Answers to Biology for IGCSE Chapter 17

Chapter 17 Summary Questions page 222.

(Suggested marks are given in square brackets)

1 variation the differences between individuals within a, population / species

[1]
2 (a) e.g. human height, hand span, length of index finger, body mass, length of leaves,
width of leaves, length of stem / plant height [3]

(b) human height may be any value between the two extremes of the range (not in
discrete categories), e.g. 179.0 cm / 178.5 cm [1]

3 (a) e.g. blood groups, attached and unattached ear lobes, flower colours, dwarf and tall
stems in pea plants, gender (male and female) [3]

(b) there are four blood groups that are in discrete categories A, B, AB and O, there
are no intermediates between them that are mixtures of A and O or AB and
O, for example [1]

4 mutation - a change in a gene or a chromosome [1]

5 gene mutation is a change in the DNA of a gene; chromosome mutation is a change,

to the number of chromosomes (e.g. Downs syndrome = 47 chromosomes instead
of 46) / in the structure of a chromosome [2]

6 selection acts on phenotypes; environmental factors can lead to different

phenotypes, but the only way that totally new genetic material is produced is by gene
mutation [2]

7 exposure to radiation; U/V radiation; X rays; gamma radiation; some chemicals, e.g.
benzpyrene in tobacco smoke; some viruses, e.g. human papillomavirus and cervical
cancer [2]

8 artificial selection is carried out by humans by selective breeding; humans select

males and females to breed; decide on matings; select the offspring that survive to
breed; may be one or a few features that are chosen (e.g. milk yield); organisms that
result may not be well adapted to survive in wild environment;

natural selection is by aspects of the environment (not humans); e.g. predators /

competitors / disease / pollution; organisms best adapted to conditions (at any one
time) survive and breed; matings are not determined by humans [4]

9 genetic engineering - taking a gene from one species and putting it into another
species [1]

10 competition for, resources / named resources; only those best adapted to gain
resources survive; breed; and pass on their alleles; any example of adaptation [4]

11 (a) examples of the effects of sickle cell anaemia

red blood cells become sickle shaped; fewer red blood cells; blood less efficient at
transporting oxygen; capillaries are blocked; pain; sickle cell crisis; slow growth;
increased chance of getting infections; reduced life span [5]
 (b) there is a gene that controls the production of haemoglobin
the allele HN codes for normal haemoglobin
the allele HS codes for abnormal haemoglobin ;

parental
normal x normal
phenotypes
parental
HNHS x HNHS ;
genotypes
parental
gametes , + , ;

HN HN HN HS
HN HS HS HS
;

HN HN , HNHS , HS HS shaded box shows the

offspring
genotype that gives
genotypes
rise to sickle cell
anaemia ;
offspring
normal, sickle cell trait, sickle cell anaemia
phenotypes
[5]

(c) areas of the world with highest number of cases of sickle cell anaemia are areas
where malaria is most common;
malaria, is severe disease / may be fatal;
HNHN / homozygous dominant, susceptible to malaria;
HNHS / heterozygous, resistant to malaria;
HNHS survive / HNHN more likely to die before have children;
HNHS have children and pass on, the allele / HS;
if HNHS x HNHS there is a 1 in 4 chance of, HSHS / homozygous recessive;
50% chance that a child has advantage of resistance to malaria [5]

Chapter 17 Exam-Style Questions page 222-223.

Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

1 B
2 B
3 A
4 B

Short Answer Questions

5 (a) mutation change in DNA
variation range of forms found in a species
selection organisms best adapted to their environment survive and breed

phenotype outward appearance of an organism

genotype genetic constitution of an organism [5]

(b) 47 chromosomes (not 46) / an extra chromosome (no. 21); in meiosis a pair of
chromosomes do not separate; so zygote receives 24 chromosomes from one
parent and 23 from the other;
chromosome 21 is visible in the karyotype on page 202 [2]
6 (a)(i) 34/150 x 100; 22.7(%); [2]
(ii) 160 229 / 69; [1]
may be less, e.g. if the largest handspan in first group is 169 and smallest handspan
in last group is 220 in which case it is 169 220 (without the raw data it is
impossible to tell)
(b) frequency histogram

at least half the graph paper used;

axes correctly orientated with handspan on the x-axis;
x-axis labelled with unit;
y-axis labelled;
columns plotted accurately (allow +/- a small square), all same width with no
gaps between them;
[5]
 (c)(i) continuous (variation); [1]

(ii) range of values between two extremes of a range; an example from the data; [2]

7 (a)

percentage
of sample
of each
country

at least half the graph paper used;

axes correctly orientated with blood group on the x-axis;
y-axis labelled;
columns plotted accurately (allow +/- a small square), gaps between them;
bars for two countries shown and labelled;
(above - shaded = Pakistan, unshaded = New Zealand) [5]

(b)(i) discontinuous (variation); [1]

(ii) different categories (A, B, AB and O); no intermediates; [2]
 (c)

parental
blood group B x blood group B
phenotypes
IB IO x IB IO ; both must be heterozygous
parental
carrying the IO allele
genotypes
parental , + , ;
gametes

IB I B IB IO
IB IO IO IO
;
shaded box shows the genotype
offspring
IB I B , IB IO , IO IO that gives rise to blood group O;
genotypes
offspring
B, B, O ;
phenotypes
[5]

(d) blood group must be compatible; usually the same; so no rejection; recipient may
produce antibodies against antigens on the red blood cells of the donor; [3]
explanation is the same as for matching for blood transfusions the table below
shows the possible matchings of donor to recipient

blood type of donor blood type of the recipient explanation

O O or A or B or AB no A or B antigens on
red blood cells of donor
A A or AB no anti-A antibodies
are produced by
recipient
B B or AB no anti-B antibodies
are produced by
recipient
AB AB no anti-A or anti-B
antibodies are
produced by recipient

it is also necessary to do tissue matching

8 (a)(i) increases from 1993 to 1998; decreases to 2000; increases again to 2001 and
remains constant to 2005; use of figures to show pattern, e.g. 6% to maximum of
15%; [3]

(ii) decreases; from 35 per 100 people to 22 per 100 people; [2]

beware of taking figures from the wrong y-axis

(b) when antibiotics are used; most bacteria are killed; some may have gene for
resistance; mutation gave rise to this gene; gene may code for enzyme that breaks
down the antibiotic; bacteria with this gene survive; reproduce (asexually) to pass on
gene; these bacteria have little competition as other bacteria (without the gene) are
killed by the antibiotic; [5]

(c) use antibiotics less often; do not prescribe when it is not absolutely necessary;
change the antibiotics prescribed for some diseases so they are not used all the time;
use antibiotics in combination rather than singly (less likely for bacteria to develop
resistance when several antibiotics are used at the same time); [3]

(d) genetic engineering - taking a gene from one species and putting it into another
species [1]

(e) large production; quicker /cheaper, on a large scale; does not need to use insulin
from dead animals; some people have objections to using dead animal source; [2]

(f) genetic engineering - gene is moved from one species to another; not possible with
artificial selection as cannot isolate a gene when doing selective breeding;
cannot breed two species together; [2]