitat where the brown colour snail is found in the highest proportion.
(1 mark)

………………… Agricultural …………………………………………………………………………

c) Suggest a reason why the brown shell type has an advantage in this habitat. (1 mark)

Brown shells may be less visible when there is brown soil.

The brown colour will avoid predators.

(Note: One answer needed, accept any realistic & relevant suggestion.)

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d) The researchers concluded that,

“There was no significant difference in the proportion of yellow snails between urban
grey and urban green areas (χ2 = 0.08, df = 1, p = 0.77).”

Outline the meaning of “no significant difference” in this statement. (1 mark)

It means that the difference between the two means does not meet the p<0.05 test
There is a higher than 1/20 probability of getting these results if there is no
difference.
The chi-squared value is smaller than the threshold value for P<0.05
(Note: One answer needed, accept other wordings.)

The proportions of snails were compared between non-urban habitats (nature and
agricultural) and urban habitats using Chi-squared tests.
A test was performed for each colour of shell.

χ2 test result
proportion in non- proportion in urban
Shell colour comparing urban and
urban habitats habitats
non-urban
2
χ = 1.96, df = 3,
Brown 0.225 0.215
p = 0.58
2
χ = 14.21, df = 1,
Pink 0.280 0.225
p = 0.0002
χ2 = 12.35, df = 1,
Yellow 0.495 0.555
p = 0.0004

e) Using all the data in the table, discuss the distribution of the three colours of snail.
(3 marks)
• There is no significant difference between the proportion of brown snails in the two
habitat types.
• There is a significant difference in shell proportions between the urban and non-
urban habitats, for yellow and pink coloured shells.
• The chi squared test has returned a value of p<0.05 showing a significant difference.
• The proportion of pink is (significantly) higher in non-urban habitats.
• The proportion of yellow is (significantly) higher in urban habitats.
(Note: three points needed for three marks)
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

To study the combined effect of shell colour and banding patterns, a “darkness score” was
calculated based on the known thermal properties of colour morphs.

Research has established that the internal temperature of a shell increases more with
darker coloured shells, and shells with more bands. This scale uses yellow unbanded snails
as the baseline, +0.0°C. Shell Darkness scores were calculated by adding 0.3 °C for pink,
0.6 °C for brown, and 0.07 °C for each band.

The image shows three snails

f) Calculate the darkness score for these three snails. (the first has been done as an
example) (1 mark)

Yellow 5-banded …Add 0.07°C x 5 bands = +0.35°C ……………

Pink unbanded ……Add 0.3°C for pink = 03°C ……………………

Pink 3-banded …… Add 0.3 for pink plus 3 x 0.07 = 0.51°C ……

Both answers needed for 1 mark

The darkness scores represent a temperature increase in sunshine for the snail.

g) Suggest a consequence of warmer bodies for the snails. (1 mark)

Warmer inside the shell, could lead to faster dehydration.

Warmer inside shell could give faster metabolism, more activity, etc.
(Note: One answer needed, accept other wordings.)

Greater enzyme activity/respiration rate/activity level.

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The data from all areas of the Netherlands where the mean annual temperature is below
10°C were analysed. The snails were groups according to the urban heat island effect of
the precise location where the snails had been sampled.

The graphs below show the proportions of each shell colour for urban heat island effects
from +0.2°C to 2.0°C.

h) Describe the correlation between urban heat island effect and the proportion of yellow
shells. (1 mark)

……………There is a positive correlation………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

i) Compare and contrast the data for the yellow shell snails with the data for the other two
snails. (3 mark)

Similarity
All three graphs show larger 95% confidence intervals at Urban heat effects above 1.5°C.
Differences
Yellow shells show a positive correlation, but brown & pink show a negative correlation.
The proportion of yellow shells is always higher than the proportion of brown or pink.:
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

In a final analysis of their data the researchers combined the mean annual
temperature with the urban heat effect to make 12 categories, each spanning 0.25 °C.
They plotted this against the average darkness scores of snails collected in each of the
categories and a regression line was fitted to the graph.

j) Describe the relationship shown by the data. (2 marks)

Between a temperature and urban heat island effect of 9.0 to 11.0, as the effect increases,
the mean darkness score decreases / there is a negative correlation.

Above a temperature and urban heat island effects of 11.0 as the heat effect increases, the
mean darkness score remains about the same.

The data used in this question was based on this research paper

Kerstes, N.A.G., Breeschoten, T., Kalkman, V.J. et al. Snail shell colour evolution in urban heat islands detected
via citizen science. Commun Biol 2, 264 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-019-0511-6

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2 The image below shows two amino acid molecules.

a) State the names of two functional groups of the amino acids shown, excluding the R-
group. . (2 marks)

Amine group (NH2)

Carboxyl group (COOH)

b) Compare and contrast the R-group of Valine with which the R-group of Threonine.
(2 marks)

Both R-groups have a similar size.

The Valine R-group is non-polar but Threonine’s R-group is polar.
OR
Valine has two CH3 groups but Threonine has a CH3 and an OH group
c) Outline the primary, secondary, and tertiary structure of proteins (3 marks)

The primary structure of a protein is the sequence of amino acids.

The secondary structure is the formation of alpha helix or beta pleated sheet structures.
Secondary structures are formed by interactions between R-groups / Hydrogen bonds.
The tertiary structure of proteins is the 3D folding of the polypeptide giving a specific
shape.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

3. These photos show two separate species of large cat.

a) Outline the Biological species concept. (2 marks)

The Biological species concepts states that a species is a group of organisms that can
successfully breed together.

The organisms produce fertile offspring.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

b) Explain the difficulty in using the biological species concept when deciding the
classification of asexually reproducing species or bacteria. (2 marks)

The concept does not work well with groups of organisms that do not breed sexually.

Using the biological species concept each asexually reproducing organism would
represent a separate species, because it can’t reproduce with others of the species

Genes can be transferred from one species to another without sexual reproduction
(by horizontal gene transfer in bacteria).

(Note: only two points required for 2 marks)

c) Outline the method of Identifying species from environmental DNA. (2 mark)

In some species, sequences of DNA have been identified which are very similar in all
members of the species but different in other species. (Called DNA barcodes).
Samples of environmental DNA can be tested for the presence of these DNA
(barcode) sequences, and if present the species can be identified.
This is very useful for sampling methods where only parts of organisms are collected.

(Note: only two points required for 2 marks)

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Frances Crick described the connection between genes and proteins as “the central dogma
of molecular biology”. This diagram showing possible and probably transfers was published
by Crick in Nature, in 1970.

4 a) State three stages in the mechanism of gene expression that permits the flow of
information from genes to the phenotype. (3 marks)

Transcription ( mRNA is made from DNA template).

Translation (polypeptide made from the mRNA template).
Protein does its function (the phenotype). (words in brackets optional / alternative)

b) Describe the role of promoters, enhancers and transcription factors in the regulation
of transcription. (3
marks)

Promoters are gene sequences in the DNA found just before the gene, that control
expression of the gene.

Enhancers are regions of DNA that can be bound by proteins to increase the chance
of transcription of a particular gene, sometimes quite a distance from the enhancer
sequence.

Transcription factors bind to the promoter to initiate transcription.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

c) Methylation is one example of how epigenetic tags can alter gene expression.

Suggest how methylation of the promoter, as shown in the diagram, will affect the gene
downstream. (2 marks)

The methylation represses transcription.

It prevents (or reduces) expression of the gene downstream of the promoter.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

d) Epigenetic tags can also result in epigenetic inheritance .

Outline epigenetic inheritance and one possible way that it could happen. (3 marks)

Epigenetic inheritance occurs when a pattern of epigenetic tags in a cell (or

organism) is passed on to daughter cells.

No changes occur in the nucleotide sequence of DNA / no mutation in genes / SNPS

outlining the epigenetic origins of phenotypic differences in tigons and ligers

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

11
5. New cells can be generated by cell division. This image shows part of the cell cycle

a) Identify the stage of the cell cycle which is shown taking place between 15 mins
and 20 minutes. (1 mark)

Cytokinesis

b) Outline a reason why the two daughter cells produced would normally have
cytoplasm of equal volume. (1 mark)

Division of cytoplasm is usually equal because both daughter cells must receive at least one
mitochondrion.
(OR – mention of one of any other organelle that is made by dividing e.g. chloroplasts)
(OR mention that daughter cells need one of each of the larger organelles)

………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………..

c) Give an example of a case of cell division where daughter cell volumes are
unequal. (1 mark)

Oogenesis in humans is an example of unequal cytokinesis.

(OR budding in yeast)
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

6. This image uses immunofluorescence to make the microtubules visible.

Condensed chromosomes form a dark band across the centre.

a) Outline the role of histone proteins in the condensation of chromosomes. (1 mark)

The role of histones in the condensation of DNA is to form the centre of

nucleosomes during supercoiling.
OR: An octet of nucleosomes forms the core of a nucleosome.

b) Describe the role of proteins in the movement of condensed chromosomes to

opposite poles of the cell during anaphase. (2 marks)

Microtubules form the spindle fibres during mitosis and meiosis.

Microtubule motors move chromosomes along these fibres during anaphase.

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 c) Using evidence from the image, evaluate whether the chromosomes in the diagram
have been drawn correctly. Give a reason for your evaluation. (1 mark)

In the photo, the microtubules don’t seem to go to the equator of the spindle.

OR: It looks like the microtubules have already begun to shorten.

OR: The chromosomes in the diagram are drawn incorrectly, the chromatids.
should have already separated into single stranded chromosomes.

(Note; because this question is only 1 mark, only one statement is required)

7. Reflex arcs control automatic responses to stimuli.

The diagram below shows a typical spinal reflex arc.

a) Label the sensory neurone in the diagram above. (1 mark)

b) Describe the role of the sensory neuron in a spinal reflex arc. (1 mark)

A sensory neurone carries an impulse from a receptor to the central nervous system

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

Section B

Answer two questions.

One extra mark is available for the construction of your answer.

8. The movement of materials and the coordination of systems is essential in all organisms.
a. Outline the role of the companion cell in the transport of sucrose from a
source to a sink.
(3 marks)

• Companion cells are adjacent to phloem sieve tubes.

• Companion cells load/actively transport sucrose/sugars into sieve tubes.
• Companion cells contain many mitochondria to provide ATP/energy for active
transport (of sucrose).
• Companion cells are linked to phloem sieve tubes by plasmodesmata.
• Plasmodesmata allow rapid transport of sucrose/materials from the companion cell
to the phloem sieve tube.

(Note: Any 3 of the above points are required for three marks)

b. Explain how the kidney can retain water in the body when dehydrated.
(5
marks)

• Kidney retains water in the blood/reabsorbs more water/excretes less water/less

urine is formed when the body is dehydrated.
• Dehydration/low water level in the blood is detected by osmoreceptors.
• Osmoreceptors are in the hypothalamus (of the brain).
• Detection (of hypertonic blood) causes release of antidiuretic hormone from the
pituitary gland.
• ADH stimulates activity/change of location of aquaporins in the collecting duct of
the kidney.
• Aquaporin molecules in the membrane cause increased absorption of water from
the collecting duct into the blood.
• By passive/facilitated transport.
• Negative feedback occurs/ADH release stops when blood reaches normal
osmolarity/solute concentration.

(Note: Any 5 of the above points are required for five marks)

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c. Describe how an action potential travels along a nerve fibre. (7
marks)

• An action potential causes depolarization of the neuron membrane.

• Depolarisation occurs at the Nodes of Ranvier.
• Depolarisation is due to the opening of voltage gated ion channels.
• Channels open (fully) if a threshold potential is reached.
• Above threshold potential more sodium ions move into the nerve fibre.
• Entry of sodium ions causes an action potential.
• Entry of sodium causes a local current in the next Node of Ranvier.
• The current begins depolarisation at the next Node of Ranvier / causing
depolarisation.
• The Action potential is propagated from one Node of Ranvier to the next Node of
Ranvier by saltatory conduction.

(Note: Any 7 of the above points are required for seven marks)
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

9. The collection of energy is a need of all cells and all organisms.

a. Outline the changes in primary production during succession in a terrestrial
ecosystem. (4 marks)

• Primary production is the amount of organic material produced by producers/

autotrophs.
• During succession the size of plants increases/example.
• During succession, species diversity of producers increases/example.
• During succession, the rate of recycling (of minerals) increases.
• Primary production increases (due to the above factors).

b. Compare and contrast the use of external energy sources in photoautotrophs

and chemoautotrophs (4
marks)

• Both require an external energy source.

• Both use the external energy source to produce ATP.
• Both use the ATP to convert inorganic nutrients to organic/carbon dioxide to
carbohydrate.
• Photoautotrophs use light as the external energy source and chemoatotrophs use
ions.
• Photoautotrophs use light to photolyse water/manufacture ATP and
chemoautotrophs oxidise an external energy source to manufacture ATP.

(Note: Any 4 of the above points are required for four marks)

c. Describe the adaptations of the chloroplast to its role in photosynthesis

(7 marks)

• Compartmentalization in organelles increases efficiency.

• Chloroplasts contain DNA/are able to manufacture enzymes/chloroplast
components.
• Chloroplasts contain thylakoid membranes.
• Thylakoid membranes are stacked to have a large surface area.
• Thylakoid membranes have small internal volumes to create a high concentration of
protons (for chemiosmosis).
• Chlorophyll is embedded in the thylakoid membrane to capture photons/light
effectively.
• Thylakoids contain the photosystems/photosystems are immobilized in thylakoid
membranes .
• Photosystems in the thylakoid membrane link the capture of light energy to
photolysis of water/ATP production.

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 • Enzymes of the Calvin cycle/light-independent reaction are concentrated in the
stroma.
• Substrates/intermediate products of the Calvin cycle/light-independent reaction are
concentrated in the stroma.
• The concentration of enzymes/substrates gives faster reaction rates/greater
efficiency of carboxylation.

10. Gene mutations are structural changes to genes at the molecular level which affect the
characteristics of organisms and can provide useful tools for research.

a. Distinguish between substitutions, insertions and deletions.

(4 marks)

• A substitution is a point mutation where a DNA nucleotide is replaced by

another.
• A deletion is where a DNA nucleotide is removed from the DNA base
sequence.
• Insertion occurs when a DNA nucleotide is added to the DNA base sequence.
• Deletions and insertions cause frameshift mutations.
• Base substitution mutations cause single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
with no frameshift.

(Note: Any 4 of the above points are required for four marks.)

b. Outline the consequences of base substitutions. (4 marks)

• Base substitution mutations cause single-nucleotide polymorphisms

(SNPs).
• The polypeptide produced by a gene with a base substitution may continue
to function.
• Often a base substitution will change just one amino acid in the
polypeptide product.
• Sometimes a base substitution will not change a single amino acid in a
polypeptide, because of the degeneracy of the genetic code.
• Multiple codons code for the same amino acid in some cases.

(Note: Any 4 of the above points are required for four marks)
IB Biology Mock Exam HL

c. Discuss the use of CRISPR sequences, the enzyme Cas9 and the gene
knockout technique for investigating the function of genes. (7 marks)

• A CRISPR sequence and Cas9 can be used to change a specific gene.

• Gene knockout is a technique for investigating the function of a gene.
• Gene knockout is the changing of a gene in an organism it to make it
inoperative.
• A library of knockout organisms is available for some model species used
in research.
• CRISPR-Cas9 has been used to edit human cells for use in medical
treatments.
• An example of the successful use of this technology. E.g. to develop
treatments for cancer, HIV, blindness, chronic pain, muscular dystrophy
and Huntington's disease.
• Some potential uses of CRISPR raise ethical issues.
• An example of unethical use would be to change a gene in a human
without adequate knowledge about the safety of such a technique to the
patient.
(Note: 7 of the above points are required for seven marks)

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