All First Year Exam Papers 2010-2

MODULE BY1 MB1 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - JUNE
You are required to complete this examination paper according to the instructions
provided. Please read these instructions carefully before you begin.
Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

All questions carry equal weight.
You should spend approximately 45 minutes
answering each question that you select.
ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK
At the end of the examination:
• Please tie together any answer booklets that contain answers to the same
question.
• Please ensure that your FULL CANDIDATE number is written on every answer
booklet submitted.
1. Describe and explain the experiments which together, proved that DNA is the
genetic material.
2. Describe, in detail, how a eukaryotic pre-mRNA molecule is processed to become a

mature mRNA, ready for translation.
3. Why do we need to clone genes (20% of the marks)? Discuss the applications of
gene cloning and outline a typical gene cloning experiment (80% of the marks).
4. List the points of regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and highlight the point of
control which is used most commonly (20% of the marks). Detail how E.coli regulates
gene expression from the lac operon in response to altered glucose and lactose
concentrations in the environment (80% of the marks).
1 Biology – First Year Summer 2010 | Aston University

MODULE BY1 MB1 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - SEPTEMBER

• Please tie together any answer booklets that contain answers to the same question.
booklet submitted.
1. Excluding mRNA, name the types of RNA that exist and discuss the role of each.
2. Draw a series of clearly labelled diagrams of bi-directional replication forks

illustrating:
Initiation of the leading strands
Initiation of the lagging strands
Extension of the leading strands
Extension of the lagging strands
a. NB. No marks will be given where 5’ and 3’ labels are missing.
3. Describe the production of a prokaryotic mRNA molecule including initiation,

extension and termination. Your answer should include clearly-labelled diagrams
where appropriate.
4. Draw the structure of a C-G base pair of DNA, including base, sugar and
phosphate, with numbering of the deoxyribose carbon atoms.
MODULE BY1 MI1 – MICROBIOLOGY - JUNE


question.
booklet submitted.
1. Compare the structures of the cell walls of Gram-positive and Gram-

negative bacteria, describe how the Gram stain is carried out and explain
the basis of its distinction between Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria.
2. Discuss the different methods used for measuring the number of bacterial
cells present in a suspension. Describe how these methods can be used to
investigate the different stages of growth of a bacterial culture and the
effects of the addition of antibiotics to a culture.
3. Discuss the different sites in bacteria at which antibiotics act and the basis of
the selective action of antibiotics. Outline the methods used in Clinical
Microbiology to select a suitable antibiotic for treatment of an infection.
4. Discuss bacterial diseases of humans that are caused by staphylococci and

streptococci.
MODULE BY1 MI1 - MICROBIOLOGY – SEPTEMBER REFER

booklet submitted.

1. Outline Koch’s Postulates as applied to infectious diseases and show how they are
used to establish a causal relationship between an organism and an infectious
disease.
2. Describe the major structural features of bacterial cells and explain the function of
these structural features.
3. Discuss the different methods that can be used to measure bacterial growth in terms of
total and viable counts.
4. Describe the steps used to identify bacteria isolated from an infection. Briefly indicate
the approaches that are employed to select a suitable antibiotic for treatment of the
infection.
MODULE CODE BY1 PA1 – PARASITOLOGY - JUNE

question.
booklet submitted.
1) Explain how new strains of Influenza virus can form in nature and potentially
cause world wide pandemics.
2) Give an account of AIDS with particular reference to the life cycle of HIV and
the clinical and serological effects of HIV infection in susceptible humans.
3) Discuss whether malaria will ever be eradicated.
4) a) Describe the general structure of an adult cyclophyllidean cestode and its

egg. (50% of marks)
b) Describe the life cycle, symptoms and laboratory diagnosis of Taenia

solium (pig tapeworm) infection. (50% of marks)

Module Codes: BY1PA1 – PARASITOLOGY – SEPTEMBER

booklet submitted.
1) With the aid of diagrams, describe the lytic and lysogenic life cycles of a
temperate bacteriophage.
2) With the aid of diagrams, describe the characteristic features of viral

structures giving specific examples from different classes of animal viruses.
3) How does tuberculosis bacterium attack tissues and how can it be treated?
4) a) Describe the general structure and development of the nematodes

(roundworms). (50% of marks)
b) Describe the life cycle, symptoms and laboratory diagnosis of Ascaris
lumbricoides (roundworm) infection. (50% of marks)
MODULE BY1 BC1 – BIOCHEMISTRY - JUNE

question.

booklet submitted.
Answer all parts of the question.
1. (i) Draw the structure of the fatty acid 12:1t∆6. With reference to this structure
explain the molecular features it contains and how these contribute to the fact that
this fatty acid is also a lipid. (30% of the marks)
(ii) Draw the structure of the fatty acid 14:1c∆4. Explain how the presence of cis or
trans carbon-carbon double bonds in the fatty acid hydrocarbon chains of lipids
may affect the fluidity of cell membranes. (40% of the marks)
(iii) The molecular structure of

cholesterol is given in the figure
adjacent. With particular reference
to its molecular features explain
how cholesterol is able to
influence cell membrane fluidity.
(30% of the marks)
2. Describe the main types of

radioactivity and explain how radiation may be harmful to health?
3. Provide detailed biochemical explanations for the following statements about

haemoglobin.
(i) The relationship between the concentration of oxygen and the binding of oxygen
to haemoglobin is a sigmoid (S-shaped) curve. (40 % of the marks)
(ii) The affinity of foetal haemoglobin for oxygen is higher than that of maternal
haemoglobin. (30% of the marks)
(iii) The substitution of valine for glutamic acid on the β chain of haemoglobin leads
to sickle-cell anaemia. (30% of the marks)
4. Describe the use of electrophoretic methods to separate biological molecules.
MODULE BY1 BC1 - BIOCHEMISTRY – SEPTEMBER REFER


booklet submitted.
1. Answer all parts of the question.
H
(i) What is hydrogen bonding? Consider O
the structure of the tripeptide in the H
adjacent diagram. Carefully copy the S
structure into your answer booklet and H O
indicate which atoms are hydrogen bond
H N O
acceptors. (30% of the marks) N N H
H O H O
(ii) Discuss the function of hydrogen bonding in the stabilisation of the secondary
structures of biomolecules. (40% of the marks)
(iii) Give an example of: (a) an amino acid containing a hydrophobic side chain and (b) a
different amino acid containing a hydrophilic side chain.
For these two amino acids give both the name and the structure. Explain why, in aqueous
systems, globular proteins tend to adopt conformations that place hydrophilic groups on
the outer surface of the protein and hydrophobic groups on the inside. (30% of the
marks)
2. Describe the chromatographic and electrophoretic methods that can be used to

separate proteins.
3. Describe the structure and biosynthesis of the various forms of collagen.
4, Write an essay on the biochemistry of haemoglobin.
MODULE BY1CB1 – CELL BIOLOGY - JUNE
Answer TWO questions out of FIVE.

booklet submitted.
1. Describe in detail how activation of ligand-gated ion channels, receptors with

tyrosine kinase activity and Gprotein-linked receptors on the cell membrane can
lead to signals being generated inside the cell and subsequent changes in cellular
function.
2. Describe the structure of the plasma membrane. Discuss the evidence that
supports our current model of this structure.
3. Discuss how cell cycle checkpoints regulate cyclin-dependent kinases and ubiquitin
ligases.
4. Antibodies are produced by plasma cells and are released from the cell surface as
soluble, glycosylated molecules. Describe the route and mode of transport taken
by the antibody molecules as they are trafficked through the cell (from their
production at the ribosome) to release from the cell surface. You also should
include detail of modifications that are made to antibodies as they make this
journey.
5. Describe the ‘extrinsic’ pathway for the induction of apoptosis.
MODULE : BY1CB1 – CELL BIOLOGY – SEPTEMBER REFER
Answer TWO questions out of FIVE.

booklet submitted.
1. Review the evidence for the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane.
2. Discuss how the activities of cyclin-dependent kinases and ubiquitin ligases move
the cell cycle forward.

3. Outline the nomenclature used for tumour classification and indicate the steps by
which a named chemical carcinogen may lead to the development of cancer. What
tests can be employed to determine the carcinogenic activity of chemicals?
4. Draw a carefully labelled diagram of a eukaryotic animal cell showing all major
components and organelles. Describe the major function of each organelle.
5. Describe the intrinsic pathway for the induction of apoptosis.

MODULE BY1 DA1 - DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN ANATOMY - JUNE

booklet submitted.
1. Compare and contrast the usage of cytoplasmic determinants and

induction to determine cell fate. Include examples in your answer.
2. Discuss how experiments in flies and chick embryos have contributed to

our understanding of the patterning of somites.
3. Describe how the vertebral column provides both rigidity and flexibility to
the human axial skeleton.
4. Give an account of the many different adaptations of epithelial tissues.
MODULE BY1 DA1 - DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN ANATOMY - SEPTEMBER


booklet submitted.
1. Discuss the insights into mesoderm induction which can be gained from animal
cap experiments (60% of the marks). Describe the cell signalling currently
thought to mediate mesoderm induction (40% of the marks).
2. Compare and contrast the generation and developmental potential of a frog

blastula and a mammalian blastocyst.
3. Describe the structure, operation and limitations of a hinge joint and a ball-and-
socket joint using either the human arm or leg as an example.
4. What are the main structural features of exocrine and endocrine glandular
tissues?
MODULE BY1 GN1 – GENETICS - JUNE

A calculator and a chi-square table are provided.
booklet submitted.
1. a. Draw and label the stages of mitosis and meiosis (subdivisions of prophase
of meiosis are not required). (40% of marks)
b. Explain how meiosis reduces the chromosome number by half whereas
mitosis does not. Indicate the significance of this halving process. (30% of
marks)
c. In the somatic cells of a certain animal species, 30 pairs of homologous
chromosomes are present. State the number of chromosomes found in the
following cells:
i. mature egg (5% of marks)
ii. secondary oocytes (5% of marks)

iii. first polar body (5% of marks)
iv. brain cell (5% of marks)
v. primary spermatocyte (5% of marks)
vi. spermatid (5% of marks)
2. Vermillion eye (v) and rudimentary wing (r) are two genes on the X
chromosome of Drosophila. A cross between VVRR (red eyes and normal
wings) and vvrr (vermillion eyes and rudimentary wings) produced the following
phenotypes in the F2 generation:
359 flies with red eyes and normal wings
381 flies with vermillion eyes and rudimentary wings
131 flies with red eyes and rudimentary wings
139 flies with vermillion eyes and normal wings.
a. Using the information provided as examples, define the following terms:
i. linkage group (5% of marks)

ii. map unit (5% of marks)
iii. parentals (5% of marks)
iv. recombinants (5% of marks)
v. marker gene (5% of marks)
b. This type of cross provides information on two genes. State the name given
to such a cross and an example of the information which this cross provides.
(20% of marks)
c. This information only allows partial mapping of the two genes. State and
explain why further information is necessary to locate the two genes on the
linkage group. (25% of marks)
d. From the data provided, calculate the distance between the genes for
vermillion eyes and rudimentary wings. (30% of marks)
3. There are three genetically-distinct colour phases in the Arctic Skua. The pale
and the dark form are both homozygous and the intermediate form is
heterozygous. An island population of these birds was found to contain 158
pale, 280 intermediate and 212 dark.
a. What are the expected numbers of each phenotype if the population is in

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? (25% of marks)
b. What is meant by the phrase ‘in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? (25% of
marks)
c. Using the chi-square test, determine whether the difference between
observed and expected numbers is statistically significant. (25% of marks)
d. Assuming that there is no selection against any of the colour forms, how can
the difference between the observed and expected numbers be explained?
(25% of marks)

4. Write an essay entitled: ‘Inborn Errors of Metabolism’. (100% of marks)
MODULE BY1 GN1 – GENETICS – SEPTEMBER REFER

A calculator and a chi-square table will be provided.
booklet submitted.

1. Define the following terms:
a. partial linkage (20% of marks)
b. linkage group (20% of marks)
c. map unit (20% of marks)
d. pleiotropy (20% of marks)
e. penetrance (20% of marks)
2. A cross is made between two strains of plants that are agriculturally important.
One strain is disease-resistant but herbicide-sensitive; the other strain is
disease-sensitive but herbicide-resistant. A plant breeder crosses the two plants
and then allows the F1 generation to self-fertilise. The following results are
obtained:
F1 generation: all offspring are disease-sensitive and herbicide-resistant.
F2 generation:
157 disease-sensitive, herbicide-resistant
57 disease-sensitive, herbicide-sensitive
54 disease-resistant, herbicide-resistant
20 disease-resistant, herbicide-sensitive
Total: 288
a. Formulate a hypothesis that you think is consistent with the observed data.
(40% of marks)
b. Test the goodness of fit between the data and your hypothesis using a chi-
square test. (30% of marks)
c. Explain what the chi-square results mean. (30% of marks)
3. The rat poison, warfarin, was introduced into Britain in 1953. Genetically-
determined resistance was discovered in a population of rats near Welshpool in
1960. Resistance to warfarin is conferred by a dominant allele, R. In 1961, 51%
of rats in one area were found to be resistant to the poison.
a. What is the frequency of the R allele in this population? (30% of marks)

b. Calculate the expected number of RR, Rr and rr genotypes in a population of
100 animals. (30% of marks)
c. If all the non-resistant rats in the population are killed by warfarin before
reproducing, what will be the frequency of non-resistant rats born in the next
generation? (40% of marks)
4. Using well-chosen examples, discuss the various ratios that you have encountered
in genetic crosses. (100% of marks)
END OF QUESTIONS

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MODULE BY1 MB1 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - JUNE

Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

2. Describe, in detail, how a eukaryotic pre-mRNA molecule is processed to become a

1 Biology – First Year Summer 2010 | Aston University

Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

2. Draw a series of clearly labelled diagrams of bi-directional replication forks

Initiation of the leading strands

Initiation of the lagging strands

Extension of the leading strands

Extension of the lagging strands

a. NB. No marks will be given where 5’ and 3’ labels are missing.

3. Describe the production of a prokaryotic mRNA molecule including initiation,

MODULE BY1 MI1 – MICROBIOLOGY - JUNE

Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

2 Biology – First Year Summer 2010 | Aston University

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

1. Compare the structures of the cell walls of Gram-positive and Gram-

4. Discuss bacterial diseases of humans that are caused by staphylococci and

MODULE BY1 MI1 - MICROBIOLOGY – SEPTEMBER REFER

Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

3 Biology – First Year Summer 2010 | Aston University

MODULE CODE BY1 PA1 – PARASITOLOGY - JUNE

Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

3) Discuss whether malaria will ever be eradicated.

4) a) Describe the general structure of an adult cyclophyllidean cestode and its

b) Describe the life cycle, symptoms and laboratory diagnosis of Taenia

4 Biology – First Year Summer 2010 | Aston University

Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

2) With the aid of diagrams, describe the characteristic features of viral

4) a) Describe the general structure and development of the nematodes

MODULE BY1 BC1 – BIOCHEMISTRY - JUNE

Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

5 Biology – First Year Summer 2010 | Aston University

(iii) The molecular structure of

2. Describe the main types of

3. Provide detailed biochemical explanations for the following statements about

4. Describe the use of electrophoretic methods to separate biological molecules.

MODULE BY1 BC1 - BIOCHEMISTRY – SEPTEMBER REFER

Answer TWO questions out of FOUR.

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

6 Biology – First Year Summer 2010 | Aston University

2. Describe the chromatographic and electrophoretic methods that can be used to

3. Describe the structure and biosynthesis of the various forms of collagen.

4, Write an essay on the biochemistry of haemoglobin.

MODULE BY1CB1 – CELL BIOLOGY - JUNE

Answer TWO questions out of FIVE.

ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN A SEPARATE ANSWER BOOK

At the end of the examination:

1. Describe in detail how activation of ligand-gated ion channels, receptors with