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9 Answers to end-of-chapter questions

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10 B

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Structured questions
11 a

Stabilising
Disruptive
Directional

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[1]
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Availability of food / type of food

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ii

Directional

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Frequency

iii

Beak size
iv

Correct graph
with both curves [2]

This causes the mean to shift towards the phenotype providing the selective
advantage / shifts towards the large-beaked birds

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Small-beaked finches
Long-beaked finches

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ii

Disruptive

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iii

Bimodal

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Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Frequency

Correct curve [1]


Labels [1]

Trait

Frequency

ii

Trait
12 a
b

A random, unpredictable change in a DNA molecule

Same curve [1]

Gene
Chromosome

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ii

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

[2]

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

iii

[2]
iv

[2]
d
homologous
chromosomes fail to
separate

gametes contain 2
copies of
chromosome 21

Alloploidy sets of chromosomes originate from different species


Autoploidy sets of chromosomes originate from the same species

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The colours of the male guppy were dependent on the environment


Brightly coloured males live in pools with less guppy predators
Drably coloured guppies have more predators
Any plausible hypothesis

Stated [1]
Testable [1]

13 a

Well drawn [3]


Partial [1 or 2]

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

There was only one predator present, which was not very voracious
There was a low level of predation

ii

After 5 generations
the % of drabbest and drab guppies (17 + 34) is approximately equal to bright
and brightest (42 + 7)
the % brightest guppies was the highest / 42%
the % of the bright guppies was lowest / 7%
After 12 generations
the number of brightest guppies increased to 95%
the % of drab and drabbest dropped to 4%
Any valid point

iii

ii

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1 point 1 mark [max 5]

drab guppies produced some colourful, male offspring


these colourful males were able to breed more successfully than
drab males / colourful males are more attractive to the females
colourful males pass on their genes to the next generation
therefore, the next generation would have more colourful males

34 points [2]
12 points [1]

the numbers would decline


the drabbest guppies would have the highest number
the brightest and bright would be in the lowest number

Any point [1]

drabbest
more brightly coloured male guppies are easily seen by predators
and are eaten
guppies that are drably coloured can hide from predators / are
camouflaged

[1]

Any point [1]


[max 2]

Directional

Biology for CAPE

[1]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

Essay questions
14 a

15 a

ii

Random mutations arise among individuals in a population


Variations arise and some of these individuals are better adapted to
their environment, this gives them a better chance of survival
Each of the biotic and abiotic factors exerts a selection pressure
within each population
There is a struggle for existence
The fitter organisms have an advantage over others
The best-suited organisms are those whose alleles are best suited to
the prevailing conditions
A higher proportion of these organisms will live long enough to
breed / greater reproductive capacity
They may therefore contribute more of their favourable genes to the
next generation
Those less suited die and their alleles decrease
This is survival of the fittest or natural selection
Selection of favourable phenotypes would lead to a change in the
frequency of particular alleles and genotypes in a population
Over time, evolutionary change occurs leading to a new variety
Eventually, new species would arise from existing ones
Populations have variations / organisms within a species vary:
small, medium and large rodents
More offspring are produced than survive: 400 offspring of each
type, only about 1/3 survive to reproductive age
Some variations are favourable: small rodents have difficulty
jumping, large ones fall through the trees, the medium ones can make
the jump to obtain food
There is competition for survial: competiton for food on pine trees
Population will change over time / favourable characteristics (if
heritable) will be passed on to next generation: medium-sized
rodents obtain food, survive and reproduce, passing on their traits

Each point well


developed [1]
[max 7]

Each point [1]


[max 5]

Organisms better suited to the environment are selected / live to


reproductive age
More better-suited organisms pass on their alleles to the next
generation than poorly suited organisms
If characteristics are heritable, then organisms can pass
beneficial characteristics to their offspring

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Gene mutation change in the sequence of nucleotides


that makes up a gene
Chromosome mutation result of changes in the
structure or number of the chromosomes

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Gene mutations
a nucleotide in the nucleotide sequence can be substituted, inserted or deleted

[1]

Chromosome mutations
Change in structure can result when a section of the chromosome is deleted,
duplicated, translocated or inverted

[1]

Biology for CAPE

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

[1]

Change in number can result from aneuploidy / loss or gain of a single


chromosome
Change in number can also result from addition of sets of
chromosomes within the same species (autoploidy) or between
species (alloploidy)
iii

16 a

Deletion occurs when one or more nucleotide in a triplet is


removed from the gene sequence
If 1 or 2 nucleotides are removed a frame-shift occurs
The base sequence from the point of mutation changes
This would result in changes in the code for the amino acids in
the protein
Results in a non-functional protein
e.g. CF
Substitution occurs when one nucleotide is replaced by another
One codon would be affected and therefore one amino acid
Since the genetic code is degenerate, the new codon may code
for the same amino acid / silent mutation
Little effect on resulting protein / protein still functional
Sometimes the amino acid coded for by the new triplet is a
different type
Then protein would be non-functional / harmful
e.g. sickle cell anaemia

Nucleotide sequence of DNA / gene codes for polypeptide


Nucleotides determine the sequence, number and type of amino acid
in the polypeptide / primary structure of the protein
Which determines the tertiary structure / function of protein
Sickle cell anaemia caused by a gene mutation
Results in the Hb molecule being different from normal Hb
One base of one codon is replaced by another in the chain of Hb
One amino acid, valine, coded for by CAT replaces glutamine, CTT
Valine is hydrophobic / cannot react with water but interacts with
other valines
Glutamine is hydrophilic
The insertion of valine causes the chains of Hb to fold differently /
tertiary structure changes / distorted in conformation
In low oxygen concentration, the sickle Hb tends to stick together to
form long fibres in red blood cells
Red blood cells become sickle shaped
Fibres do not carry oxygen

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For each type


34 points [2]
12 points [1]
[max 4]

Any 2 points [1]


[max 5]

Group of organisms, with similar morphology and physiology, which


can interbreed with one another to produce fertile offspring
Complete definition [3]

Can only be used for organisms that reproduce sexually


Cannot be used to determine whether groups of asexually
producing organisms belong to same or different species
Cannot be used to classify extinct organisms
Some members of same group may not look like each other /
polymorphism
Any valid point

Biology for CAPE

Any 3 points [3]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

ii

Speciation is formation of new species


New individuals do not interbreed to produce fertile offspring
No longer similar morphology and physiology
Splitting apart from rest of species is isolation
Types of isolation
Geographic isolation / physical barriers / allopatric speciation
Different selection pressures
Natural selection
Changes occur / morphology / physiology
Sympatric speciation
Ecological, temporal and reproductive barriers
Polyploidy
Leads to reproductive isolation
No gene flow between two different species each is
effectively genetically isolated from the other
6 points well explained [6]

The two types of wren no longer belong to same species


Reproductive barrier / hybrid sterility / reproductive isolation
No fertile offspring

Biology for CAPE

[1]
Well explained [2]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2011

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