UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

General Certificate of Education Advanced Level

*4700162322*

BIOLOGY 9700/04
Paper 4 A2 Structured Questions May/June 2008
2 hours
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
Additional Materials: Answer Paper available on request.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your Centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
You may use a pencil for any diagrams, graphs, or rough working.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.
For Examiner’s Use
Answer all questions in Section A and one question from Section B.
Circle the number of the Section B question you have answered in the grid below. Section A
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
1
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part
question.
2

Section B

9 or 10

Total

This document consists of 20 printed pages, 4 lined pages and 4 blank pages.

SP (CW/CGW) T52858/2
© UCLES 2008 [Turn over
 2

Section A For
Examiner’s
Answer all the questions. Use

1 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows the relationship between annual deforestation rates and annual human
population growth for six countries.

B
3

percentage N
annual 2 P
deforestation
rate I
Z

0
0 1 2 3 4
percentage annual human population growth

B – Burundi
I – Indonesia
N – Nigeria
P – Philippines
V – Vietnam
Z – Zimbabwe

Fig. 1.1

Describe the relationship shown in Fig. 1.1.

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

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

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

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

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 3

(b) Over half of the species of plants and animals comprising the biodiversity of the Earth For
are thought to exist in tropical rainforests. Examiner’s
Use

(i) Explain the meaning of the term biodiversity.

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

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

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

(ii) Explain the economic reasons for maintaining biodiversity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

.............................................................................................................................. [4]

[Total: 8]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 4

2 Fig. 2.1 is a light micrograph of a small part of the pancreas. For

Examiner’s
Use

Fig. 2.1

(a) Name structures A and B.

A ......................................................................................................................................

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

(b) With reference to Fig. 2.1, explain why the pancreas is an endocrine gland.

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

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

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

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 5

(c) Insulin and glucagon are involved in the control of blood glucose concentration. When For
blood glucose concentration rises, secretion of insulin increases. Examiner’s
Use

Outline two ways in which insulin affects the activity of cells in the liver.

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

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

2. ......................................................................................................................................

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

(d) Some forms of diabetes are caused by an inability to secrete insulin and can be
controlled by regular injections of insulin. Most of this insulin is now produced using
genetically modified Escherichia coli.

Explain the advantages of using this type of insulin, rather than insulin obtained from
animal sources.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 8]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 6

BLANK PAGE

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 7

3 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows the male and female flowers of maize. For
Examiner’s
Use

Fig. 3.1

(i) With reference to Fig. 3.1, describe how the flowering habit of maize encourages
wind-pollination.

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

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

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

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

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

(ii) In a maize plant, the anthers normally ripen before the stigmas are mature and
ready to receive pollen. This encourages cross-pollination.

Explain the potential advantages of cross-pollination to a plant species.

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

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

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

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

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 8

(b) Cultivated maize is related to a wild Mexican grass, teosinte. Teosinte looks very different For
from maize. In particular, teosinte has a very hard layer surrounding the fruit, making it Examiner’s
impossible to use as an edible grain. Use

Archaeological excavations have found that maize in its edible form dates back at
least 4000 years. It has been argued that the structural differences between teosinte
and maize grains are so great that it is unlikely that maize could have been bred from
teosinte so long ago.

Investigations have been carried out into the genetic differences between teosinte and
maize. A gene on chromosome 4, tga 1, containing 1042 base pairs, was found to be
responsible for all of the structural differences between teosinte and maize.

Fig. 3.2 shows the DNA base sequence of the only part of tga 1 that always differs
between teosinte and maize.

teosinte GAT TGG GAT CTC AAG GCG GCG GGC GCG TGG

maize GAT TGG GAT CTC AAC GCG GCG GGC GCG TGG

Fig. 3.2

(i) Outline the principles of electrophoresis as used in sequencing this DNA.

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

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

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

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

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

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

.............................................................................................................................. [4]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 9

(ii) Suggest how the difference in the base sequence of the tga 1 gene shown in For
Fig. 3.2 could cause large differences in phenotype between teosinte and maize. Examiner’s
Use

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

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

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

(iii) With reference to Fig. 3.2, explain how these results support the suggestion that
it would have been relatively easy for early farmers in Mexico to have bred maize
from teosinte.

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

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

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

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

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

[Total: 15]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 10

4 (a) Outline the role of calcium ions in the transmission of nerve impulses. For
Examiner’s
.......................................................................................................................................... Use

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

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

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

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

(b) It has been suggested that during maturation of a sperm, the uptake of calcium ions is
necessary to produce the vigorous movements of the sperm’s flagellum that allow it to
penetrate the zona pellucida of an oocyte.

Uptake of calcium ions can be measured by staining the sperm with a non-toxic
fluorescent stain. Fluorescence increases as the concentration of calcium ions inside
the sperm increases.

Sperm from two types of mice were investigated:

• wild-type mice, whose sperm have a particular protein, P. P is an ion channel found
in the plasma (cell surface) membrane.

• mutant mice whose sperm did not have protein P.

The results of the investigation are shown in Fig. 4.1.

400

key:

sperm from
wild-type mice
mean
percentage sperm from
increase in 200
mutant mice
fluorescence

0
sperm sperm
head flagellum

Fig. 4.1

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 11

With reference to Fig. 4.1, describe and explain the different mean percentage increases For
in fluorescence of Examiner’s
Use

(i) sperm from wild-type and mutant mice,

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

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

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

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

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

(ii) sperm heads and flagella.

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

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

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

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

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

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 12

(c) The ability of sperm from wild-type and mutant mice to penetrate oocytes was tested For
using in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) of oocytes with and without a zona pellucida. The results Examiner’s
are shown in Fig. 4.2. Use

100

key:
75
sperm from
wild-type mice
percentage of
oocytes sperm from
penetrated 50
mutant mice
by sperm

25

0
oocytes with oocytes without
zona pellucida zona pellucida

Fig. 4.2

(i) Explain what is meant by in-vitro fertilisation.

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

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

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

(ii) With reference to Fig. 4.2, explain the differences in the ability of sperm from wild-
type and mutant mice to penetrate oocytes in IVF.

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

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

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

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

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

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

.............................................................................................................................. [4]

[Total: 15]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 13

BLANK PAGE

Question 5 starts on page 14

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 14

5 A significant quantity of the metallic copper produced in some countries is obtained using the For
chemoautotrophic bacterium, Thiobacillus ferro-oxidans, which is present in rocks in many Examiner’s
countries. Use

The process, known as bioleaching, is shown in Fig. 5.1.

Acidified water is pumped onto large heaps of waste material,

step 1 containing iron and copper sulfides, left from conventional
mining.

Thiobacillus ferro-oxidans oxidises iron (II) sulfide to iron (III)

step 2
sulfate.

The iron (III) ions oxidise copper sulfide to soluble copper

step 3 sulfate. The solution is collected in shallow ponds.

Scrap iron is put into the ponds and the following reaction
allows metallic copper to be precipated onto the iron:
step 4 Cu2+ (aq) + Fe (s) Cu (s) + Fe2+ (aq)
Metallic copper is scraped off the surface of the scrap iron and
refined.

Fig. 5.1

(a) Suggest the benefit to the bacterium of step 2.

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

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

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

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 15

(b) State two environmental disadvantages of extracting metals by bioleaching. For

Examiner’s
1. ...................................................................................................................................... Use

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

2. ......................................................................................................................................

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

(c) Explain why the production of metallic copper by bioleaching can be cheaper than using
conventional mining methods.

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

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

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

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

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

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

...................................................................................................................................... [4]

[Total: 8]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 16

6 Colour blindness is a condition characterised by the inability of the brain to perceive certain For
colours accurately. Examiner’s
• The most common form is termed red-green colour blindness (RGC). Use

• RGC results from a recessive allele.

• 0.6% of females worldwide have RGC.
• 8.0% of males worldwide have RGC.

Fig. 6.1 shows the occurrence of RGC in one family.

= male = female = male with RGC

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

Fig. 6.1

(a) Explain the meaning of the terms allele and recessive.

allele ................................................................................................................................

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

recessive ..........................................................................................................................

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

(b) Explain why females are less likely than males to have RGC.

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

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

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

(c) With reference to Fig. 6.1, and using the symbols R for the dominant allele and r for the
recessive allele, state the genotypes of the individuals 1, 4, 6 and 7.

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

4 .................

6 .................

7 ................. [4]

[Total: 8]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 17

BLANK PAGE

Question 7 begins on page 18

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 18

7 (a) An absorption spectrum is a graph of the absorption of different wavelengths of light by For
a photosynthetic pigment. Examiner’s
Use

An action spectrum is a graph of the rate of photosynthesis at different wavelengths of

light.

Fig. 7.1 shows the absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b as well as an
action spectrum.

100

action spectrum 90

80

chlorophyll b 70

60
percentage
rate of 50 light
photosynthesis chlorophyll a absorption
40

30

20

10

0 0
400 450 500 550 600 650 700
wavelength of light / nm

Fig. 7.1

With reference to Fig. 7.1,

(i) compare the absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 19

(ii) explain the shape of the action spectrum, For

Examiner’s
.................................................................................................................................. Use

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

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

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

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

(iii) explain why plants appear green .

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

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

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

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

(b) Fig. 7.2 is an electron micrograph showing a section through part of a chloroplast.

Fig. 7.2

On Fig. 7.2, draw label lines and use the letters W and Y to identify the following
structures:

• W where the light-independent reactions occur

• Y where chlorophyll is found [2]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 20

(c) Explain why increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide may increase the rate of For
production of carbohydrates at high light intensities. Examiner’s
Use

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

...................................................................................................................................... [5]

[Total: 15]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 21

BLANK PAGE

Question 8 begins on page 22

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 22

8 The Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus, lives in large populations called shoals and may grow For
up to 40 cm long. Examiner’s
Use

Fig. 8.1 shows the appearance of C. harengus.

Fig. 8.1

The length of C. harengus shows wide variation.

Fig. 8.2 shows the numbers of fish of different lengths in a population of C. harengus.

The arrows show the selection pressures, P and S.

selection selection
pressure P pressure S

number
of
fish

0
0 10 20 30 40
length of fish / cm

Fig. 8.2

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 23

(a) (i) Sketch a graph on the axes below to show the distribution of length of C. harengus, For
when selection pressures P and S operate for a few years. Examiner’s
Use

number
of
fish

0
0 10 20 30 40
length of fish / cm
[2]

(ii) Name this type of natural selection ...................................................................... [1]

(b) (i) Sketch a graph on the axes below to show the distribution of length of C. harengus,
when selection pressure S alone operates for a few years.

number
of
fish

0
0 10 20 30 40
length of fish / cm
[2]

(ii) Name this type of natural selection ...................................................................... [1]

(iii) Suggest two examples of selection pressure S.

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

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

[Total: 8]

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over

 24

Section B For
Examiner’s
Answer one question. Use

9 (a) Describe the process of oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondrion. [9]

(b) Explain the roles of NAD in anaerobic respiration in both plants and animals. [6]

[Total: 15]

10 (a) Compare the roles of the endocrine and nervous systems in control and coordination in
animals. [8]

(b) Describe the part played by auxins in apical dominance in a plant shoot. [7]

[Total: 15]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08

 25

For
......................................................................................................................................................... Examiner’s
Use

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.........................................................................................................................................................
© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over
 26

For
......................................................................................................................................................... Examiner’s
Use

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.........................................................................................................................................................
© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08
 27

For
......................................................................................................................................................... Examiner’s
Use

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.........................................................................................................................................................
© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08 [Turn over
 28

For
......................................................................................................................................................... Examiner’s
Use

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.........................................................................................................................................................
Copyright Acknowledgements:

Question 7 Fig. 7.2 © DR KENETH R. MILLER / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY.

Question 8 Fig. 8.1 © Gulf of Maine Research Institute www.gmri.org

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

University of Cambridge International Examinations is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is itself a department of the University of Cambridge.
© UCLES 2008 9700/04/M/J/08